Kenya Safari by Season: Best Time to Visit Kenya for a Wildlife Safari, Avoid the Crowds and Catch the Migration
Kenya’s vast horizons and wild savannas offer a different spectacle with each passing season. Understanding Kenya’s climate and wildlife patterns can turn a good safari into a great one – especially if you time your trip to coincide with nature’s peaks and avoid the crowds.
Often, the best time to visit Kenya is said to be June through October, when the long dry season brings clear skies, mild temperatures, and spectacular game viewing. But Kenya’s short rainy season around November–December can be just as rewarding – especially for UAE travelers using the UAE National Day long weekend holiday.
In fact, this shoulder season offers lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and quiet parks. By choosing late November, you catch Kenya between peaks: the Great Migration may be winding down in the Mara, but everything else, from elephant herds to lion prides to colorful birdlife, is thriving under emerald skies.
And best of all, you’ll have it almost to yourself at the best place to visit Kenya!
Kenya’s Seasons: Dry, Wet and In Between
Kenya’s climate is famously diverse, but for simplicity, you can think of two big dry seasons and two rainy periods. The long rains typically fall from April into May, and the short rains around November–December.
Travel experts note that the classic safari season (June–October) really is spectacular. Rain is scarce and daytime temperatures are comfortable, so iconic parks like Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu are at their vivid best.
July–September in particular is a once-in-a-lifetime show, as thousands of wildebeest and zebra cross crocodile-infested rivers. But with so much high-season demand marking the Kenya best time for safari, lodges fill fast and prices peak.
On the other hand, January–March form a warmer, shoulder dry season. January is already outside the long rains, making it a fine time for game drives, especially in the Maasai Mara.
In fact, the great calving season in the southern Serengeti spills over into Kenyan parks early in the year. This is why some argue that February can be among the best months to visit Kenya safari; the Mara is warm and mostly dry, the landscape is grassy after rains, and baby animals abound.
The long rains (April–May) herald a dramatic transformation. Although April is often the wettest month, the payoff is lush greenery and intense wildlife scenes. Photographers swoon at the absence of dust, deep green shrubs and dramatic stormy skies.
Then comes the long dry season (June–September). Wildlife is concentrated by water, skies are reliably clear, and the bush is golden-brown. This is why the best time to go to Kenya is often stamped on calendars for July–September.
July and August see the wildebeest at the height of their journey, making dramatic Mara River crossings. September usually has the highest concentration of herds on the Mara plains, even as tourists begin to taper off at the very end of the month.
October is still dry and offers superb tracking: the bush is at its thinnest, wildlife is easy to spot, and waterholes are scarce, ideal for game drives. By late October and early November, however, a change is in the air: the first short rains may fall, which leads into the next lush period.
Wildlife Rhythms and the Great Migration
For Kenya’s wildlife, timing can make all the difference. Many park favorites breed or calve in sync with the rains.
During January–March, the vast southern Serengeti erupts with half a million newborn wildebeest, attracting predators. By April–May, the herds are gradually on the move north.
The Great Migration itself has a predictable flow that straddles Kenya and Tanzania. In general, July–October is when the Mara shines. July marks the grand arrival of the herds into Kenya. By August, tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebras are bravely crossing the Mara River.
September often hosts the heaviest concentrations of the Mara grasslands, with predators in constant chase. October sees the tail end of the crossing as the herd turns south again. Thus, if a visitor asks, When is the best time to visit Kenya for Great Migration?, the textbook answer is mid-July through September.
By late November, however, almost all the great herds had left Maasai Mara for the Serengeti calving grounds. Does that mean November safaris miss out? Not necessarily. While you may no longer see massive rivers of migrating animals, Kenya’s parks remain full of life.
Once the migrating wildebeest have headed south, Kenya’s Big Five and plains game – lion, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hippo and more, are still very active. In fact, November–December is often prime time for predator viewing: with green grass and moderate temperatures, lions and cheetahs hunt around the clock.
So while the best time to visit Kenya safari Masai Mara is technically July–Sept, one of the tricks for savvy travelers is this: go in November, after the migration peaks. You’ll miss the crowds and cost surge, yet still enjoy superb safari action at the best times to visit Kenya.
UAE National Day: Kenya’s Perfect Holiday Escape
For travelers from the UAE, Kenya ticks many holiday boxes. First, it’s exceptionally accessible: the flight from Dubai to Nairobi is under 5 hours, meaning you spend less time in transit and more time on safari.
The UAE National Day holiday conveniently spans late November to early December, giving a long weekend, opening up the window for the best time to visit Kenya for wildlife photography.
Lake Naivasha is one of the best places in Kenya for safari on our National Day itinerary, a peaceful counterpoint to the game drives, where hippos and birds await at the waterside.
Weather-wise, November in Kenya is generally excellent for a break. It often sees only short bursts of isolated showers, mostly in the afternoon.
Crucially, the long rains have usually tapered off, so days are mostly sunny. This period is hot enough for day safaris and cool enough in the evening to sit around a campfire, a rare treat. All in all, you get near-ideal safari weather without the dry-season crowds and dust.
And beyond the parks, this timing offers logistical perks. The actual UAE National Day falls on a weekday in 2025, meaning many people can easily take 29th Nov–3rd Dec off work and hit the road.
Inland flights are plentiful and transfers organized. Over the holiday, many fellow UAE-based travelers will be at home, so your African journey feels all the more exotic and restful by contrast.
That means front-row seats on wildlife drama, and even the rare chance of a solo viewing. For example, imagine stumbling upon a lion pride’s evening feast with no other watchers around. That’s the National Day advantage.
The Xperienz Holidays UAE National Day Kenya Safari Deal
Late November 2025 in Kenya is made even more special by Xperienz Holidays’ UAE National Day Kenya Safari (29th Nov – 3rd Dec). This 4-night, 5-day package has been crafted to hit all the highlights with National Day travelers in mind. Here’s a snapshot
Day 1: Fly overnight to Nairobi. Arrive, then relax at your city lodge. In the afternoon, visit the Giraffe Centre for up-close encounters with friendly giraffes and panoramic city views. Dinner and overnight in Nairobi.
Day 2: After breakfast, drive southwest to the famous Maasai Mara. Check into your safari camp and enjoy an evening game drive under a blazing African sunset.
Day 3: Full day in Maasai Mara. In the morning, a sunrise game drive on open 4×4 jeeps. Return to camp for lunch, then in the afternoon, meet the Maasai people. You’ll visit a real Maasai village, learn about traditional life and even see the famed Maasai jumping dance. Evening game drive or campfire storytelling. Overnight Maasai Mara
Day 4: Say goodbye to the Mara for now and head back toward Nairobi, stopping at Lake Naivasha. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on the lake, watching hippos wallow and pelicans dive. Then spend the night on the lakeshore in Naivasha under starry skies.
Day 5: After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi for your departure flight home, filled with memories and photos
What’s included?
- Return flight on Air Arabia
- 1 night in Nairobi with breakfast
- Visit to the Giraffe Centre
- Snack box on Day 1
- Transport on Day 1 in an AC Coach to Giraffe Centre
- 2 nights in Maasai Mara on Full Board basis
- Visit to the Masai village
- Boat ride on Lake Naivasha
- 1 night in Naivasha on Full Board basis
- All airport transfers
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide, water in the vehicle while on safari, 500 ml per person per day
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with open roof for easy game viewing – Non-AC
- Emergency medical evacuation, excluding hospital bills
- Free travel insurance
Seats and rooms are limited, so book soon to lock in this exclusive UAE National Day safari deal. Call Xperienz Holidays at +971 4 221 4455 or email holidays@xperienzholidays.com.
The National Day Kenyan Safari is ready; will you be there to see Kenya in her late-season glory?
