Month guide · Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi in December
What December is really like in Nairobi: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SteveRwanda, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 12.2 hours of daylight. Rain eases through the month; busy around Christmas and New Year when Kenyan families travel.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 9th-warmest month in Nairobi: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 24°C (75°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (23°C (73°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs climb to around 25°C (77°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:22
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 18:34
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
Short rains (November–December). Showers in the afternoons and evenings with clear mornings; quieter and cheaper until the Christmas holiday rush.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Jamhuri Day — independence holiday (12 December)
- Christmas and New Year holiday peak
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Karen
Kazuri Beads workshop
Founded in 1975, this Karen workshop employs local women, many of them single mothers, to hand-make and paint ceramic beads and pottery.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Central Business District
Nairobi Railway Museum
Spend most of your time in the outdoor yard, where you can walk among and inside the old locomotives.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Gallery · Central Business District
Nairobi Gallery
Housed in the 1913 Old PC's Office at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway, this small National Museums of Kenya gallery shows African art and artefacts, including pieces from the collection of Joseph Murumbi, Kenya's second vice-president.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Central Business District
City Market
Compare prices at several curio stalls before buying, and bargain with a smile; first quotes to visitors are high.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 13°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Nairobi?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, January–February and June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Nairobi in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Nairobi?
It is a shoulder-season month. Rain eases through the month; busy around Christmas and New Year when Kenyan families travel.
+How warm is Nairobi in December?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nairobi in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.