Month guide · Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi in March
What March is really like in Nairobi: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 26°C (79°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 12.1 hours of daylight. Heat builds and the long rains usually start in the second half of the month, bringing afternoon storms.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 26°C (79°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 12.1 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 2nd-warmest month in Nairobi: days average 26°C (79°F) against a yearly average high of 24°C (75°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with February (26°C (79°F)), March is about as warm; by April highs drop to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:39
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:46
- Daylight
- About 12.1 hours
Warm dry season (January–February). Hot, sunny days by Nairobi standards, green parks after the short rains and good game viewing; a popular time for safaris.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
- Safari Rally Kenya — World Rally Championship round around Naivasha (usually March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Karen
Kazuri Beads workshop
Visit on a weekday to see the workshop in full production, then continue to the Karen Blixen Museum nearby.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Central Business District
Nairobi Railway Museum
Next to the old railway station, the museum tells the story of the Uganda Railway around which Nairobi grew from 1899.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Gallery · Central Business District
Nairobi Gallery
Combine it with the KICC rooftop and the City Market, all within a short walk in daylight.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Central Business District
City Market
A 1930s covered market off Muindi Mbingu Street, with fruit, vegetable and flower stalls in the main hall and curio dealers selling carvings, soapstone and baskets around the edges.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
What to pack
For highs near 26°C, lows near 13°C and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Nairobi?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event 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 March a good time to visit Nairobi?
It is a shoulder-season month. Heat builds and the long rains usually start in the second half of the month, bringing afternoon storms.
+How warm is Nairobi in March?
Average highs are around 26°C (79°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nairobi in March?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.