The Best Time to Visit Nairobi City
The Best Time to Visit Nairobi City
The Best Time to Visit Nairobi City : Nairobi city the capital of Kenya is one stop tourist center where most safaris to other destinations in Kenya begin as well as a safari destination one shouldn’t miss visiting while on a safari in Kenya. Nairobi has many tourist attractions and destinations you shouldn’t miss such as Nairobi national park, The Nairobi Giraffe Center, the Karen Blixen Museums and many more.
As many travelers wish to visit Nairobi city while on a Kenya safari the most asked questions is the best time to go visit this amazing city and this question is answered in details below.
Weather in Nairobi city
Nairobi city lies at the elevation of 5,400-foot elevation and because of this altitude, the city experiences relatively warm temperatures all year round. From the period of December to March Nairobi experiences average temperatures between 77 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nairobi experiences two rainy seasons that is the long rainy season and the short rainy season, the long rainy rain is experienced from Mid-March to May and the short rainy season from late October to December. The rest months of the year are dry season that is January to early March and June to September.
Popular events and Festivals in Nairobi city
Nairobi city is known for hosting various events and festivals throughout the year, some of the festivals and events include cultural festivals, Madaraka Day festival, Kenyatta Day, Jamhuri Day and the longest running Music Festival in Kenya “Kenya Music Festival” showcasing a variety of African and international artists.
Nairobi city is a home to a mixture of religions and because of that various religious events and festivals for Christians and Muslims are hosted, the Muslims celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan and the Christians celebrate Good Friday. Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Chritsmas.
The best time to visit Nairobi city
January
Nairobi in January experiences warm spring-like temperatures with average around 80 degree Fahrenheit during day and after sunset they drop to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening.
Events
In January, the Nairobi Restaurant Week begins.
February
In Nairobi it is a high season and the days tend to be hot and dry with average temperatures rising to 80s.
Events
The annual International Safaricom Jazz Festival is held, this festival brings together community-based acts and international performers.
March
Big annual rainfalls in Nairobi and throughout Kenya start by March, in this period the roads are hard to navigate through however it is a good period to watch wildlife and bird watching due to a variety of water at watering holes and wetlands. March is a affordable for travelers in terms of accommodation and safari activities.
Event
The annual Kenya Kite Festival is held in March.
April
Rainy showers are more prominent in April resulting into slippery and muddy routes and thick vegetation cover, this makes it difficult for tourists to move and spot wildlife in wildlife destinations such as Nairobi national park.
Events
Good Friday and Easter Sunday is celebrated in Kenya and it is a public holiday to Kenyans.
May
May is a continuation of the spring showers and they fall throughout the month resulting into lush greenery around Nairobi city, by late May the rains making the horizon of the city to shine bright with stunning views.
Events
In May, Labor Day celebrations are held in the Uhuru Park and they are hosted by the government of Kenya.
June
In June, the rain showers have subsided and days begin to be brighter, in the mid-June the annual wildebeest begin in Maasai Mara national reserve.
Event
In June, the Madaraka Day Festival is held on the 1th June, this festival is hosted to celebrate Kenya’s self-rule. Madaraka is a Swahili word meaning “authority or ruling power”. The NBO Film Festival is hosted in the mid-June on the annual basis.
July
In Nairobi, the month of July is warm with average temperatures 70 F with the lowest amounts of rainfall making this period ideal to visit the city to enjoy various safari activities.
Events
In July the annual Kenya Safari Rally Motorsports competitions happen.
August
August is a peak season in Nairobi with high populations of tourists visiting the city, in this month the weather conditions are conducive with mild average temperatures of mid 70s. Because it is a high season in Nairobi it is very important to book your accommodations earlier.
Events
The Kenya Music Festival is held in this month of August and it lasts over 10 years, this festival brings together bother international and African performers from across the globe.
September
September is an extension of a dry season in Nairobi and it is a cooler month.
Events
In September the Nairobi International Trade Fair is hosted by the Agricultural Society of Kenya and it begins in the late September.
October
In October, short rainy season start most especially in late weeks of the month. Regardless of the rain, it is a fantastic time for bird watching as migratory bird species arrive in Kenya and the beginning of the annual wildebeest season in Kenya.
Events
In October, the International Rugby Tusker Safari Sevens is hosted, this annual tournament bring about world-class rugby players for a match.
November
November experiences short rainy periods with an average of 2 inches of rain overall throughout, short rains does not disrupt the game viewing in Nairobi national park found in Nairobi city.
Events
In November, the formal Maulid Festival is hosted taking place outside Lamu, in this festival the Muslims celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed.
December
December is one of the most ideal times of the year to visit Nairobi and this is because of the magnificent mild weather and it is not a high season meaning prices for accommodation and activities are affordable. In December the city is primarly lush and green thus boosting incredible scenic views.
Events
In December, the annual Pawa Festival is hosted, this is a street festival hosting various visual and performing artists and it is hosted on annual basis. Another festival is the Jamhuri Day Festival hosted to celebrate Kenya officially becoming a republic.
Frequently asked questions by travelers visiting Nairobi city
When is the best time to visit Nairobi city?
Nairobi city can be visited all year round but the best time to visit is between June and October, in this period the temperatures are mild and rain is not expected because it is a dry season.
What is the hottest month in Nairobi?
The hottest month in Nairobi February with average high temperatures of 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) and an average low temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).
What is the coldest month in Nairobi?
The coldest month in Nairobi is July with average high temperatures of 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) and an average low temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius)
