Kenya in March

Long rains begin late in the month; low-season rates and quiet parks.

March is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JulyGreatMigration herds usually arrive in the Mara; Mara fee rises to US$200 a day from 1 July.
• AugustGreatPeak river-crossing month; book lodges 6–12 months ahead.
• SeptemberGreatCrossings continue; slightly fewer family travellers than August.
• OctoberGreatHerds start drifting back south to the Serengeti; Mashujaa Day on 20 Oct.

• Masai Mara and the south-west · Masai Mara, Naivasha, Nakurufine

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

• Central highlands and Nairobi · Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Aberdaresfine

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

• Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westfine

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

• Coast · Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamuhot

  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 regionrainy

  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 beltrainy

  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 mfine

  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 aboverainy

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

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

  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 mrainy

  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) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Diani Beach32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Eldoret24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Embu26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Garissa35 °C (95 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 2 rain days
• Homa Bay28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 12 rain days
• Isiolo27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
• Kabarnet29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
• Kakamega32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 7 rain days
• Kericho27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 14 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 14 rain days
• Kerugoya26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Kiambu26 °C (79 °F) / 14.5 °C (58 °F), 9 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 58 °F (14.5 °C), 9 rain days
• Kilifi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 1 rain days
• Kisii23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Kisumu30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 13 rain days
• Kitale27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
• Lamu33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 5 rain days
• Lodwar32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Machakos28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
• Malindi32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Mandheera36 °C (97 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Marsabit30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Meru26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Mombasa33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 7 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 7 rain days
• Moyale31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Msambweni31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 3 rain days
• Mtwapa32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Naivasha27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
• Nakuru28 °C (82 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
• Namanga30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 3 rain days
• Nanyuki26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Narok26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Nyahururu24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
• Nyeri24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Rusinga Island28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Vihiga29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 11 rain days
• Voi30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 6 rain days
• Wajir36 °C (97 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 3 rain days
• Webuye29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 10 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.

• Good Friday and Easter Monday

  Mar–Apr (moves — check)

  Long weekend; Naivasha and coast resorts fill with Nairobi families.

• Eid al-Fitr

  Lunar (2027 about 10 Mar — check)

  Public holiday; Mombasa and Lamu celebrate at the end of Ramadan.

• Ramadan

  Lunar (moves each year)

  Lamu and Mombasa Old Town eat after dark; daytime cafés close in Muslim areas.

• Long rains

  Mar–May · Nairobi

  Downpours in the afternoon slow roads; some lodges close in April and May.

Crowds · Kenya

Low

Prices · Kenya

Low

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

• 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)

• Garissa

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Kakamega

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct (dry seasons)

• Kiambu

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jun–Sep (dry, cool mornings)

• Kilifi

  Best months: Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Lamu

  Best months: Oct–Mar

• Lodwar

  Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season)

• Malindi

  Best months: Dec–Mar (check)

• Mombasa

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct

• Moyale

  Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season, cooler nights)

• Msambweni

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct