Best Time to Visit Kenya for a Safari

Kenya doesn't have a single "best" safari season so much as several good ones, each suited to a different priority.

July to October is Kenya's classic dry high season and the window most associated with the Great Migration's river crossings into the Masai Mara. Grass is shorter, water is scarcer, so wildlife concentrates around remaining water sources and sightings tend to be easier. It's also the busiest and most expensive time to travel.

January to February is a shorter dry spell that coincides with calving season further south in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, and is generally quieter and better value than the July-October peak.

March to May is Kenya's long rains — some camps close, roads can be harder going, but rates drop and the landscape turns green. Birdlife is at its best in this period.

November to December brings the shorter rains, with intermittent afternoon showers rather than sustained downpours, and another lull in visitor numbers.

There's no wrong time to see wildlife in Kenya — the question is really what trade-off between crowds, cost and specific sightings (like a river crossing) matters most to you. Tell us your travel window when you enquire and we'll be upfront about what to expect.