Migration season, whale sharks, diving visibility and the rains, all in one calendar. Because we run both, we can tell you honestly when each is at its best.
Most operators can tell you when the Mara is good. Fewer can tell you what the sea is doing that same week: whether the reef will be clear, whether the dhow will sail, whether the whale sharks have arrived off Watamu. Because Emrays runs safaris and coastal trips as one operation, we plan your Kenya safari and beach holiday around both calendars, not just one.
The short version: December to March and July to October are the two windows when bush and beach peak together. The long rains of April and May are the green season: the lowest prices, the emptiest parks, and a coast that still delivers between showers.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara | Good | Good | Shldr | Green | Green | Shldr | Peak ◆ | Peak ◆ | Peak ◆ | Peak ◆ | Shldr | Good |
| Amboseli & Tsavo | Good | Good | Green | Green | Green | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Shldr | Shldr |
| Beach, diving & reef | Peak | Peak ○ | Peak ○ | Good ○ | Shldr | Green | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Shldr | Peak |
| Mt Kenya & highlands | Peak | Peak | Green | Green | Green | Shldr | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Shldr | Good |
| Nairobi & Rift day trips | Good | Good | Green | Green | Green | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Shldr | Good |
Hover or tap a month for detail. Diving visibility peaks July to October at 20 to 30 metres; the short rains in November and December can reduce it to 10 to 15 metres. Humpback whales pass through Kenyan waters July to September. Full month-by-month notes live in each destination guide.
The spectacle window
The Great Migration fills the Mara while the coast offers its clearest water of the year: 20 to 30 metres of visibility on the reefs. The classic bush-to-beach route at its most dramatic. Book earliest for this one.
Safari itineraries →The blue-sky window
Dry parks, superb predator viewing without migration crowds, and the calm northeast monsoon on the coast: flat seas, clear skies and, from February, whale sharks off Watamu. The best all-round combination for families.
Coast itineraries →The green season
The long rains. Lush plains, dramatic skies, outstanding birdlife and the lowest prices of the year, with parks nearly to yourself. Showers usually pass in hours, not days. Ask us which lodges shine in the green months.
All journeys →Tell us your dates and we will tell you exactly what Kenya is doing that week.