Kota Kinabalu · Month comparison

April vs March

March ranks #1 overall vs April at #2. Best month overall: 32°C, 95mm rain, and the clearest views of Mount Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu April — Mount Kinabalu summit above a sea of clouds at dawn

April

#2 of 12 months

Best match

Excellent conditions hold — near-dry, warm, and still slightly under the radar.

  • ↑Almost as dry as March with equally good summit and island conditions
  • ↑Coral reefs at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park alive with colour — snorkelling without crowds
Kota Kinabalu March — Mount Kinabalu panorama under clear blue sky with valley below

March

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Best month overall: 32°C, 95mm rain, and the clearest views of Mount Kinabalu.

  • ↑Driest skies of the year — Mt Kinabalu summit at 4,095m rewards climbers with panoramas across Borneo
  • ↑Marine park islands at their best: clear coral visibility, calm seas, and white sand beaches uncrowded
FactorAprilMarch
Weather score
9
9
Value score
6
6
Crowd score
6
6
Events score
5
6
Atmosphere
8
8
Avg high temp32°C32°C
Monthly rain90mm95mm
Daily sunshine7hrs7.5hrs

April trade-offs

  • ↓Mt Kinabalu permits even more contested as bookings roll from March into April
  • ↓Easter travel pushes Western visitor numbers up slightly on the islands
  • ↓Heat peaks at 32°C — pack light and plan outdoor activities before 10am

March trade-offs

  • ↓Mt Kinabalu summit permits book out fast — plan and pay at least 2 months in advance
  • ↓Prices rising from February lows as word spreads about the dry season
  • ↓Humidity still 76% — midday in the city centre is hot even on sunny days
See all 12 months for Kota Kinabalu →April in detail →March in detail →
Scores compare months within Kota Kinabalu. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →