Kenya · Kenya
August
Migration peak continues — the most intense river crossings and predator action of the year.
Best match
#4 of 12 months
There are better months for Kenya — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
24°C
Low
11.8°C
Rain
22mm
Sun
8.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How August scores in Kenya
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Below average
Crowds
Below average
Events
Outstanding
Atmosphere
Perfect
What you gain in August
- ↑August is arguably the single best month for witnessing the Great Migration river crossings. July has more unpredictability about crossing locations; by August, the main northern herds have established patterns across the Mara Triangle. Experienced guide teams have typically identified the most active crossing points and are positioned accordingly. A morning game drive in August in the Mara Triangle can witness multiple crossings within a 4-hour window.
- ↑Big cat activity in August is intense and highly predictable. The Mara's resident lion prides — Marsh Pride (subject of BBC's Big Cat Diary), Paradise Pride, and others — are territorial, fed, and visible. The cheetah coalition known locally as the Tano Bora frequently operates in the Mara North conservancy. Leopard sightings are most consistent in the Mara River woodland areas adjacent to the main reserve.
- ↑Diani Beach in August is at peak beach conditions. The SE trade winds provide a cooling breeze (27°C, much lower humidity than January), the Indian Ocean is calm, and world-class diving on the offshore reefs at Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park — one of Kenya's best-kept secrets — is available from day boats out of Shimoni.
What you sacrifice
- ↓August is peak season in every dimension. Prices match or exceed July. The most popular Mara camps — particularly those with river views in the Mara Triangle — are fully booked 6–12 months ahead. Last-minute safari bookings in August are typically limited to inland camps with less desirable positions.
- ↓The Nairobi international airport (Jomo Kenyatta International) is at its annual capacity peak in August, with European summer holiday travellers and American private safari groups arriving simultaneously. The JKIA infrastructure has historically struggled with peak flows; allow generous connection times.
How August compares to July (best month)
| Factor | August | July ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 9 |
| Value | 3 | 3 |
| Crowds | 3 | 3 |
August in other destinations
Lisbon (26.5°C)Barcelona (28.6°C)Tokyo (32.1°C)Bali (29.9°C)Santorini (26°C)Paris (24.3°C)New York (27.7°C)Marrakech (35.8°C)Amsterdam (21.4°C)Maldives (30.3°C)Rome (30.4°C)Bangkok (31.5°C)Istanbul (28°C)Vienna (25.9°C)Seoul (29°C)Dubrovnik (28.5°C)Rio de Janeiro (25.9°C)Kyoto (33.7°C)Phuket (31.3°C)Cape Town (17.2°C)Prague (26°C)Amalfi Coast (31°C)Mexico City (23°C)Medellín (29°C)Fiji (26°C)London (24°C)Sydney (18°C)Iceland (14°C)Tulum (33°C)Dubai (42°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (33°C)Chiang Mai (31°C)Miami (33.3°C)Florence (31.8°C)Queenstown (9°C)Madrid (35.2°C)Porto (27°C)Edinburgh (19°C)Copenhagen (22°C)Budapest (28°C)Kraków (24°C)Tbilisi (31°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (32°C)Osaka (34°C)Goa (30°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (15°C)Mykonos (30°C)Zanzibar (26°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)Cancun (32°C)Krabi (32°C)Athens (33°C)Seville (36°C)Cartagena (31°C)Siem Reap (31°C)Havana (32°C)Split (30°C)Taipei (34°C)Kuala Lumpur (32°C)Valletta (32°C)Ho Chi Minh City (32°C)Hawaii (31°C)Cappadocia (32°C)Dominican Republic (32°C)Jamaica (33°C)Tanzania (23°C)Seychelles (26°C)Nepal (27°C)Jordan (36°C)Azores (27°C)Bora Bora (26°C)Los Angeles (28.5°C)Cairo (38.2°C)Jaipur (32.8°C)Las Vegas (40.1°C)San Francisco (18°C)Madeira (28°C)Vancouver (23.3°C)Muscat (38.5°C)Lima (17.2°C)Cinque Terre (29°C)Kotor (32°C)Tel Aviv (32°C)Santiago (15°C)Bogotá (19°C)Bruges (22.4°C)Penang (32.3°C)Lombok (30.4°C)Cape Verde (29.5°C)Fez (37.2°C)Kerala (29°C)Kigali (26°C)Hong Kong (31°C)Oslo (23°C)Auckland (14°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Kenya, not across destinations. Methodology →