About Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri, which means ‘beautiful place’, is a very upmarket property which opened in 2013.
It is part of the Virgin Limited Edition range – built and owned by Richard Branson and located in the 133km² Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Mahali Mzuri is a very luxurious, high-quality camp, offering smooth service from a team of experienced managers and caterers. It is certainly opulent, but too smart and hotel-like to retain much feeling of the Kenyan bush. Nevertheless, for those seeking facilities and comfort before anything else this could make the perfect safari base.
Our view
Mahali Mzuri is a very luxurious, high-quality camp, offering smooth service from a team of experienced managers and caterers. It is certainly opulent, but too smart and hotel-like to retain much feeling of the Kenyan bush. Nevertheless, for those seeking facilities and comfort before anything else this could make the perfect safari base.
Accommodation
12 tented suites.
Children
Best for 12+
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Private activities
Traveller reviews of Mahali Mzuri
2 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 21 Jan 2023, 3 nights
"Mahali Mzuri review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 10 Aug 2018, 3 nights
"Total Luxury at Mahali Mzuri"
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 42 pictures and 1 videos of Mahali Mzuri to get the candid view.
View galleryMahali Mzuri: Our full report
Mahali Mzuri, which means ‘beautiful place’, is a very upmarket property which opened in 2013.
It is part of the Virgin Limited Edition range – built and owned by Richard Branson and located in the 133km² Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Before visiting, we were a bit dubious about Mahali Mzuri, having heard rumors of a vast, decadent eyesore on the Mara's pristine landscape. In the building of permanent structures, such as a swimming pool and extraordinary main areas and rooms, it has indeed gone much further than almost any other camp in the region, and it won't be to everyone's taste. However we were very taken with the camp's ethical approach and found it to be unusual architecturally, but very stylish.
It is to the owners' credit that they have built Mahali Mzuri in one of the more remote parts of the Mara, in an area that had struggled with cattle overgrazing. This area has now been combined with Olare Orok to form the larger Olare Motorogi Conservancy and – over the five years since Mahali Mzuri has been in development – has now turned a corner. Guests still have to travel a short way to get to areas with good predators, but the immediate area around camp is improving rapidly: a real success for conservation.
Mahali Mzuri's main areas are set on a big wooden deck overlooking a deep valley. Between the dining and the lounge tents is an outside deck, with a long sofa-bench looking across the firepit. The views from here are stunning. Tables and chairs are set here for alfresco dining: simple and modern in style, resulting in a clean, minimalist look. Steel-cable railings protect guests at the edge of the decking.
To one side is the modestly sized lounge and bar, under canvas, but very funky and unlike anything we have seen in Kenya. High leather bar stools complement the wooden bar, and there is usually a member of staff to offer you a cocktail or artisan coffee.
Perhaps a little more in keeping with the surroundings are the simpler leather sofas, cowhide rugs and velvet armchairs that furnish the rest of the lounge area. There is a spotting telescope in the corner, and binoculars for people who want to watch game from camp. Tucked away in a hidden cabinet there is also a satellite TV and a selection of DVDs. WiFi is available throughout the camp. We got the impression that Mahali Mzuri doesn't mind having a bit of the Western world here, something that smaller camps and safari purists shy away from. But it will suit those who want to be on safari without feeling that they have to compromise on hotel-standard facilities.
In a separate tent on the other side of the outside deck, the dining area is fitted out with modern furniture and a long glass table that feel a world away from the African bush – until you notice the beaded placemats, wooden light fittings and African fabrics hanging from the walls.
Steps from the main deck lead down to the long, narrow (and heated, unusually!) swimming pool, which is perfect for swimming lengths. There are chairs and loungers at each end, while close by is Mahali Mzuri's spa, totally open to the view at the front and stocked with locally made products. A variety of massages and treatments are on offer here, at extra cost.
The 12 tented suites at Mahali Mzuri are in themselves highly unusual. Designed to look like masaai shields, each has a gigantic steel frame embedded in huge blocks of concrete on a heavily landscaped slope strewn with quarried rock. This frame supports a vast synthetic-canvas roof, suspended from a seven-metre pole topped by a lightning rod, and designed to make the most of the natural breeze. The canvas tents beneath are smaller than you might expect, raised on wooden platforms and with something of the feel of a hotel room. In the bedroom you'll find carpeted floors, a large comfortable bed and a leather sofa , and each tent is equipped with a fridge, tea and coffee station, white bathrobes and a dark wooden writing desk with information booklets. The tents have charging facilities, but the camp's reliance on its generator means that the electricity is normally off for a few hours during the night. The camps had solar panels installed in 2023.
The en-suite bathrooms are stylish, with lots of dark wood and contemporary fittings, incuding twin ceramic washbasins, walk-in showers and claw-foot baths. The towels are delightfully soft and locally made toiletries are provided.
Two of these tents are slightly larger than the others, and designed for families, with a separate lounge area that can accommodate two children on pull-out sofas.
The activities at Mahali Mzuri include morning and afternoon game drives, or full-day drives on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It is also possible to organize game drives into the main Masaai Mara Reserve (park fees payable separately). Uncommercial village visits, timed to meet or send off the cattle, are also available. Activities are led by the experienced guide team, which has a number of silver certified guides amongst its ranks.
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara Conservancies, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 3 nights or more.
- Directions
- The flight from Nairobi into the Maasai Mara’s Mara North airstrip takes about 70 minutes. From here, it’s a 45-minute transfer (or longer if your turn it into a game drive) back to camp.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- We didn’t have time for a meal when we stopped at Mahali Mzuri, but it was described to us as quite modern with a lot of Asian fusion influence. The head chef is John Maina Edison. They have a garden for fresh salads and herbs and are happy to accommodate any dietary requests.
- Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service available.
- Drinks included
- All drinks are included at Mahali Mzuri.
Special interests
- Luxury
- If you’re familiar with Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition resorts, the features at his ultra-modern Mahali Mzuri will come as no surprise. The huge glass table in the dining area, the smart swimming pool and the spa tent are only a few of Mahali Mzuri’s luxurious facilities.
- See ideas for Luxury in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Mahali Mzuri welcome children of eight years or over.
- Property’s age restrictions
- The minimum age is 6.
- Special activities & services
- Mahali Mzuri has kites, bows and arrows, and spears so that children can learn to be Maasai warriors with the help of their guides.
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- Mahali Mzuri is not really suitable for younger children. It has quite an adult atmosphere and is unfenced. It is also located on a steep hill with drops from the front of most of the main areas and rooms – though there are rails. However even the swimming pool is designed for swimming lanes rather than playing.
- Notes
- Children must be supervised by their parents at all times.
Please note: some of the rooms at Mahali Mzuri are not suitable for young children because of balconies with high drop-offs and limited protection.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Mahali Mzuri
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Mahali Mzuri 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

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50% success

50% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

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Communications
- Power supply notes
- Generator.
Lights and charging facilities in the rooms and main areas operate all day and night. - Communications
- WiFi is available throughout Mahali Mzuri and they also have iPads that guests can borrow. The internet is so fast here that live streaming and Skype is not a problem. There is good cellphone reception too.
- TV & radio
- There is a satellite TV in the central lounge.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- Mahali Mzuri uses a high-tech purification system to clean the water from the borehole for washing and drinking. As a result they can largely avoid plastic bottles.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is an on-site nurse at Mahali Mzuri and 25% of the staff are first-aid trained. There are first-aid kits on site and in each vehicle. There is a heli- pad by the lodge and a private airstrip 10 minutes away for use in an emergency.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris (local guards) are on patrol 24 hours a day.
- Fire safety
- Mahali Mzuri has fire extinguishers and fire hoses in all the main areas and in each tent. They even have fire detectors! The camp conducts regular fire-safety briefings and there are information cards in the suites.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Private activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included at Mahali Mzuri. As it is machine-washed and line-dried, underwear is included.
- Money
- No foreign exchange is available.
- Accepted payment on location
- Mahali Mzuri accepts all major currencies as well as MasterCard, Visa and Amex with no surcharge.
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Mahali Mzuri's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Mahali Mzuri.
Excursions from Mahali Mzuri
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Mahali Mzuri. 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 Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just ten tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.

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.

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 Mahali Mzuri 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

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