Wildlife moves with the rains and the seasons, so the timing of your trip shapes what you will see. Below is a month-by-month guide and the highlights to plan around. Exact timings — especially the Great Migration river crossings — vary from year to year with the rains, so treat these as a guide, not a guarantee. We are happy to advise on the best dates for your trip.
Wildlife Calendar & Best Seasons
When to travel for the Great Migration, calving, big cats, birding and the beach.
Month by Month
Kenya Through the Year
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Jan – Feb | Hot & dry | Excellent general game viewing, superb big cats, Amboseli elephants and calving on the southern plains. |
| Mar – May | Long rains (green season) | Lush landscapes, fewer visitors and lower prices. Afternoon showers; a few camps close. |
| Jun | Dry season begins | Vegetation thins and wildlife gathers at water — game viewing improves quickly. |
| Jul – Oct | Peak / dry season | The best overall wildlife viewing and the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, with dramatic river crossings (usually late Jul–Sep). Book early. |
| Nov | Short rains | Brief showers, green scenery and excellent birdwatching as migrants arrive. |
| Dec | Warm & mostly dry | Festive season, good game viewing and the best beach weather on the coast. |
Plan around these
Seasonal Highlights
Great Migration · Jul – Oct
Over a million wildebeest and zebra in the Maasai Mara, with river crossings usually late July to September.
Calving Season · Jan – Feb
New life on the southern plains brings intense predator action.
Dry-Season Game Viewing · Jun – Oct
Thin vegetation and busy waterholes make wildlife easy to spot.
Green Season Value · Mar – May & Nov
Lush scenery, newborn animals, fewer crowds and lower prices.
Birdwatching · Nov – Apr
Migratory species join 1,100+ residents — a birder's paradise.
Best Beach Weather · Dec – Mar
Warm, dry days on Diani and the Kenyan coast.
Time it right
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