About Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara is a relatively small, well-designed and very well run bushcamp in Acacia Valley, stretched ...
... out above the Olare Orok stream in Mara North Conservancy. It has ten tents, and a real bush feel, with no fence separating it from the surrounding wildlife.
Everything about Kicheche Mara feels very authentic. It is unfussy, low-key and rustic with good-quality fittings and finishings. That said, it is a bush camp, so without compromising on comfort, it will suit those who prefer simple camps. The camp's location in Mara North means that you can enjoy the game of the quieter, less-crowded conservancy, whilst still having access to the renowned wildlife viewing in the national reserve itself.
Our view
Everything about Kicheche Mara feels very authentic. It is unfussy, low-key and rustic with good-quality fittings and finishings. That said, it is a bush camp, so without compromising on comfort, it will suit those who prefer simple camps. The camp's location in Mara North means that you can enjoy the game of the quieter, less-crowded conservancy, whilst still having access to the renowned wildlife viewing in the national reserve itself.
Accommodation
10 tents
Children
Best for 12+
Open
June to March
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Private activities
Traveller reviews of Kicheche Mara
106 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 21 Feb 2025, 3 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 9 Feb 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 2 Feb 2025, 3 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Jan 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 15 Jan 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara 25"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Jan 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Jan 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Jan 2025, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 24 Dec 2024, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 31 Dec 2024, 4 nights
"Kicheche Mara review - best camp of my trip"
Overall rating: Excellent
















Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 28 pictures of Kicheche Mara to get the candid view.
View galleryKicheche Mara: Our full report
Kicheche Mara is a relatively small, well-designed and very well run bushcamp in Acacia Valley, stretched ...
... out above the Olare Orok stream in Mara North Conservancy. It has ten tents, and a real bush feel, with no fence separating it from the surrounding wildlife.
Kicheche Mara Camp is one of three Kicheche camps in the Maasai Mara ecosytem, the others being Kicheche Bush Camp and Kicheche Valley Camp and it enjoys the same relaxed, intimate feel and good quality as the others.
The ten well-spaced tents at Kicheche Mara have views into the surrounding woodland and feel very peaceful; each named after the Swahili name for safari animals, i.e. ‘Chui’ (leopard) or ‘Simba’ (lion). Inside they're well equipped with a rustic design. Chunky wooden bedframes hold a comfortable mattress strewn with charcoal-coloured throws, and woven mats cover the majority of the canvas floor. There are some small shelves for your clothes, a two-way radio and whistle for attracting attention if need be, and – on the veranda at the front of the tent – some comfortable directors' chairs to sit and watch for passing game. When we were last there we watched a small herd of impala passing by, and vervet monkeys and baboons playing in the trees.
The en-suite bathroom is at the back of the tent, separated by a canvas flap. Like the bedroom, it's simple and unfussy, with a flush loo and plumbed-in hot shower. Although the basins have running water, it comes from a borehole and can be slightly salty for brushing teeth, so a recycle glass bottle with filtered water is provided – as are toiletries such as cotton buds and cotton wool.
Four of the tents are set up as triples and quads and there is one special family unit consisting of two bedrooms which are interconnected by a central lounge area. With plenty of space and several larger tents this makes Kicheche Mara one of the better Kicheche camps for families and groups of friends traveling together. It's worth asking for a tent closer to the central areas if a walk of several minutes each way wouldn't suit you: the camp will always try to oblige. The tents haven't changed much since the camp's inception so, to some, their traditional style may feel a little dated. The camp is in the process of upgrading the tents one by one; this is a gradual processm however over time the whole camp will have had a bit of a facelift.
The same laidback design has been applied to Kicheche Mara's communal areas, two simple canvas structures that are generally left open when the weather is fine to enjoy the views to the plains beyond. There are some comfortable chairs with colourful cushions to sit and read the coffee-table books, and a small shop. At lunchtime, meals are often served outside, but in the evenings, when its cooler, dinner is usually taken in the dining tent around one long table.
Kicheche Mara has a Gold Level Eco-rating Certificate from Ecotourism Kenya, making it one of only a dozen camps and lodges in the whole country to have achieved this endorsement of its responsible resource use, conservation of the environment and investment in the local community. When visiting in 2019 we were told that the camp had just won the Eco-warrior award for sustainability. Kicheche Mara plans to introduce a fully electric vehicle in 2020, making it one of the only camps in the greater Mara ecosystem to do so.
Activities at Kicheche Mara generally focus on full or half-day game drives in the surrounding wildlife areas, usually with no more than four guests per vehicle (in common with all the Kicheche camps in the Mara, the vehicles at the camp are four-seaters, but there is also a six-seater for larger groups). All the vehicles are fully open, with roll-back covers, rather than having solid sides and roofs. Most guests will have the same driver-guide throughout their stay. All the guides at Kicheche Mara are either silver KPSGA-qualified or studying for their silver level.
To make the most of your time, head out with a picnic breakfast or lunch (or both!). As Kicheche Mara is in the Mara North Conservancy outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, game drives will predominantly focus within this area. The Mara North Conservancy, which covers 300km², has just 12 camps, and MNC rules mean that no more than five vehicles are ever allowed at one animal sighting. Day trips into the main Mara reserve can be easily arranged, and when the wildebeest migration is in the area this can be a popular option.
The area is superb for big cats, with lions and both spotted cat species breeding near to camp, regular sightings of cubs and close encounters with lion prides and leopard and cheetah families.
Also available are game walks, out of camp and back to camp, which can be arranged for those aged 12 and over. Guests are taken out in groups of up to six, with a guide and an armed escort carrying a light weapon (an AK47). The armed ranger is, however, always the same escort – and his shooting ability was tested a few years ago when a buffalo came into camp and had to be dispatched.
For something a little different, there are a couple of further options at additional cost. These include a trip to a Maasai village (US$30 per person). Guests can visit some of the community projects which the camp is helping with, such as the local school, and if you happen to be there on a Thursday morning, the Aitong local market will give you an insight into daily life in the area.
The Rhino Sanctuary in Olchoro Oiroua is also of interest, and can easily be incorporated as part of a game drive (US$5 per person). However, its only rhino inhabitants are two, semi-tame southern white rhinos.
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 3 - 4 nights
- Directions
- The nearest airstrip is Mara North, which in good weather is about 30 minutes’ game drive from Kicheche Mara. It will take longer if there has been rain.
- Accessible by
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- The food we enjoyed at Kicheche Mara was generally good, and you could tell that some thought had gone into the flavours. Salad and some vegetable items are sourced from their own vegetable garden. The chefs are more than happy to incorporate guests' requirements into their cooking, as well as let guests get involved in the kitchen if they wish!
Breakfast is often taken as a picnic and will generally involve boiled eggs, fruit, bacon sandwiches, tea, coffee and fruit juice. In camp you can expect a similar selection, with cereals as well as fruit, juices, tea and coffee, followed by a cooked breakfast to order.
Similarly, lunch will often be taken out with you, particularly if you're spending the full day in the national reserve. If you're in camp it will generally be a light buffet lunch. On our visit in 2019 we enjoyed a light lunch of a selection of salads, chutneys and Kenyan cheeses along with homemade pizzas. Desert was a fruit strudel.
Dinner was a slightly more formal affair. During our most recent stay, the chefs had prepared a special menu based on traditional cooking from their different upbringings across Kenya. The carefully prepared dishes were varied and flavorsome, and quite different from the more classic safari meals. On a previous visit, we enjoyed some of the camp's more typical offerings: filo pastry with goat's cheese and a balsamic dressing, grilled tilapia with a lemon dressing and flambéed pancake. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Kicheche Mara can offer dining in tents on request, but this needs to be organized in advance.
- Drinks included
- Most drinks stocked by Kicheche Mara are included in their rates, the exception is premium wines, spirits and champagnes which are best ordered in advance.
Special interests
- Solo safaris
- With a comparatively low single supplement, group dining and a sociable atmosphere, Kicheche Mara works well for solo travelers to Kenya. Enjoy a real bush feel and benefit from activities like superb game drives or walking safaris offered here.
- See ideas for Solo safaris in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Kicheche Mara is unfenced and quite wild so the camp would prefer that children are over the age of 11. Walks are restricted to those aged 12 and over only.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- The Maasai guides have guided daytime activities for children, including: tracking animal footprints around camp, creating plaster casts and identifying bones; catching, releasing and identifying butterflies and other insects; starting a fire without lighter or matches; and making bows and arrows, learning how to throw a spear and also beading with the local Maasai ladies.
- Equipment
- There is no special equipment, but the triple and quadruple tents are great for families.
- Generally recommended for children
- Kicheche Mara has a welcoming feel to it, and the family tents mean that family accommodation is catered for.
- Notes
- The camp is very open and unfenced so children need to be under parental supervision at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Kicheche Mara
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kicheche Mara have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

100% success

93% success

91% success

71% success

6% success

6% success

4% success

0% success

0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There are charging sockets in the tents, dining and lounge area and in the vehicles. There is 24-hour electric lighting in the tents. The camp makes its own charcoal briquettes from char dust mixed with cow dung. No wood is collected from the conservancy.
- Communications
- There is WiFi in the lounge which is free to use.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- The tents have plumbed in showers, flush toilets and running cold water. Drinking water is supplied in bulk from Nairobi. Bottled water is also available.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There are first-aid kits in the camp and in the vehicles, and five members of staff are trained first aiders.
A local clinic sponsored by the camp is 14km away (about 30 minutes’ drive) and the camp has links with the flying doctors. - Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris escort guests to and from their tents at night.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in each tent.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Private activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Full laundry service included – but no ladies’ underwear is accepted. Garments are hand-washed, line dried and then coal ironed, so delicate items should not be submitted.
- Money
- There is a main central safe in camp to store valuables. If there is sufficient cash in camp, guests may exchange small amounts of money at Kicheche Mara. Alternatively, guests may withdraw money against a credit or debit card, at a 5% surcharge. The shop is priced in Kenyan shillings.
- Accepted payment on location
- Visa, Mastercard and Amex are accepted. There is a 5% surcharge if you’re taking cash out on your card, but not for sales. They will take cash payments in euros, US dollars, GB pounds and Kenyan shillings.
Plan and book your trip with Expert Africa
All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us plan and arrange your perfect trip.

Talk to an Expert
Call or email us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.

Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.

Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.

Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.

When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
Kicheche Mara's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Kicheche Mara.
Excursions from Kicheche Mara
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Kicheche Mara. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Balloon flight over the Mara
3 hours in total - morning only
With the sun rising over the Loita Hills, you scramble into the balloon basket for the start of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’re about to go drifting with the breeze above the trees and plains of one of the world’s greatest wildlife regions.
More about Balloon Safari
Safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve
All day from sunrise to sunset
If you're not staying in the Maasai Mara National Reserve itself, you're likely to be staying in one of the outstandingly wildlife-rich Maasai-owned private conservancies just outside the reserve boundary. A full-day game drive in the reserve gives you the chance to visit the Mara River and see some of the reserve's fabled wildlife locations.
More about Maasai Mara SafariOther lodges in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.

Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.

Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.

Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.

Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.

Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.

Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.

Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.

Basecamp Eagle View
Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.

Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.

Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.

Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.

Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.

Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.

Porini Mara Camp
Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.

Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy

Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.

Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.

Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.

Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.

Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.

Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.

Mara Toto Tree Camp
Mara Toto Tree Camp is located on a wooded bend of the Ntiakatek River, 1km south (as the pied crow flies) from its sister camp, Mara Plains. It's the offspring of the original "Mara Toto" which was swept away in floods.

Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.

Basecamp Mara Houses
Basecamp Mara Houses consists of three private houses located in the northernmost part of the Mara North Conservancy.

Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
When to go to Maasai Mara Conservancies
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Kicheche Mara in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December

Looking for inspiration on where to travel next?
Visit our trip chooser to explore your options and find inspiration for your perfect African adventure
Inspire me