Kota Kinabalu · Month comparison
March vs April
March ranks #1 overall vs April at #2. Best month overall: 32°C, 95mm rain, and the clearest views of Mount Kinabalu.
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
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
| Factor | March | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 6 |
| Events score | 6 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly rain | 95mm | 90mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7.5hrs | 7hrs |
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
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
Scores compare months within Kota Kinabalu. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →