NB/ These are general season dates and the
actual may vary depending on destination, and property.
East Africa
is the home of safari and the most important thing you ought to know
is the best time to go on Safari. African Safaris can be taken all
year round (from January to December) but the seasons pose different
challenges depending on whether it is raining or dry.
The weather patterns play a major role in the great migration, as the animals follow the new
grasses, which are dependent upon the rainfall.
There are two
main rainy seasons in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania). The
first rainy season takes place between April and June (this
is commonly referred to as the long rains) and the shorter
season from late November through to December. Many game
camps in
the game viewing areas close during April and May, mainly due to
bad road conditions.
Dry Season
Generally the dry season is the best to visit because of such
factors as accessibility of the game reserves. Roads in national
parks and game reserves are not all weather but just tracks made
from vehicle tyres over time. However some months like August,
September and October can be very dusty. The
dry seasons are generally better for game viewing, as game
concentrates around the water sources.
During The rains
During
the rainy seasons, most of these roads are inaccessible leaving only
the robust 4x4 land cruisers and Land rovers to snake through the
parks. During the short rains, the rains are not very heavy and may
not affect usability of the roads. There is sun in between rains and
the temperatures can be humid but comfortable.
After the Rains
The
period immediately after the long rains (after June) brings about an
abundance of life in the national parks and game reserves because of
the new grass which provide abundant pasture for wildlife. This is
normally the peak season in most parks and visitors stream in to the
parks to get the best experience. In the Maasai Mara, the annual
wildebeest migration from across Serengeti in Tanzania is a sight to
behold. Safari costs during this period are at peak and occupancy in
most accommodation facilities is high. For this reason early booking
for a safari between July and October is advisable. For those
travelers who seek privacy, this may not be the best time because of
the high number of visitors, however, at a higher cost you can book
your safari and stay in one of the luxury tented camps available
especially in the Maasai Mara. Luxury tented camps accommodate up to
20 people and most are located in less populated areas i.e.
Conservancy Areas. A Safari Experience in one of these Luxury camps
is a memory to behold.
Click here
to see some of the Deluxe accommodation in Mara.
Beach
holidays to the Kenyan coastal towns (Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu) and islands of Zanzibar are also affected during
the rainy seasons.
Some General Information
Climate:
The
climate of East Africa is typical of equatorial regions. East Africa
is surprisingly cool and dry for its latitude. The lower-lying lands
of northern Kenya (Samburu) are indeed extremely dry and the
highlands mostly in the central parts of Kenya are rich agricultural
lands.
Rainfall:
The annual rainfall
generally increases towards the south and with altitude to a high of
47 inches at the coastal town of Mombasa. Inland it increases with
altitude to over 43 inches at Moshi in Tanzania at the foot of
Kilimanjaro. The diverse geographical topology
affects the rainfall distribution in East Africa.
Temperatures in East Africa,
except in the hot and generally humid coastal belt, are moderate,
with a maximum of around 26 °C (77 °F) and a minimum of 15 °C (59
°F) at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,921 ft). At altitudes of above
2,500 meters (8,202 ft), frosts are common during the dry season
with a maximum of about 20 °C (70 °F) or less.
Places of Interest in Kenya
Masai Mara game reserve
|
Samburu Game Reserve
|
Amboseli National Park |
Lake
Nakuru National park
Lake Naivasha
|
Lake Bogoria
|
Lake Baringo
|
Lake Elementaita
Kenya