WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KENYA?

The answer to the question ‘when is the best time to visit Kenya?’ is best answered with two questions, ‘what do you want to do while you are in Kenya?’ and ‘what is your budget plan for Kenya?’ There’s no simple ‘best time to visit Kenya’ as good conditions vary across the country, and one person’s ideal weather will be another’s disappointment. So you can travel all through the year barring the monsson season. Get in touch with us and we shall advise. Kenya is a year-round destination for travelers. Rich with its diverse wildlife, nature, culture, and action going on all year round, it has a variety of things to offer to its visitors. The Kenyan climate is perfect for your anytime African bush holiday. If you are hoping to go on safari, the best time to visit Kenya is from July to October, but this is the peak season with the Great Migration happening during the dry season. These peak times are dictated by the weather, but sometimes there are other important factors to consider too. Of course, if you are looking to explore Kenya on a budget, you may want to avoid peak season altogether, because a slight compromise on weather or wildlife sightings usually means much cheaper rates for tours and accommodation, then November to April is a good time to travel. Because Kenya is located on the equator, there is no real summer and winter. Instead, the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. Temperatures are relatively consistent in each region of Kenya, but vary from one place to the next according to elevation. Humidity also increases at lower elevations, while the north is both hot and dry. So, your Kenya holiday entirely depends on the purpose of your visit. Magicarpet Wildlife Travels Ltd team is always abreast of the varying wildlife viewing times, weather changes, the camps, the changing infrastructure, and the other tour staff who are in the field. Because of this, you feel confident that the guidance of your Kenya travel planner is sourced from on-the-ground informants or the locals when required instead of being dependent solely on sample historical data or tour operators who guide you from far away. We are the people who are local to Kenya and are aware of the varying patterns in everything all through the year and we deliver the information to you to help you decide your perfect Kenya holiday.

KENYA DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS

JANUARY – MARCH

Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris.This is the excellent time for luxury Kenya safari packages. With fewer crowds and a pleasant weather, this period makes it a pleasant holiday. With the long dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari and good water clarity makes for excellent diving conditions and snorkeling, gives way to rains and lower rates.

APRIL – JUNE

Temperatures drop after the rains are established and you will have facilities easily for yourself during this more affordable, green season. Road conditions might be impacted, but we consider this to be the time when the flora is exceptionally enchanting. Game viewing can be a bit trickier with the vegetation proliferated, but the shades of green and light make it the best time for photography at this time of the year. The grass is abundant and the animals, mainly the herbivores are abundant due to the pasture and water. With light showers now and then, this time offers excellent climate for travelers who choose greenery and a quieter atmosphere. Also, this is the ‘low season’. The booking rates with us as well as at the various lodges, hotels, and camps are very less during this season. In fact, many hotels shut down during this time for repairs and renovations. So, we help you know if your favorite hotel is available or not.

In June, the rains depart and give way to cooler weather, making much comfortable conditions, especially in the highlands. With a very small amount of rainfall due to the clouds, this is a good time for family safaris, especially with children as the climate is most suitable.

JULY – OCTOBER

Kenya’s ‘cool’ season sets in and wildebeest migrating from the Serengeti start arriving in the Masai Mara. This is the dry season and the best time for wildlife viewing. Even the water becomes deficient, so the animals tend to congregate around fewer water holes. There is plenty of action to view and the weather is usually temperate. You get to witness the most spectacular display of wild behavior. Masai Mara is the most noted location of the wildebeest migration due to its famed Mara River crossings. The dazzling Great Migration fills the Mara plains. The park roads are full of tourists. The only disadvantage during this season is that the parks and places tend to get crowded as it is the peak season and costs apply. So, you might want to check with us about the availability of the hotel of your choice and also the prices. In September, the clearing skies signal the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain, and fewer visitors, making it a good time for a quieter safari by the end of the month.

NOVEMBER – DECEMBER

November gets a little warmer and everything becomes lush and green all of a sudden. This is many people’s preferred month for a safari and sighting is good. The park has less number of tourists and jeeps, so sightings are a lot peaceful. It might rain usually in the afternoon intermittently, so you can do your game drives. The advantage of this season is the considerable drop in prices. Aside from Christmas and New Year’s, this season offers cheaper travel costs. It is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend your Christmas and New Year in the lush green Kenyan wilderness. You can make your holiday truly memorable if you opt to visit Kenya during this time. By December, the rains usually finish by mid-month and the landscapes look their best, you can see newborn animals, and migratory birds make their appearance over the clear blur Kenyan skies, heralding the start of the peak tourist season.

KENYA SAFARI COST

Kenya holidays are usually categorized as ‘low’ and ‘high’ holiday seasons. The low and high refer to the costs. Obviously, the greatest attraction of Kenya is the Great Migration, which occurs between July and October every year. This would be the high season for traveling to Kenya. Other than the Great Migration period, national holidays in Kenya such as Christmas, Easter, and New Year attract greater travel costs. On the other hand, the shoulder season or the less expensive fares are officially from November to April and this would be the perfect time to plan lesser expensive, fun-filled adventurous Kenya holidays.

Your safari time in Kenya would be the dictating factor in deciding your length of stay in Kenya since safari is one of the main features in Kenya. Your safari stay would be costlier than just staying in Kenya for a given period of time.

The factors that impact your Kenya holiday cost are:

1. DESTINATIONS IN YOUR ITINERARY

Various places have varying prices. When you choose the destinations you would like to visit, it is the price you would want to check, next to the attraction of the place. So, simply, it is the day and the destination that influence the cost. The overall total cost has to include transportation, food, park entry fees and accommodation. So, just as in any cross-country travel, the rates would be a bit higher than for the country residents and this rule applies to your Kenya holiday too, especially when air travel is preferred locally. In some cases, being on a solo safari gets a bit costly since you end up covering most costs alone, so it would be advisable you visit Kenya with a clear plan about willing to bear the expenses alone or share it with a group. Any which way you choose to travel; we are ready to make your holiday per your wish.

2. MODE OF TRANSPORT

The only two modes of transport while in Kenya are by road or by air. Once you reach Nairobi, your Kenya safari tour starts. From Nairobi, you can opt to travel by road or by air to the chosen various destinations, subject to the accessibility and availability of air travel facilities. You can choose to fly from Nairobi to the reserves either by road or by air. Similarly, you can choose road or air to reach your other travel destinations. Usually, Kenya flight safari travel is a bit expensive. Alternate way is to travel by road. This is usually an ideal 4 x 4 customized safari land cruiser made for the purpose of safari and the other option is a 7 seater tour van, with the Land Cruiser more comfortable. Understandably, using the vehicle exclusively for one person or very limited number of people would cost more than the travel fares while you share the cost with a group. So, it all depends on the comfort and mode you choose.

Magicarpet Wildlife Travels Ltd gives you the right, reasonable prices based on your choices, and the costs and situations prevailing in Kenya at your chosen time of travel.