About Giraffe Manor
A temple to the benign cult of the giraffe, Giraffe Manor is one of Kenya's most popular luxury lodges.
Originally built in 1932, it has been a country house hotel since 1984. Most of the hotel's patch of land comprises the Giraffe Centre, and a group of these gentle creatures roams the grounds. They visit the house and gardens daily to be fed through the windows. If you're aiming to stay here, book as early as you possibly can, as rooms are often taken a year or more ahead.
Giraffe Manor is a unique and charmingly eccentric country house hotel that has enduring appeal. When it first opened, it was neck and shoulders above Nairobi's other places to stay. Our many visits, including stays in both the Main and Garden Manors in 2017 and 2018, have convinced us that it's still one of the best places around the city. Having long outgrown its early novelty appeal, Giraffe Manor is somewhere to which people can happily return over and over again. The frequent difficulty of getting a room here, often as much as a year or more in advance, is testament to its allure.
Our view
Giraffe Manor is a unique and charmingly eccentric country house hotel that has enduring appeal. When it first opened, it was neck and shoulders above Nairobi's other places to stay. Our many visits, including stays in both the Main and Garden Manors in 2017 and 2018, have convinced us that it's still one of the best places around the city. Having long outgrown its early novelty appeal, Giraffe Manor is somewhere to which people can happily return over and over again. The frequent difficulty of getting a room here, often as much as a year or more in advance, is testament to its allure.
Accommodation
12 rooms
Children
Good for all ages.
Open
1 June to 30 April
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Traveller reviews of Giraffe Manor
38 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 13 Feb 2025, 1 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 3 Nov 2024, 1 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 12 Jun 2024, 2 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 5 Feb 2024, 1 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 12 Dec 2023, 2 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 24 Jan 2023, 1 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 6 Oct 2022, 2 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Sep 2022, 1 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 23 Aug 2022, 2 nights
"Giraffe Manor review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Jul 2022, 2 nights
"Our stay far exceeded my high expectations! It’s wonderful! "
Overall rating: Excellent













































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Rothschild Giraffe Safari
8 days • 3 locations • 1 country
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
A example of a luxury Kenyan safari, starting at the iconic Giraffe Manor before fabulous stays on the spectacular Solio Reserve and Sala’s Camp in a remote corner of the Maasai Mara.
Visiting Nairobi, Maasai Mara and 1 other area
US$12,650 - US$17,830 per person
Giraffe Manor: Our full report
A temple to the benign cult of the giraffe, Giraffe Manor is one of Kenya's most popular luxury lodges.
Originally built in 1932, it has been a country house hotel since 1984. Most of the hotel's patch of land comprises the Giraffe Centre, and a group of these gentle creatures roams the grounds. They visit the house and gardens daily to be fed through the windows. If you're aiming to stay here, book as early as you possibly can, as rooms are often taken a year or more ahead.
Located in the southern part of Nairobi's suburb of Karen, Giraffe Manor was founded by the US conservationist Betty Leslie-Melville and her husband Jock, who bought the house in 1974, rescued it from dereliction, and opened it to guests in 1984. It was bought by its present owners in 2007.
With the original building in the style of a Scottish hunting lodge, the hotel now has two main buildings – the original Giraffe Manor or Historic Manor, with six rooms, and Garden Manor, a six-room annexe architecturally in keeping with the original, that was first completed in 2011, and extended with two further rooms in 2017.
Giraffe Manor's style hovers somewhere between playing at lord of the manor and doing it for real. The quite formal physical surroundings are tempered by a focus on comfort and a practical informality of management style that places guests' needs at the top of the agenda.
The main shared areas of Giraffe Manor are all on the ground floor of the original manor house – the comfortable lounge, furnished with a mix of armchairs, sofas, occasional tables and artworks, and the famous breakfast room, known as the 'Sun Room', where the resident giraffes crane their heads every morning through the huge windows to feed on giraffe pellets that guests are encouraged to offer them. Some guests are even up for a 'giraffe kiss' – holding a pellet between the lips for it to be retrieved by a giraffe's sticky tongue. Also in the main house is a formal wood-panelled dining room, where dinner is served to guests who dine together at the large table. At the south-east corner of the main manor is the library - a cosy hideaway with books, board games and TV, for evenings or rare indoor days.
The Garden Manor has its own manorial hallway and staircase, stylish sitting room and formal dining room. Behind the Garden Manor, there's a separate, small conservatory or greenhouse called the Orchid House, where people sometimes have private dinners.
Between the main house and the Garden Manor is a pleasant courtyard patio area, which is the usual location for lunch, or for guests wanting to eat dinner privately. To the left of the Garden Manor is a shop that carries a good range of interesting and stylish crafts and souvenirs, and a treatment room.
All ten superior rooms and two suites at Giraffe Manor are en-suite and well furnished. Formerly, the eight superior rooms were noticeably larger and/or had better views than the two standard rooms, and were also more expensive. In 2019, the two former standard rooms, both in the east wing of the Main Manor (Lynn and Marlon) were rebuilt and considerably expanded and remodelled to become superior rooms.
Please note that until the end of 2024, rooms in the Historic Manor can be booked on a no-strings basis, while rooms in the Garden Manor can only be booked by people who are also staying at one or more of Giraffe Manor's sister properties for a minimum of two nights: Solio, Sasaab or Sala's Camp. The only exception is if you are booking Giraffe Manor within four weeks of arrival, in which case you can book Garden rooms without having to book one of the sister properties. This policy switches round from 1 January 2025, when the Garden Manor rooms will be bookable with no strings attached, while rooms in the Historic Manor will only be bookable alongside a booking at one of the sister properties.
All the rooms at Giraffe Manor are named after living or former giraffe residents of the manor grounds. Incorporated on the first floor of the main manor are four superior rooms:
- Jock, a fine twin room with two single beds (can be pushed together to make one large bed) on the south-east corner above the library;
- Betty, with a king-size, four-poster bed and a big sofa, on the south-west corner above the Sun Room;
- Daisy, with a double bed convertible to twin beds, on the north-west corner, above the Sun Room.
- Marlon, with a double bed convertible to twin beds, on the east side of the house, with a separate lounge area and private balcony.
- Lynn on the ground floor in the northeast corner (double or twin).
The Karen Blixen Suite in the Historic Manor is huge (113m² or 1,216ft²), and includes a lounge, an en-suite double room and an en-suite twin room, with a shared terrace from where you can feed the giraffes.
The Garden Manor has been beautifully built to stay architecturally close, and as far as possible similar in details and furnishings, to the main house. Being set back from the main lawns, you don't get the same degree of giraffe interaction here, but all the rooms (Arlene, Kelly, Helen, Salma, Edd and the Finch Hatton Suite) are superior standard and you can sometimes feed giraffes from Kelly and Helen. On our most recent visit to Giraffe Manor, in 2018, we stayed in Kelly and were greeted by two giraffes nosing through the window first thing in the morning.
Not surprisingly, the bathrooms in the Garden Manor rooms are more contemporary in style than those in the main house, with glass-walled walk-in rainfall showers and features such as Kitengela stained-glass windows and skylights.
There's a large, family suite – Finch Hatton – with a big, four-poster bed plus a single on the ground floor and twins in a loft/mezzanine area.
Then there are three lovely first-floor rooms in the Garden Manor:
- Kelly which can be a twin or a triple, and features a skylight and Kitengela glass;
- Helen, a twin or double;
- Arlene which is a double.
All the rooms on the property are equipped with hairdryers, torches, safes, designer toiletries – and small buckets of giraffe pellets of course – but there are no locks from the outside on the doors in the Manor House (Garden Manor rooms are lockable, and all rooms can be locked from within). All the rooms have UK-style, three-pin sockets and you can charge equipment or use hairdryers at any time. Superior rooms all have bath tubs (the two standard rooms do not), and Jock, Betty, Kelly, Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen have big fireplaces – you may well want to have a fire lit on a chilly July evening.
The nearby Retreat offers guests spa facilities, an infinity pool, breezy roof top terrace and cafe, all available at an extra cost. The Retreat also has several bookable day rooms. Please note, however, the day rooms can only be booked if you are a guest of one Giraffe Manor's sister properties, Solio, Sasaab or Sala's Camp.
The most popular activity at Giraffe Manor is simply relaxing: there's a blissfully comfortable atmosphere here and the sort of staff who tend to anticipate your habitual needs, whatever they may be – cold beer, cup of tea, snack, glass of water…
Meeting, feeding and observing the delightful Rothschild giraffes is itself hugely enjoyable and amusingly chaotic, and particularly fun for children. You can do this a breakfast time (either in the Historic Manor's Sun Room or from the breakfast room of the Garden Manor), or out on the terrace at tea time in the afternoon. As the property generally runs at capacity all year round, it is worth noting that experiences like afternoon tea with the giraffes are typically shared between 15-25 guests at a time.
The Giraffe Centre, which gives Giraffe Manor its raison d'être, is run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife to conserve rare Rothschild giraffes, and it's open daily from 9am to 6pm (no charge for Giraffe Manor guests). You can feed and photograph giraffes from the high-level viewing platform here.
While at Giraffe Manor (between the 1pm check-in and 10am check-out) you have use of a driver and vehicle for any local excursions you wish to make. Local visits around the suburb of Karen include the Elephant Orphanage run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Utamaduni crafts shop, the Karen Blixen Museum and several small galleries and shopping centres. When you stay at Giraffe Manor, transport to visit all of them is included, but entrance fees, where applicable, are extra. Only visits to the AFEW Giraffe Centre itself, across the lawn, are included in the rates.
To visit Nairobi National Park, it's best to book an early morning or late afternoon visit in advance with Expert Africa, as the lodge has to organise a suitable 4x4 vehicle (additional costs). You can also spend the day volunteering at a One Horizon feeding centre in one of Nairobi's slums (additional costs) – which is about as far from Giraffe Manor in every sense but distance as you could possibly imagine.
Geographics
- Location
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 2 nights
- Directions
- By day, allow one hour for the transfer to/from Wilson Airport, and 1.5 hours to/from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Arriving late at night into JKIA, we reached Giraffe Manor in 25 minutes.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- Breakfast includes homemade muesli, pastries, fruit and the whole works if you'd like a cooked breakfast. But the food is somewhat overshadowed by the interaction with the giraffes!
At both lunch and dinner there is a set three-course menu. During our last stay in November 2018, we found the food to be nicely balanced, plentiful and with an element of sophistication. Dishes included a roasted vegetable, feta and tomato relish mezze; Swahili red snapper kebabs with a coconut cashew sauce; and apple crumble with Chantilly cream.
If you arrive very late, off a flight for example, you will be offered a later supper. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Breakfast is eaten in the Sun Room (if staying in the main manor), a conservatory-style room at the west end of the main manor, which is the daily venue for the famous giraffe-feeding when the giraffes crane their necks through the large windows for pellets. Guests usually eat lunch in the outdoor patio area between the main manor and the garden manor and dine together in the evenings around a large table in the formal main manor dining room. Arranged in advance, you can also eat in your room. Betty and Daisy rooms share a first-floor patio/roof terrace, which is a popular spot for a romantic dinner.
- Drinks included
- All standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included, except Champagne, luxury spirits and premium wines for which there are set charges. You can also put in special requests in advance which will be supplied at cost where possible.
Special interests
- Photography holidays
- Giraffe Manor is a wonderful place to get close-up photos of giraffes. It also makes a very appropriate venue for photographing special occcasions. If you prefer to have this done by a professional photographer, Giraffe Manor can lay on a photo shoot at extra cost.
- See ideas for Photography holidays in Kenya
- Luxury
- From its grand hallway to the designer toiletries, everything about this lodge makes a statement of luxury. While every room is exceptionally comfortable, it is the unique attraction of the giraffes that makes this Nairobi’s most popular luxury base.
- See ideas for Luxury in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children of all ages are welcome.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- Feeding giraffes at the house and visiting the Giraffe Centre itself are both very popular with children.
- Equipment
- Cots and highchairs are available.
- Generally recommended for children
- We warmly recommend Giraffe Manor for children. Most children will love the whole set-up and the house is clearly very welcoming to them. However, parents need to be wary of mixing little ones with giraffe hooves. If your children want to run around or play in the gardens, please be sure to enlist the help of staff to clear the area of megafauna and stay with the children the whole time.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There's a backup generator to ensure 24 hour power.
- Communications
- There's free WiFi throughout the Main Manor and Garden Manor. There are good mobile signals for most networks.
- TV & radio
- There's a TV in the library in the main manor.
- Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- The Nairobi Water company provides treated water for the plumbing, while drinking water is decanted to flasks and jugs from bought-in supplies.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Karen Hospital is a seven-minute drive away. There’s also a branch of Nairobi Hospital nearby that’s open 24 hours.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- The giraffes around the grounds have a gentle demeanour but they are very large and can headbutt or kick, so guests need to observe house rules when getting anywhere near them while outside. The manor has round-the-clock security, including a guarded gate.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in all the buildings and Giraffe Manor’s fire policy is detailed in the room packs.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Full Laundry Service is included, and takes 24-48 hours depending on the weather.
- Money
- There are digital room safes in every room. Foreign exchange is available or can be facilitated at nearby forex centres. There are ATMs at nearby shopping centres in Karen, which can be included in your excursions in lodge vehicles.
- Accepted payment on location
- Cash payments may be made in US dollars, euros, pounds sterling or Kenyan shillings. Visa, MasterCard and Amex are accepted with no surcharge.
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Giraffe Manor's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Giraffe Manor.
Excursions from Giraffe Manor
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Giraffe Manor. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit
One hour, by pre-booking only
Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage for a close-up encounter with elephant orphans – and sometimes rhino orphans. You can visit during daily between 11:00 and 12:00, or make special arrangements for a private visit in the afternoon.
More about Elephant Orphans visit
Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit
One hour visit is generally recommended
Visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre for an eyeball-level encounter with gentle Rothschild giraffes. They visit this tree-level platform to be fed pellets.
More about Giraffe Centre visit
Safari in Nairobi National Park
Half day - AM or PM, or full day
It is truly remarkable that the plains and woodland of Nairobi National Park, an area of around 70km² (some 17,000 acres) should exist in a near-natural state so close to the city that in any other conurbation they would just be suburbs.
More about Nairobi Nat. Park SafariOther lodges in Nairobi
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Four Points Nairobi Airport
The Four Points by Sheraton, set within the perimeter of Nairobi International Airport, is ideally located for a first or last night in Kenya.

The Emakoko
The Emakoko is a luxurious, owner-managed safari lodge in a beautiful gorge on the edge of Nairobi National Park.

Crowne Plaza Nbi Apt
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (formerly known as the Lazizi Premiere and now part of the InterContinental Hotels Group) is the oldest hotel at Nairobi International Airport.

Eka Hotel
The Eka is an affordably priced business-class hotel in a relatively convenient location between Nairobi International Airport and Wilson Airport.

Ole-Sereni
The Ole-Sereni is a modern, stylish hotel neighbouring Nairobi National Park and located 6km from Wilson domestic airport.

Macushla House
Macushla House is a very pleasant, small, owner-managed bed and breakfast hotel in a leafy part of southwest Nairobi, very convenient for visiting the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage.

Aero Club of East Africa
The Aero Club of East Africa is a private members' club in the grounds of Wilson Airport, Nairobi, offering offering comfortable rooms and a good restaurant, bar and swimming pool to non-members.

Tamarind Tree Hotel
The Tamarind Tree is a stylish international hotel in a great location next to Wilson Airport.

Karen Gables
Karen Gables is a small, high quality hotel in Nairobi with expansive gardens and only seven rooms.

Hemingways Nairobi
Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury country-house style hotel, with a spa and gym, in the wealthy suburb of Karen.

The Norfolk Hotel
The Norfolk Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nairobi and has a reputation for its colourful history dating back to 1904.

Nairobi Tented Camp
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only tented camp located inside Nairobi National Park, making it a great option for a true safari stay close to the city and airports.


Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens and Cottages is small luxury boutique hotel located in the peaceful suburb of Karen.

Sankara
Sankara is a strikingly built hotel in the bustling central Nairobi suburb of Westlands, primarily used as a business stay, with very good dining and leisure facilities.

Eden Nairobi
One Forty Eight is a very stylish boutique hotel in one of the leafiest corners of the southwest Nairobi suburb of Karen-Langata. The Giraffe Centre at Giraffe Manor is just a 10-minute walk away.

Ololo Safari Lodge
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm is a luxury property on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park.

The Stanley
The Stanley is a large, traditional hotel – the oldest in Nairobi – offering a range of facilities.

Tribe
Design-led, contemporary hotel in the Village Market area of Gigiri, a largely diplomatic and luxury residential suburb 10km north of Nairobi’s central business district.

Acacia Camp
Acacia Camp is a rustic and affordable safari camp in a wildlife sanctuary a 30-minute drive towards Mombasa from Nairobi’s international airport.
When to go to Nairobi
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Giraffe Manor in Nairobi
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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