![Great Migration herd crossing the Mara River, Kenya and Tanzania safari](https://images.followalice.com/3t7r199VlaP3jpmE5lIOO4/8e68348bc6009b34f850063947e69e92/Great_Migration_herd_crossing_the_Mara_River__Kenya_and_Tanzania_safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=1200&h=1200)
Best time to visit Kenya for safaris, beach holidays and diving
November to March is the best time for beach and diving holidays in Kenya, while July to October is when you can enjoy a Great Migration safari. Read on for some other important details, as well as our advice for missing the crowds during peak seasons.
![Aerial view of the resort The Sands at Chale Island near Diani Beach in Kenya](https://images.followalice.com/55uQ1aWnrQSU45EcN22NeG/617df01048d9f28f90485163eeeddeaf/The_Sands_at_Chale_Island.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
August and especially September are the perfect months to visit Kenya if you want to see the Great Migration AND have a great beach holiday that includes some diving.
When can I see the Great Migration in Kenya?
![Kenya-Map-infographic](https://images.followalice.com/v7lCgi6Aj6s0JsE5WV1d6/4760f55aec19a150c664cedd3d3cbcf4/Kenya-Map.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=597)
August and especially September offer you the closest thing to a guarantee of seeing the Great Migration in Kenya.
![Ours. Wildebeests train, Great Migration, Kenya safari](https://images.followalice.com/5UGefjkIR7oiv9t9uJkwZJ/91b92f9eff6b454caf4104a5c4180063/Ours._Wildebeests_train__Great_Migration__Kenya_safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=449)
![Ours. Enormous wildebeests herd crossing Mara River in Kenya and Tanzania, safari, Great Migration](https://images.followalice.com/4cxq9eZE6aCmmYoJiXAaLf/091a4500ba0845941ccee6dba23f9c56/Ours._Enormous_wildebeests_herd_crossing_Mara_River_in_Kenya_and_Tanzania__safari__Great_Migration_1.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=370)
When is the best time for a Kenya safari in general?
Avoid the hottest and most humid months See as many different animals as possible Witness the birthing season and see baby animals See lots of predatory action Enjoy softer, greener and flowering landscapes See many migratory bird species Avoid the crowds
![elephant mother and newborn calf Kenya walking through very dry savannah](https://images.followalice.com/7M2bKNe2XXefYKNWZdy3lI/f86193c4b7654b0843e9618393312e01/elephant-274003_1280.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
When is the weather the most pleasant for safari?
![Kenya-Safari-seasons-weather-infographic](https://images.followalice.com/1JIAwtQLS2dMYbIz1u2LDR/c62ada827e8ac43239b946d425551a3b/Kenya-Safari-seasons-weather-infographic.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=468)
The short dry season (which is good for safaris) is mid December to March. The long wet season (when a safari isn't a good idea) is April to early June. The long dry season (which is excellent for safaris and thus peak season) is late June to mid October. The short wet season (which is risky for safari, but can be rewarding) is November and sometimes early December.
![African wild dogs rainy safari with safari vehicles on paved road behind](https://images.followalice.com/3wlRMAFsXuZLZdWtY3dTK1/27a0c6efd1a829a0e6831b9ce7b2bd02/Arican_wild_dogs_rainy_safari_with_safari_vehicles_on_paved_road_behind.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
![Safari vehicle and passengers in Africa](https://images.followalice.com/4kBgB8uOUUdiBl08lzjR2z/cdd46dcbf686e058a87e6841827f9b6b/Safari_vehicle_in_Africa__1_.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
When is peak safari season in Kenya?
January to March June to October
![Great Migration wildebeests running across dry plain with safari vehicles in the background](https://images.followalice.com/4CRJN31UUur9HOGNxgGoAP/82f48b1a23108e992aa7c19d2b5a9ccb/Great_Migration.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=800)
When will I see the most animals?
![Adult African buffalo completely covered in mud standing in tall grass and looking at camera](https://images.followalice.com/3YaCXHASy6bv9a6LiSWqy4/735bb3e966cae73ac6e33134fb15a0b9/african-buffalo-gb42adcf5b_1280.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Amboseli National Park , especially known for its massive elephant herds and having the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro in the background. Tsavo National Parks (East and West) , famous for being one of the largest wildlife conservation areas in the world. Samburu National Park, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba Reserve , which are home to unique wildlife species not found in other parts of the country. Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley, which is particularly renowned for its large population of pink flamingos. Aberdare National Park in the central highlands of Kenya, which is a lush and scenic park where you can spot a great diversity of wildlife.
When is birthing season so I can see baby animals?
![Zebra foal standing on dirt road looking at camera face on](https://images.followalice.com/3U7yy0EkGoLJr0mSRpR6tH/2deb25409f58e6f1c3e7b97f4b8ff31b/Zebra_foal_stnading_on_dirt_road_looking_at_camera_face_on.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=536)
![Three lionesses lying on the grass together in Kenya, safari](https://images.followalice.com/6hnkEPYg5AqUe1PWVCkvS4/03acc288bc47c08f5ff0f70c9a78492d/Three_lionesses_lying_on_the_gtass_together_in_Kenya__safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
When is the best time for lush, flowering landscapes?
![Wildebeests grazing in Maasai Mara, Kenya, with setting sun](https://images.followalice.com/iKTmtsiwHu89yk4oiGTQt/509f4d219ad4bedd4fa5d1ec0ef1c3ec/Wildebeests_grazing_in_Maasai_Mara__Kenya__with_setting_sun.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Hell's Gate National Park , which has towering cliffs, gorges and geothermal activity, and also offers a variety of plant life like red hot pokers and Cape chestnuts. Lake Nakuru National Park , whose eponymous lake is surrounded by picturesque acacia woodlands and grasslands that sprout colourful flowers after the rains.
![Zebras and Thomson's gazelles in Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya safari](https://images.followalice.com/5sVZM0kRktwakgmfxSf8fi/b3c79a18b267d3147ba4549c94a16dcc/Zebras_and_antelopes_in_Hell-s_Gate_National_Park__Kenya_safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
When will I be able to see many bird species?
![rotschnabeltoko or hornbill on a broken tree branch](https://images.followalice.com/1GrLXouFsRLdWSW7LI6Cip/65cdd739f124cdc4cb3f58002a11c1b2/rotschnabeltoko-g9007a79e8_1920.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
When (or how) can I avoid the safari crowds?
![safari vehicles Serengeti](https://images.followalice.com/3XKkItti4TrCw0ad3kBexb/ef3b0f476da0f9d966fc78b55f066d33/Serengeti-crowds-vehicles-peak-season-1024x683.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Visit during off-peak season or at the very start or end of peak season (thus giving yourself the chance of seeing the Great Migration herds). Go on a northern Kenya safari.
![Close up of reticulated giraffe from neck up](https://images.followalice.com/GBjnH61wBlk1KsoNa4hSr/98d8eba8153191061db4983183f817cf/Close_up_of_reticulaated_giraffe_from_neck_up.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=530)
The vegetation in this region is drier and very different from the south, and so offers a different sort of beauty to enjoy. You can look for the 'Samburu Special Five' (gerenuks, reticulated giraffes, Grevy's zebras, Somali ostriches and beisa oryxes), which are found nowhere else in Kenya!
![Gerenuk in Samburu region, Kenya safari](https://images.followalice.com/1N8oZsxbIDdksVWYXYD3Nj/794f547094599c6eeff01b5ae39c747d/Gerenuk_in_Samburu_region__Kenya_safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=536)
![Male Somali ostrich, or blue-necked ostrich, Kenya safari](https://images.followalice.com/6xYctMQuFyjpuD5K7ffrKD/ccb9499d65c6a9220d36465007665013/Male_Somali_ostrich__or_blue-necked_ostrich__Kenya_safari.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
When is the best time for a beach holiday in Kenya?
November to March are the best months for a Kenya beach holiday.
![Man in beach clothes jumping for joy on beach in Kenya](https://images.followalice.com/1KRVRfOUuqLOuAZVhLRjMp/60896fc72704aef8e756bbc99a9e1a1e/Man_in_beach_clothes_jumping_for_joy_on_beach_in_Kenya.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=532)
![Kenya-Beaches-seasons-weather-infographic](https://images.followalice.com/59q8pLCxEkEki2S1zYcTBO/80b18e976125810d906b5a9be8c3db75/Kenya-Beaches-seasons-weather-infographic.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=469)
When is a good time for water sports?
![Two women in bikinis sitting in the shallows of a Kenya beach with three windsurfers on the water](https://images.followalice.com/6m0uD5T25H00ZwK9zy9s7t/46065b660c4ba33ebac873ea22cc2754/Two_women_in_bikinis_sitting_in_the_shallows_of_a_Kenya_beach_with_three_windsurfers_on_the_water.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=532)
![Small boy with goggles on head sitting at the edge of the sea in Kenya](https://images.followalice.com/2Bitlt7I6jFDPCAguAe4pj/b9bb208c7439f23d43736c53af8615a7/Small_boy_with_goggles_on_head_sitting_at_the_edge_of_the_sea_in_Kenya.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
When is peak season for Kenya's beaches?
While many can't get leave in February, those that can should consider this month for a Kenya beach holiday as the weather is perfect and the beaches aren't too crowded.
![Camel facing camera with couple holding hands and walking along beach in Kenya in background](https://images.followalice.com/2f7tMYNPc6xNenOR63aK1Y/06e0a785ad08a450434a44d23ffe16a1/Camel_facing_camera_with_couple_holding_hands_and_walking_along_beach_in_Kenya_in_background.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=536)
When is the best time for diving in Kenya?
![Ours. The Sands at Chale Island, Kenya beach holiday](https://images.followalice.com/6z9Eg0yJtIY6wAl4MW7ulG/c516aebea253ffb05d411e661c59691b/Ours._The_Sands_at_Chale_Island__Kenya_beach_holiday.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
November, December and March generally offer the calmest waters and thus best visibility for snorkelling and diving in Kenya.
![vervet monkeys eating out of a bin](https://images.followalice.com/2w9PiU8iic2pzD3eluNn5M/b5b186495ffd3a4d76a2a575522d80b4/diving-g477517afe_1920.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Excitingly for divers, Kenya has over 250 coral reef species on offer!
![Sushi at Sands of Chale Island](https://images.followalice.com/5V6RbI3Rm2919O6zuHS9be/278578d4d83d60bd0024719762a69f89/Sushi_at_Sands_of_Chale_Island.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Diani Beach's average sea temperature
![Beach Diani Kenya ocean rocky outcrop](https://images.followalice.com/7LzGDwsFq35gKRYFXu1YCs/fc2d8762209a35090fd2f8819941325c/Beach_Diani_Kenya_ocean_rocky_outcrop.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
When is the best time for a safari AND a beach holiday in Kenya?
To increase your chances of good coastal weather, head to Maasai Mara National Reserve for the Great Migration before heading to the coast.
![Masai warrior with spears sitting on a rock on a beach in Kenya](https://images.followalice.com/3rQoSflJNQuBOV20Z4a3MI/84e215638f6585e3dbed9282ea3576f7/Ours__Masai_warrior_sitting_on_rock_on_beach_in_Kenya.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)