The weather in Kenya depends more on your altitude than your latitude, and it's the country's elevation above sea level that sets its climate zones apart. The coast is hot and humid year-round, and the heaviest rain falls during the long rains. Temperatures there are typically 72°F to 86°F (22°C to 30°C).

Inland, and especially in the highlands, the climate is temperate and much cooler. Temperatures range from 57°F to 82°F (14°C to 28°C), and in the cool season around July and August, the evenings can turn genuinely chilly, so newcomers to Nairobi are often surprised to be reaching for a jacket.

The north and northeast are hot and dry, and rainfall there is sparse and unpredictable. Farming is difficult as a result.

Because Kenya is on the equator, temperatures change little from one season to the next. Rainfall is an entirely different story. The country has two distinct wet seasons each year, which are known as the long rains and the short rains. The long rains fall from March to May and bring the heaviest downpours of the year. On the coast, they come a little later and last into June. The short rains, from October to December, are lighter but still important for farming.

The long dry season from June to October is the best time for safaris and outdoor plans, and the wildebeest migration reaches the Masai Mara in the second half of the year. There's also a shorter dry spell around January and February. Wet months are harder going for travel, especially the heavy April and May downpours.

Moving to Nairobi
Moving to Mombasa