August is a dry month in Kenya generally, and some of the travel highlights have arid weather. The drier weather is better for beach going, water sports, hiking, and seeing the wildlife. It is heavy tourist season.
Read on for our travel advice and weather information including average temperatures, rainfall, and humidity, and travel tips…
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Kenya Weather in August: Overview
Averages:
- Temperature range: 17–27°C (62–81°F)
- Rainfall: 5 cm (2 inches)
- Rainy days: 6
- Sunshine hours/day: 5
The main feature of the weather in Kenya in August is that it is the cool dry season. The southeastern coastal lowlands are warm with moderate rainfall. The highland plateau attractions are mild or cool, cloudy, and with low rainfall.
Weather of Kenya's Major Cities in August
| Kenya City | Temperature | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi (Capital, largest city, travel hub) | Mild | Low |
| Maasai Mara (Game reserve) | Mild | Moderate |
| Mombasa (Beaches, second largest city) | Warm | Moderate |
| Turkana (Beautiful desert lake, ethnic culture) | Hot | Low |
| Kisumu (Lake Victoria, wildlife, 3rd largest city) | Warm | Moderate |
| Amboseli (Nature Reserve, Kilimanjaro) | Mild | Arid |
| Kenya City | Daily High Temp. | Daily Low Temp. |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi (Capital, largest city, travel hub) | 23ºC (73ºF) | 9ºC (48ºF) |
| Maasai Mara (Game reserve) | 25ºC (77ºF) | 11ºC (52ºF) |
| Mombasa (Beaches, second largest city) | 29ºC (84ºF) | 19ºC (66ºF) |
| Turkana (Beautiful desert lake, ethnic culture) | 32ºC (90ºF) | 25ºC (77ºF) |
| Kisumu (Lake Victoria, wildlife, 3rd largest city) | 28ºC (82ºF) | 22ºC (72ºF) |
| Amboseli (Nature Reserve, Kilimanjaro) | 25ºC (77ºF) | 14ºC (57ºF) |
| Kenya City | Rain (cm) | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi (Capital, largest city, travel hub) | 2 | 1 |
| Maasai Mara (Game reserve) | 8 | 3 |
| Mombasa (Beaches, second largest city) | 7 | 3 |
| Turkana (Beautiful desert lake, ethnic culture) | 5 | 2 |
| Kisumu (Lake Victoria, wildlife, 3rd largest city) | 8 | 3 |
| Amboseli (Nature Reserve, Kilimanjaro) | 1 | 0 |
In August's drier weather, beaches and exploring the wilds of Africa and get away from tourist crowds are recommended. An August highlight is watching the annual migration of animals into Maasai Mara.
Highland plateau: There is moderate or almost no rainfall and comfortable weather in Nairobi and the big savanna wildlife preserves such as Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Lake Nakuru, where it rains about 3 to 8 days each August, and it is much cloudier than usual.
Southeast coastal lowlands: August is one of the best months for beach going and water sports. The weather in the coastal lowlands around Mombasa and Malindi is hot or warm, and the water is warm.
The Best Places to Visit in Kenya in August
Top things to do in August include enjoying the great wilderness areas where you can safari and hike and going to beach areas where you can do water sports and hike.
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1. Nairobi — Vibrant Downtown, Natural Parks, and Airport Gateway
Nairobi is the big capital city, and most Kenya visitors arrive through its airport. August is one of the driest and coolest months of the year — and cloudiest, averaging 5 sunshine hours a day. Locals call it the African winter season! At night, it might be cool.
Places to go in the city: Giraffe Centre and the Oloolua Nature Trail next to it, the Elephant Sanctuary, and the Nairobi National Museum.
Natural highlights in the Nairobi area: Nairobi National Park is adjacent to the city. Lake Naivasha is 2½ hours' drive away.
2. Maasai Mara — Watch the Wildlife Migration
In August each year, you can watch a huge mixed herd of hundreds of thousands of grazing animals and their predators travel from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara. It is the peak of the annual migration and a natural wonder. Tourist crowds fly in to watch, so prices may more than double at local hotels. August is one of the driest months.
Maasai Mara abounds with more big animals and big cats such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions than most other African savannas. The Maasai towns and villages are cultural opportunities.
The weather in August is generally warm during the day and cool at night with low rainfall of about 8 cm (3 inches). It's 4½ hours from Nairobi.
3. Amboseli — See the Elephants and Other Wildlife
Amboseli is a national park near Kilimanjaro. August is one of the best months to visit. Like Maasai Mara, it is occupied by the Maasai tribe. Amboseli has almost no rain in August. The low vegetation allows people to have a much clearer view of the wildlife as it congregates at water sources.
Amboseli is known as a place for elephant watching, and the dry warm season from June to about October is the best time to go watch them. You also can see the scenery from above with a balloon ride.
Transportation: Depending on conditions, it takes about 4 hours to travel from Nairobi by private vehicle. A plane journey with road transfers takes perhaps 4 or 5 hours from Maasai Mara. We recommend 2 days for a tour.
4. Hell's Gate National Park — Hiking and Biking
Hell's Gate is a special large wilderness area in Kenya that allows biking and hiking because there are no large predators. You can camp in tents. The dry weather in August makes it a good time of year for hiking and biking to see the hot springs and the wildlife such as zebras and giraffes. The park is more than a mile high (1,900 meters (6,200 feet)). Be prepared for low temperatures at night.
The preserve covers an area of about 68 square kilometers (26 square miles). It is only an hour and a half from Nairobi (90 kilometers (56 miles)). It is 50 minutes by private vehicle from Naivasha. The entrance fee is about 27 USD.
5. Lake Nakuru — See Wildlife, Especially Birds
Lake Nakuru is a place for birdwatchers! August is a wonderful time to go. The grass is short and the ground and the roads are about the driest in the year. You can see the famous giant flocks of pink flamingos and the rhinos, and there are scores of other bird species to see.
Getting around the park and going to the lake is difficult without a private driver, so we recommend that you go with a good driver and tour guide. From Nairobi, it takes about 3 or 4 hours by private vehicle.
6. Turkana — Go Far Out for Exotic Wilderness
August is a good month to visit remote Turkana, home of the biggest desert lake in the world. It has fish that are caught for food, and there are thousands of crocodiles.
You can enjoy the beautiful rugged desert landscape more in the dry heat of August and early September. The area sometimes has malaria epidemics, but at this time of year, there are about the fewest mosquitoes because the land is so arid.
Turkana is a long, 16-hour or 2-day, drive from Nairobi. If you want to experience African tribal life and wild desert nature, then it is the best area of Kenya. For safety and comfort, it is better to go with a private driver and a guide familiar with the area and people, which we provide.
High Tourist Season: Touring Advice for August
August is one of the top three tourism months in Kenya. Crowds are larger, and costs are significantly higher. Hotels charge high-season rates. Airfares are also more expensive, and it's tough to find deals or promotions. Group safaris are usually filled to capacity.
There are no public holidays in August.
What to Wear in August
Though it is drier, August is actually one of the cloudier months. To avoid sunburn and mosquito bites, wear a hat, suncream, long-sleeved shirts, and light trousers or long dresses. Bring mosquito repellent and a mosquito net. Bring a jacket for the highlands.
Wear neutral-colored clothes to avoid alarming wild animals. Bring rain gear or umbrellas. Bring winter clothing for the higher mountains.
Monthly Weather in Kenya
Recommended Tours for Kenya in August
A private tour is preferable since shared tours are likely to be filled to capacity. Having the aid of travel experts and a private driver and a local guide who know the local conditions will greatly benefit comfort, enjoyment, safety, and speed of travel.
At Global Highlights, we recognize that you may want some private time with your traveling companion(s) for hikes or safaris. So, we are flexible to do as much itinerary tailoring and expert arranging as you want to make the best trip for you.
Contact us to begin a tour inquiry.
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