When to go · Nairobi, Kenya
Best time to visit Nairobi
The sweet spot is September, February and January — averages 19°C, 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
June – October, January – February (dry seasons)
A mild highland climate at 1,795 m — warm days (22–26°C) and cool nights year-round, never tropical-hot despite the equator. Long rains fall March–May, short rains Nov–Dec; the dry months are best for safaris.
The short answer
19°C · 5 rainy days · mid season
21°C · 6 rainy days · high season
20°C · 6 rainy days · high season
Hardest months: May and April. averages 19°C, 14 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| February | 21°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| March | 21°C | 11d | mid | Comfortable but damp |
| April | 20°C | 16d | low | Wet |
| May | 19°C | 14d | low | Wet |
| June | 18°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| July | 17°C | 4d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| August | 18°C | 5d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| September | 19°C | 5d | mid | Comfortable |
| October | 20°C | 10d | high | Comfortable but damp |
| November | 19°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| December | 19°C | 9d | mid | Comfortable but damp |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
April, May and November are low season in Nairobi — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $25–50 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.