Best Time to Visit Nairobi: Rains, Safaris and Risks

When is the best time to visit Nairobi?

The best time to visit Nairobi is late June to September or January to February. Kenya Meteorological Department averages put July to September at 17.5–28.3 mm of rain a month and January–February at 56–64 mm, against 219.4 mm in April and 154.2 mm in November. July to September also suits a safari.

Nairobi’s seasons are about rain, not heat. The city sits high: the Dagoretti weather station in Nairobi stands at 1,798 m, according to the WMO normals Kenya submitted for 1961–1990. That altitude keeps days mild all year. The Kenya Meteorological Department’s city averages run from a 20.6°C high in July to 25.6°C in February and March, with nights between 10.1°C and 14.0°C.

What changes is rainfall. Kenya has two wet seasons: the March–May long rains, which KMD calls the country’s main rainy season on its seasonal forecast page, and the October–December short rains, which its 2026 outlook says supply more than 30% of annual rainfall in counties including Nairobi. Between them sit two drier spells, January–February and June–September.

We built this page on 16 October 2026 from primary sources: KMD climate data and forecasts, WMO station normals, the Kenya Wildlife Service fee schedule, National Museums of Kenya and the UK FCDO. Once you have a window, compare bases in where to stay in Nairobi, plan days with the Nairobi 3-day itinerary and use the Nairobi destination guide for the wider picture.

• Best overall: late June to September (cool, dry, safari season)
• Warmest and sunniest: January and February
• Wettest: April and May, then November
• Late 2026: KMD forecasts above-average short rains for Nairobi, lasting into January 2027
• Verdict: book July to September, or January to February for city-first trips

What is the weather like in Nairobi month by month?

Nairobi is mild all year. KMD averages run from a 20.6°C high and 10.1°C low in July to 25.6°C highs in February and March. Rain peaks in April, at 219.4 mm over 16 rainy days, and again in November, at 154.2 mm over 15 days. July is driest, with 17.5 mm over three days.

The table combines two official sources. Temperature, rainfall and rainy-day averages come from the Kenya Meteorological Department’s “Climate of our Cities” data for Nairobi; KMD does not state the averaging period on that page. Sunshine comes from the 1961–1990 WMO normals for Dagoretti (station 63741), the most recent standard-period station normals for the city that we could find.

The two sources agree on the shape of the year. Dagoretti’s normals show 1,061.5 mm of rain a year over 90 days with at least 1 mm, an April peak of 242.3 mm and a July low of 17.6 mm; the KMD averages add up to about 1,024 mm over 93 rainy days. The sunshine column is the surprise: the dry July–August spell is also the greyest, at about four hours a day.

Read the last column as our planning view, not data. It combines the climate figures with the safari calendar and the risks further down this page. For what to pack in the cool months, see what to wear on safari.

How do Nairobi’s dry and rainy seasons compare?

Nairobi has two dry seasons and two wet ones. January and February are warm and sunny; March to May brings the long rains; June to September is cool, dry and often overcast; October to December brings the short rains. Even the wet months have dry days, but April and November average 15–16 rainy days.

January–February is the warm dry season. KMD averages give 24.5–25.6°C highs and only four or five rainy days a month, and Dagoretti logs 9.3–9.5 hours of sunshine a day, the best light of the year. March–May is the main wet season: rainfall jumps from 92.8 mm in March to 219.4 mm in April and 176.6 mm in May (KMD).

June–September is the cool dry season. July averages a 20.6°C high and a 10.1°C low with just three rainy days, but skies are often overcast: Dagoretti averages only 4.1–4.2 hours of sun a day in July and August (WMO normals). Pack a fleece for early game drives. October–December is the short-rains season, peaking in November at 154.2 mm.

Treat the seasons as averages, not promises. The KMD figures are long-run means, and individual years start and end their rains at different times, which is why the current seasonal forecast, below, matters for anyone travelling before February 2027.

What does the 2026 short-rains forecast mean for a Nairobi trip?

Expect a wetter than normal end to 2026. The Kenya Meteorological Department’s outlook, issued on 31 August 2026, forecasts above-average October–December rainfall for Nairobi, with the rains starting in the second or third week of October and continuing into January 2027. Build slack into airport transfers and outdoor days.

The OND 2026 seasonal forecast lists Nairobi among the counties where above-average rainfall is expected, and its full outlook groups Nairobi with the central highlands for an onset in the second to third week of October and rains that continue into January. KMD also notes that El Niño is currently strong, which enhances this season’s rainfall when it coincides with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole.

The same document lists likely negative impacts, including a high risk of urban flooding and disruption to air and ground transport during heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds. That matters most on airport days. The FCDO advises using Mombasa Road or the Nairobi Expressway between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the city, warns that Mombasa Road gets very busy at rush hour, and says check-in can take several hours.

For a November or December 2026 trip, keep game drives early in the day, carry a light rain jacket, and leave at least half a day between a safari flight and an international departure. A seasonal outlook is a probability, not a schedule, so check KMD’s daily and seven-day forecasts in the week you travel.

When should you visit Nairobi if you are adding a safari?

Let the safari set the dates. If Nairobi is your gateway, aim for the dry June–September window, which suits game viewing. Our Great Migration guide places Mara River crossings roughly from July to October, while Nairobi National Park, on the city’s edge, can be visited in any season.

Park entry does not change with the seasons. The Kenya Wildlife Service conservation-fee schedule charges non-resident adults US$80 and children US$40 for Nairobi National Park, with a single rate all year rather than high and low seasons. A daily fee covers one entry valid for up to 24 hours, and children aged five and under are exempt.

What does change is demand for camps and flights further afield. For the regional picture, including Kenya versus Tanzania and lodge styles, read the East Africa safari planning guide and the Great Migration timing guide; both explain why the herds follow the rain rather than the calendar. If you are pairing the city with a safari, fix the camp dates first and fit Nairobi nights around them.

In the wet months, Nairobi National Park is still a reasonable half-day, although tracks can be muddy and views shorter under cloud. The FCDO advises using reputable operators, reaching your destination in daylight, never buying safari tours from touts, and following park rules and wardens’ advice.

Which dates and calendar risks affect a Nairobi trip?

Three calendar effects matter most: the dry-season safari peak, the Christmas and New Year period, and protest dates. The FCDO says crime rates are often higher around Christmas and New Year, and that protests in Nairobi can turn violent, especially on key dates such as anniversaries of earlier demonstrations.

The FCDO’s safety page describes protests, demonstrations and strikes as common in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, and says they often disrupt traffic. It advises staying away from political gatherings and large crowds and watching local media for planned protests. If your dates fall on a known anniversary, keep that day flexible and stay away from the city centre.

The same page names Eastleigh, the Central Business District, Mathare, Kibera and other informal settlements as higher-risk areas in Nairobi, and notes that crime rates are often higher over Christmas and New Year. December is also when the short rains are usually easing, so a late-December trip combines festive demand with some wet days; in 2026, KMD expects the rains to run into January.

Outside those dates, the biggest calendar factor is the safari season. Keep city hotel bookings refundable until your camp dates and internal flights are confirmed, and use the Nairobi 7-day itinerary if you want a full week combining the city and a safari.

What changed for visitors to Kenya in October 2026?

Two things. From 5 October 2026, most visitors staying under 12 months must buy Kenyan government travel health insurance, through the eTA application or the eCitizen portal. On 6 October, Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed its first imported Ebola case, and arrivals may face enhanced health screening, especially from Uganda, Ethiopia and the DRC.

According to the FCDO’s entry requirements, the insurance is valid for 90 days and multiple entries, foreign travel insurance is not accepted in its place, and it does not apply to Kenyan citizens, residents, East African Community citizens or transit passengers who do not pass through immigration. Keep your own policy as well, for evacuation and anything the Kenyan scheme does not cover.

You still need an electronic travel authorisation before you fly; the Kenyan authorities recommend applying at least two weeks ahead, and your passport needs six months’ validity and two blank pages (FCDO). Our Kenya eTA guide explains the application. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a country with a risk of transmission.

On health, the FCDO’s health page says the government is running contact tracing, surveillance, border screening and quarantine for people considered at risk, lists malaria, dengue and Ebola among Kenya’s health risks, and advises checking vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks before travel. Check that page again in the week you fly, because advice during an outbreak can change quickly.

What can you do in Nairobi on a rainy day?

Build each wet-season day around an indoor anchor. The Nairobi National Museum opens every day from 8:30am to 5:30pm, including weekends and public holidays, with galleries on human origins, mammals and Kenyan history. Keep outdoor plans flexible, carry a rain layer and allow extra time on the roads.

National Museums of Kenya lists permanent galleries including the Cradle of Humankind, the Story of Mammals, the History of Kenya, Cycles of Life and the Asian African Heritage exhibition, plus botanical gardens on Museum Hill. Organised groups of ten or more can book night tours between 6pm and 10pm.

The museum opened on Museum Hill in 1930 as the Coryndon Museum and reopened in June 2008 after a modernisation, so give it a half-day rather than an hour. Pair it with lunch nearby so a cloudburst never leaves you far from shelter, and use things to do in Nairobi for more indoor ideas.

On a dry morning in the rainy season, a Nairobi National Park drive is still possible; just keep the afternoon free in case storms build. If heavy rain coincides with your flight, follow the FCDO’s airport-route advice above and leave earlier than you think you need to.

Who should visit Nairobi when?

Safari travellers should aim for late June to September. Photographers who want clear light should prefer January and February, the sunniest months. Business travellers can come year-round but should allow extra airport time in April, May and November. Anyone with fixed dates in the rains should keep each day’s plan short and indoor-friendly.

The table sums up the trade-offs. None of these months is off-limits: Nairobi’s altitude keeps even the wettest months mild, at 22.6–24.1°C highs in April and May. The difference is how much rain and cloud you are willing to plan around, and whether the safari or the city is the main event.

If your trip falls between mid-October 2026 and January 2027, use the wet-season row even for December, because KMD expects above-average rain in Nairobi this season.

So when should you book Nairobi?

Book late June to September for a Nairobi stop around a safari, or January to February for warmer, sunnier city days. Avoid April and May if you can. For trips before February 2027, plan around a forecast wetter-than-average short-rains season, and check FCDO health and entry advice in the week you travel.

Before paying, check three things: whether your dates overlap the short rains (October to December, forecast wetter than usual in 2026), whether you have the new Kenyan travel health insurance alongside your eTA, and whether your flight days avoid known protest anniversaries. Then fix a base with where to stay in Nairobi or compare stays on the Nairobi hotels page.

If Nairobi is only a stopover, use the 3-day itinerary to pick the essentials, and read what to wear on safari for layers on cool July mornings.