Best time to visit Kenya on a budget
When to visit Kenya for lower prices on flights, accommodation, and food — without sacrificing too much on weather or atmosphere.
Best month
May
Long Rains tapering — Diani Coast starts to look attractive and Mara is still difficult.
↑May sees the Long Rains begin to taper from their April peak. By mid-to-late May, sunny windows become longer and more frequent. This is an excellent time to visit the Kenyan coast — Diani Beach and Watamu are transitioning from the hot, calm season toward the arrival of the SE trade winds. The sea is warm (27°C), reefs are visible, and accommodation prices are at their annual coast lows.
↑Kenya's tea country around Kericho (the largest tea estate region in Africa) is at its most lush and intensely green in May, with the rolling hills of the Rift Valley escarpment looking implausibly photogenic. A drive from Nairobi to Kericho and back via the Rift Valley viewpoint is one of the country's great scenic routes.
All months ranked — Cheap travel
Best match
Long Rains tapering — Diani Coast starts to look attractive and Mara is still difficult.
#1 for cheap travel
Worth considering
Peak rainy season — cheapest prices, lowest crowds, and dramatically difficult game viewing.
#2 for cheap travel
Best match
Short Rains peak — shoulder season prices at good camps, but game viewing requires flexibility.
#3 for cheap travel
Best match
Dry season resumes — the safari season begins and the wildebeest migration build-up starts.
#4 for cheap travel
Best match
Long Rains begin — green landscapes but game viewing becomes harder as vegetation thickens.
#5 for cheap travel
Best match
Short Rains arrive, migration ends, prices drop — Nairobi marathon and excellent Amboseli.
#6 for cheap travel
Best match
Wildebeest calving season in the Mara — predator activity at its most intense and memorable.
#7 for cheap travel
Best match
Dry season continues — excellent visibility, hot in lowlands, and ideal Amboseli conditions.
#8 for cheap travel
Strong option
Short Rains ending, dry season resuming — calving season approaches and Christmas premium arrives.
#9 for cheap travel
Strong option
Migration continues, crowds begin to thin — arguably the sweet spot of the Mara season.
#10 for cheap travel
Strong option
The Great Migration peaks — 1.5 million wildebeest and the most spectacular river crossings.
#11 for cheap travel
Strong option
Migration peak continues — the most intense river crossings and predator action of the year.
#12 for cheap travel