Season guide · Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi in the cool dry season
June–October: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Cool, often overcast mornings and dry sunny afternoons; peak safari season with the migration in the Maasai Mara and the highest prices. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 23 rainy days across June–October. June–September are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–October
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 23
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the cool dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 21°C (70°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 5 | 12 h | 3/5 |
| July | 21°C (70°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 4 | 12.1 h | 5/5 |
| August | 21°C (70°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 4 | 12.1 h | 5/5 |
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 3 | 12.1 h | 4/5 |
| October | 25°C (77°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 7 | 12.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 22°C (72°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 23 of the year's roughly 88 rainy days fall in these 5 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the cool dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Madaraka Day — national holiday (1 June)
- July: Great Migration usually arrives in the Maasai Mara (from July)
- August: Peak Maasai Mara river-crossing season (usually August–September)
- September: Nairobi International Trade Fair at Jamhuri Park (usually late September or early October)
- October: Mashujaa Day — national holiday (20 October)
Make the most of the weather
Zoo · Langata
Nairobi Safari Walk
A raised wooden boardwalk run by the Kenya Wildlife Service at the national park's main gate, passing enclosures of rescued animals including a white rhino, lions, cheetahs and bongo antelope.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Park · Gigiri
Karura Forest
Hire a bike and ride the loop to the waterfall in the morning, then have lunch at the café near the main gate.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
- Kids
Viewpoint · Central Business District
Kenyatta International Convention Centre rooftop
The cylindrical 1973 tower beside Parliament is one of Nairobi's landmarks, and its rooftop helipad gives a 360-degree view across the CBD to Nairobi National Park and, on clear days, the Ngong Hills.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Nature · Karen
Oloolua Nature Trail
Wear shoes with grip; paths near the waterfall get muddy after rain.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Langata
Nairobi National Park
Kenya's first national park, opened in 1946, covers about 117 km² of grassland and acacia bush just south of the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Day trips in the cool dry season
- Ngong Hills (About 1 hour by road) — The knuckle-shaped ridge seen from Karen offers a ridge-top hike with views west over the Great Rift Valley and east to the city.
- Lake Nakuru National Park (About 3 hours by road) — A fenced Rift Valley park around a soda lake, known for black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, lions and, in some years, large flocks of flamingos.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the cool dry season a good time to visit Nairobi?
Yes: June–September are among the best months. Cool, often overcast mornings and dry sunny afternoons; peak safari season with the migration in the Maasai Mara and the highest prices.
+What is the weather like in Nairobi in the cool dry season?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 23 rainy days over the season.