Kenya in May

Rain eases toward month end; green season deals, but check which camps are open.

May 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, Nakururainy

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

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

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

• Southern savanna · Amboseli, Tsavo East and Westrainy

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

• Coast · Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, Lamurainy

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

• Northern drylands · Samburu, Laikipia, Lake Turkanafine

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

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

  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 mrainy

  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.

• Nairobi22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 13 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 13 rain days
• Diani Beach29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
• Eldoret22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 10 rain days
• Embu22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
• Garissa34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Homa Bay26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 13 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 13 rain days
• Isiolo25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Kabarnet27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 11 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 11 rain days
• Kakamega28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 15 rain days
• Kericho25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 18 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 18 rain days
• Kerugoya23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
• Kiambu23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 15 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 15 rain days
• Kilifi32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 3 rain days
• Kisii20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Kisumu28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Kitale25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Lamu30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 16 rain days
• Lodwar34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Machakos26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 11 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 11 rain days
• Malindi29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Mandheera34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
• Marsabit28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 7 rain days
• Meru23 °C (73 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 15 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 15 rain days
• Mombasa30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Moyale32 °C (90 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
• Msambweni30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 7 rain days
• Mtwapa29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Naivasha23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 8 rain days
• Nakuru25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 14 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 14 rain days
• Namanga26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
• Nanyuki22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 9 rain days
• Narok23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 10 rain days
• Nyahururu23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Nyeri20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 12 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 12 rain days
• Rusinga Island27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 14 rain days
• Vihiga26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 17 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 17 rain days
• Voi30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 15 rain days
• Wajir34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain days
• Webuye27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 16 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 16 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.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• 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.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Kisii

  Best months: Apr–Oct (dry to mild)

Better another month

• Nairobi

  Rain continues; some lodges close.