Kenya in January

Short dry season: good game viewing, green landscapes, Christmas crowds gone after the first week.

No other month rates higher than January for Kenya in this guide.

• Masai Mara and the south-west · Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakurubest weather

  Migration herds in the Mara roughly Jul–Oct; April–May rains soften roads and close some camps.

• Central highlands and Nairobi · Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdaresbest weather

  At 1,700 m Nairobi is mild; June–August evenings are cold, so pack a fleece.

• Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westbest weather

  Dry and dusty; Kilimanjaro views are clearest early mornings in the dry months.

• Coast · Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamubest weather

  Humid year-round; the heaviest rain falls April–June and some coast hotels close in May.

• Northern drylands · Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkanahot

  Semi-arid and hot; short rains still bring green flushes to Laikipia.

• Coastal Kenya: Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Lamu) · Indian Ocean shorelinehot

  April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 25 °C (77 °F) in August to 30 °C (86 °F) in March. Whale sharks and manta rays visit November–February; humpback whales July–October.April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 77 °F (25 °C) in August to 86 °F (30 °C) in March. Whale sharks and manta rays visit November–February; humpback whales July–October.

• Eastern Kenya: Mount Kenya foothills (Meru, Embu) · Western edge of the regionfine

  Cooler and wetter than the plains; long rains March–May, short rains October–December. Pack a rain shell.

• Eastern Kenya: Northern plains (Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir) · North and east of the highlandshot

  Semi-arid to arid; 30 °C (86 °F)+ most afternoons, irregular rain, drought years common. Marsabit town sits higher and is cooler at night.Semi-arid to arid; 86 °F (30 °C)+ most afternoons, irregular rain, drought years common. Marsabit town sits higher and is cooler at night.

• Northern Rift Valley: Highland Rift (Kitale, Kabarnet, Iten) · Escarpment and highland beltfine

  Long rains roughly March–May, short rains October–November; cool nights year-round at altitude.

• Northern Rift Valley: Turkana (Lodwar, Lake Turkana) · Northern lowlandshot

  Hot and arid all year; the least punishing months are roughly June–September and December–February.

• Southern Rift Valley: Rift Valley floor (Naivasha, Nakuru) · About 1,700–1,900 mbest weather

  Long rains roughly March–May, short rains November–December. Days are mild year-round; nights at this altitude are cold enough for a jacket.

• Southern Rift Valley: Escarpment and Mau (Nyahururu, Mau) · 2,000 m and abovefine

  Cooler and wetter than the valley floor; morning mist is common in the wet months.

• Western Kenya: Lake Victoria shore (Kisumu, Homa Bay) · Nyanza lowlandshot

  Warm all year, 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) by day; the long rains peak in April and the short rains in November. Mosquitoes are worst in the evening.Warm all year, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) by day; the long rains peak in April and the short rains in November. Mosquitoes are worst in the evening.

• Western Kenya: Highlands (Kakamega, Kericho, Eldoret, Kisii) · Western highlands, 1,500–2,000 mfine

  Cooler, often misty; nights can drop below 12 °C (54 °F). Rain falls on more days than the coast.Cooler, often misty; nights can drop below 54 °F (12 °C). Rain falls on more days than the coast.

• Nairobi25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Diani Beach32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 4 rain days
• Eldoret22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Embu27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Garissa33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Homa Bay30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Isiolo28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Kabarnet28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days
• Kakamega30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Kericho26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Kerugoya25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Kiambu25.5 °C (78 °F) / 13.5 °C (56 °F), 5 rain days78 °F (25.5 °C) / 56 °F (13.5 °C), 5 rain days
• Kilifi30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Kisii24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Kisumu31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 7 rain days
• Kitale28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Lamu32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 3 rain days
• Lodwar30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 0 rain days
• Machakos27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 4 rain days
• Malindi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 5 rain days
• Mandheera34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Marsabit28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Meru22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Mombasa33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain days
• Moyale30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Msambweni30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Mtwapa32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain days
• Naivasha28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Nakuru27 °C (81 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
• Namanga28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Nanyuki22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 4 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 4 rain days
• Narok26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Nyahururu20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Nyeri22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Rusinga Island28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Vihiga28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Voi28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Wajir34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Webuye28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Coast busy through the first week.

• New Year

  Jan 1 · Nairobi

  Shops shut; hotels busy.

• Dry, warm season

  Jan–Feb · Nairobi

  Best city weather; safari traffic is high and hotels fill.

Crowds · Kenya

Medium

Prices · Kenya

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Kenya, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Masai Mara and the south-west

  Best weather of the year (Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakuru)

• Central highlands and Nairobi

  Best weather of the year (Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdares)

• Southern savanna

  Best weather of the year (Amboseli, Tsavo East and West)

• Coast

  Best weather of the year (Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamu)

• Nairobi

  Warm, mostly dry; good month.

• Diani Beach

  Best months: Late Nov–mid-Mar; Jul–Oct is drier and cooler but windier

• Eldoret

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct (dry season)

• Embu

  Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb

• Garissa

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Homa Bay

  Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb (dry season)

• Isiolo

  Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb

• Kabarnet

  Best months: Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb