Kenya in October

Herds start drifting back south to the Serengeti; Mashujaa Day on 20 Oct.

No other month rates higher than October 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 Turkanafine

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

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

  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.

• Nairobi25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Diani Beach30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
• Eldoret21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 8 rain days
• Embu24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
• Garissa33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Homa Bay28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 9 rain days
• Isiolo26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Kabarnet28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
• Kakamega29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
• Kericho25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 13 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 13 rain days
• Kerugoya25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 10 rain days
• Kiambu25 °C (77 °F) / 14.5 °C (58 °F), 9 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 58 °F (14.5 °C), 9 rain days
• Kilifi31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 3 rain days
• Kisii22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 9 rain days
• Kisumu31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• Kitale26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
• Lamu30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 7 rain days
• Lodwar30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Machakos28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
• Malindi30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Mandheera34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Marsabit29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
• Meru24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days
• Mombasa30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
• Moyale31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Msambweni29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Mtwapa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Naivasha26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
• Nakuru25 °C (77 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
• Namanga26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
• Nanyuki22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
• Narok25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
• Nyahururu21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Nyeri22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 7 rain days
• Rusinga Island28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• Vihiga28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 13 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 13 rain days
• Voi28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Wajir34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain days
• Webuye28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 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.

• Mazingira Day

  10 Oct

  Environment day; tree-planting events.

• Mashujaa (Heroes) Day

  20 Oct

  National holiday.

• Short rains

  Oct–Dec · Nairobi

  Showers, flooded roads in low areas.

Crowds · Kenya

Medium

Prices · Kenya

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

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)

• 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

• Kakamega

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