About Mara Expedition Camp
The small and smart Mara Expedition Camp is located in a patch of woodland atop a low hill, just outside ...
... the northern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. While it is also very close to the edge of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, it is actually a member of the Mara North Conservancy, so well placed to explore that game-viewing area (unlimited game drives in both Mara North Conservancy and the Maasai Mara National reserve are included in your activities), and to witness the wildebeest migration in season.
Mara Expedition is a high-quality and luxurious bushcamp which has succeeded in combining a fairly traditional 'safari' feel with a high standard of guiding and service. With easy access to both the national reserve and the Mara North Conservancy, and no major road arteries nearby, the game-viewing experience is relatively exclusive by the standards of the (usually busy) national reserve. We absolutely love Mara Expedition and consider it to be one of the best camps in the Mara, as well as well suited for families.
Our view
Mara Expedition is a high-quality and luxurious bushcamp which has succeeded in combining a fairly traditional 'safari' feel with a high standard of guiding and service. With easy access to both the national reserve and the Mara North Conservancy, and no major road arteries nearby, the game-viewing experience is relatively exclusive by the standards of the (usually busy) national reserve. We absolutely love Mara Expedition and consider it to be one of the best camps in the Mara, as well as well suited for families.
Accommodation
5 standard tents & 1 family tent
Children
Best for 12 +
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Private activities
Traveller reviews of Mara Expedition Camp
3 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 23 Sep 2024, 3 nights
"Mara Expedition Camp review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 18 Jan 2023, 4 nights
"Mara Expedition Camp review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 29 Sep 2015, 8 nights
"Excellent bush camp in a superb location"
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 33 pictures of Mara Expedition Camp to get the candid view.
View galleryMara Expedition Camp: Our full report
The small and smart Mara Expedition Camp is located in a patch of woodland atop a low hill, just outside ...
... the northern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. While it is also very close to the edge of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, it is actually a member of the Mara North Conservancy, so well placed to explore that game-viewing area (unlimited game drives in both Mara North Conservancy and the Maasai Mara National reserve are included in your activities), and to witness the wildebeest migration in season.
Mara Expedition was designed as the bushcamp equivalent of its established sister camp, Mara Plains, which has an exceptional reputation for high standards and top-quality guiding. When we last visited, we found Mara Expedition to be slightly simpler in style and size than its luxurious sister camp, yet it certainly kept pace in regards to its quality of food, service, and guiding.
Mara Expedition’s setting is near to leopard territory and at the right time of the year (between August and November, though it can vary widely) the great wildebeest migration passes right through camp.
Each of the five standard tents at Mara Expedition has a private deck that looks out onto a secluded patch of lawn, equipped with a comfortable day bed for wiling away the afternoon between morning and evening game drives. On the decking, you'll find a small table with two director's chairs and, within the tents, old Indian chests, wooden bookcases, colourful rugs, and pretty light-casings. Campaign chests – historically used for transporting goods on expedition – open to offer a variety of teas and coffee, allowing you to enjoy hot drinks from the comfort of your room, and the beds can be configured as either twins or doubles.
The sixth tent is a family tent, featuring a connected double and twin bedroom with a shared ensuite bathroom and large veranda. Electricity is available 24/7 across the entire camp, and the tents glow from dappled solar-power lanterns in the evenings.
Each en-suite bathroom features twin beaten-brass basins with hand soap, and soap for washing delicates in lovely antique-style silver pots and wooden trinket boxes. A spacious walk-in safari shower is located to the side of the washbasins – with hot water available 24/7 and Kenyan toiletries provided. There is also a flushing toilet.
Like the bedroom tents, the central mess tent also looks out across the lawns and is decorated in a similar style, with dark wooden chests, deep leather and beaded floor cushions, brass lamps, and colourful rugs. On one side of the tent is a lounge area, while the other hosts a large table for convivial dining. Impressive life-size prints of Beverley and Dereck's wildlife photographs hang framed upon the walls.
Following one of the beautifully maintained paths from the main mess, you will discover a large safari truck concealed behind some of the camp's shrubs. A wooden staircase leads up the side of the truck, where a wooden platform opens out to reveal a small decking area and pool! Whilst not large enough to swim laps in, the pool provides the chance for a refreshing dip, and the views from the top of the platform, out across the surrounding tree tops and plains, are very impressive.
Breakfast and lunch are usually held alfresco, in front of the mess tent, where guests also gather around the firepit for a drink before dinner. Weather dependent, dinner can be enjoyed in the communal area, on the lawn, or private dining can be arranged upon your room's decking. For guests' final night, an incredibly special, interactive cooking experience typically takes place with the camp's chef, with seating arranged at the 'kitchen bar'.
Mara Expedition also has a shop with some beaded jewellery and interesting artefacts. Guests are welcome to visit the more comprehensive shop at Mara Plains, which is a five-minute drive away.
The activities at Mara Expedition focus very firmly on wildlife. The surrounding bush is prime big-cat country and guests have some flexibility on how long and how far their game drives will go. The camp has good access to both the Maasai Mara National Reserve in which it stands, and the Mara North Conservancy, which spans out to the north.
The camp has four open-sided Land Cruisers enabling panoramic views and great photographic opportunities – and the vehicles also have fully stocked fridges. A Canon 50D camera (with wide-angle and 100–400mm lens) and pair of Swarovski binoculars is available for use in every guest tent, with a complimentary SD card containing photos from your stay provided at the end of your visit. The managers at Mara Expedition are also more than happy to offer photographic advice on request.
In addition, you can take to the skies for a hot-air balloon safari (at additional cost), and pay a visit to the local Maasai schools and community projects. Mountain-biking is also possible near the airstrip, out on the open plains, with a backup vehicle in attendance if required, and massage treatments can be arranged with the spa therapist in your room.
Geographics
- Location
- Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 3–4 nights
- Directions
- Following a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Ol Kiombo airstrip, it is a 45-minute drive to camp.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- The food at Mara Expedition was very good when we visited, influenced by the manager who was keen on healthy eating. This led to some unusual but tasty recipes that managed to avoid the heaviness of a traditional four-course dinner.
We took breakfast out with us – and it was an impressive spread. The vehicle stopped at a nice scenic spot, and a table with Maasai blanket tablecloth, chairs and cutlery produced. Hot tea and coffee, porridge, bacon, sausage and toast are usually on offer, as well as eggs baked in peppers and a mixed-seed homemade cereal. Breakfast in camp is usually a buffet of cereals and fruits, as well as fresh baked bread and a choice of cooked items.
It is also possible to take lunch out as a picnic, when a similar table is laid out in a shady spot with a variety of salads on offer. However, we had lunch in camp, al fresco around a communal table. We had a bulgur wheat salad, a salmon and spinach roll and a mixed bean and green leaf salad, accompanied by fresh bread and followed by fruit salad.
Dinner is a more formal meal, served around an elegantly laid dining table. Our starter was a set option – a tasty gazpacho soup. The main course was a choice between a vegetarian pizza made on a special wheat-free base, or oxtail stew with mashed potato and vegetables. For pudding we had a highly inventive chocolate mousse made with avocado rather than cream. You could barely notice the difference! - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Mara Expedition offer private dinners on guests own verandas at request.
- Drinks included
- All drinks apart from Champagne, are included in your stay at Mara Expedition.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- Mara Expedition's spacious family tent, fun pool, and interactive kitchen experiences make it a brilliant base for fun-loving families whose children are sensible with wildlife. Children can also be involved with the camp's vegetable garden.
- See ideas for Family holidays in Kenya
- Honeymoons
- Mara Expedition is a stunning tented camp with a high degree of luxury, that also doesn't divorce you from your surroundings. Its high quality fittings are perfect for a special occasion and private meals can be arranged for added intimacy.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Kenya
- Photography holidays
- Every tent at Mara Expedition is equipped with a Canon 50D camera that guests are invited to use. This is with a wide-angle and 100–400mm lens – fun for budding photographers to experiment with. Guests leave with a complimentary SD card.
- See ideas for Photography holidays in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Mara Expedition welcomes children aged 6 years or older.
- Property’s age restrictions
- No children under 6 are accepted, unless the camp has been booked on an exclusive-use basis.
- Special activities & services
- The staff at Mara Expedition can run a programme designed for children, to include birdwatching, tracking and cooking. They also have a badminton net, so there are things to entertain children here. That said, the camp is unfenced in a leopard-heavy area, and the atmosphere is quite adult.
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- As the camp is unfenced in a wild environment, we would recommend it only for families with well-behaved children of 12 years or older.
- Notes
- Children should be supervised by their parents at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Mara Expedition Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Mara Expedition Camp 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

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Communications
- Power supply notes
- Mara Expedition has solar power day and night, with a generator as back up. There are charging points in the rooms, and the solar power can support hairdryers if necessary.
- Communications
- Wi-Fi is available in guest tents, though not in the communal areas. There's relatively good cellphone reception too, but note that cellphones may be used only in the privacy of guests' tents.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Other
- Water supply notes
- Drinking water is provided in jugs within the guest tents and available in the communal areas. Water bottles are provided for guests to take on game drives. The drinking water is trucked in, in large bottles, that are then decanted into smaller ones for guests. This helps to reduce the waste produced by the camp.
Health & safety
- Medical care
- Mara Expedition has a full first-aid kit in camp and a simpler one in each vehicle.
They are 45 minutes' drive from a clinic at Talek, and have links to flying doctors in case of medical emergency. - Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Guards armed with traditional spears are on duty 24 hours a day at Mara Expedition.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in every tent at Mara Expedition, including the mess tent, as well as in every vehicle. They also have an external fire safety warden who checks the equipment regularly.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Private activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- A full laundry service is included at Mara Expedition. Items are hand washed and line dried. Underwear is included but soap is provided in the tents for these items to be handwashed if preferable.
- Money
- A lockable box is provided in every tent.
- Accepted payment on location
- Tips for the staff and payment for extras can be paid in Kenyan shillings, US dollars, Euros, or GBP pounds. There is also a credit-card machine that accepts most credit cards excluding American Express.
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Mara Expedition Camp's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Mara Expedition Camp.
Excursions from Mara Expedition Camp
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Mara Expedition Camp. 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 SafariOther lodges in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Little Governors'
Little Governors’ Camp sits by a swamp (an old oxbow of the Mara River) in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It has its own balloon-launching site.

Rekero
Rekero is an unpretentious, high-end safari camp, for travellers who take their wildlife watching seriously and are prepared to pay for an exceptional location.

Tangulia Mara
Tangulia Mara is a rustic and traditional safari camp on the border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve owned by Jackson Looseyia of Big Cat Diary fame.

Governors' Camp
Governors' Camp is a large tented camp on the Mara River and one of the oldest in the Mara region, dating from 1972. Although unfenced, and regularly visited by elephants, the whole compound is always busy with human activity.

Serian Nkorombo
Serian Nkorombo is a luxury bush camp in the Musiara sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve on the east side of the Mara River.

Sand River Camp
Luxury colonial-style tented camp on the banks of the Sand River close to the Tanzania border – a great spot to see the wildebeest migration.

Sala's Camp
Sala’s Camp is a comfortable and intimate tented camp, with seven tented rooms, located on the banks of the Sand River, in the far south of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Governors' Il Moran
The smallest and most expensive of the three camps in the Governors’ group, Governors’ Il Moran Camp hugs a meander of the Mara River just 1km north of the main Governors’ Camp.

Basecamp Maasai Mara
Basecamp Maasai Mara is a family-friendly, award-winning eco-camp on a U-bend on the north bank of the Talek River, on the boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Ilkeliani Camp
Ilkeliani Camp is a smart elegant camp overlooking the Talek River, on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Angama Mara
Angama Mara is a top-end luxury tented camp on the Siria-Oloololo escarpment of the Maasai Mara ecoystem, just above the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Ngenche Safari Camp
Mara Ngenche is a non-hosted, luxury tented camp with an antique style, which is perfect if you're looking for private dining while staying somewhere small and personal.

Tipilikwani Camp
Tipilikwani Mara Camp is a larger, mid-range tented camp offering good value from its base on the Talek River just outside the Mara National Reserve.

Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Mara Serena Safari Lodge is a large safari hotel with views of the Mara River, in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.


Mara Explorer Camp
Mara Explorer is a smart tented camp is in a scenic location on a bend in the Talek River.

Governors' Private Camp
Located on a secluded bend of the Mara River, Governor’s Private Camp has just eight tents and is booked on an exclusive basis.

Entim Camp
Entim Camp is well located in the heart of the Mara National Reserve, offering traditionally styled tented accommodation.

Naibor Camp
Naibor has a great location in the Mara reserve, and offers accommodation to suit different budgets, with stylish high-end tents and some simpler ones too.

Ishara
Ishara is a highly luxurious safari camp in the Maasai Mara, located on the Talek River, which is one of the best areas in Kenya for wildlife.
When to go to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Mara Expedition Camp in Maasai Mara National Reserve
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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