Masai Mara Weather & Climate
Although most would prefer bright blue skies and sunshine during a safari trip to the Masai Mara, there’s beauty in the African ‘rains’ as well. As you may recall, even the 1980 rock band Toto ‘Blessed the rains down in Africa’. Before packing up your suitcase, here’s a look at what you can expect as far as weather and climate in the Masai Mara.
Masai Mara climate:
Without knowing any better, you would probably think that the Masai Mara’s climate would be stiflingly hot. You would be wrong, but we absolutely understand where you would be coming from. It’s typically what you would expect when thinking of Africa. However, the Masai Mara’s altitude causes its climate to be cooler and wetter than you would expect it to be. Situated at an altitude varying from 1500 to 1900 meters, you can expect pleasantly warm daytime temperatures and much cooler nights. So, don’t forget to pack a sweater for the early morning game drives.
Masai Mara Weather overview month to month:
- January – February: this is the dry spell between the short and long rainy season, with only an incidental rain shower.
- March – May: this is the long rainy season with April being the wettest month. You don’t have to worry about it raining all day long, but it does rain regularly. Safari trails can get a little slippery. Early morning game drives are slightly now with average temperatures of 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit).
- June – August: the average daytime temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Nighttime lows are around ten degrees Celsius and (50 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s generally sunny and dry, with only an incidental rain shower.
- September – October: this time of year you can expect occasional rain showers, but it’s mostly dry. Daytime temperatures in October are slightly higher at 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). It can be slightly cooler after rain. Early morning game drives can be chilly at around twelve degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit).
- November – December: this is the lighter of the two rainy seasons. Expect short rain showers during these two months. Average afternoon temperatures are approximately 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit).
Rainfall in the Masai Mara:
On average it rains approximately 1400 millimeters (55 inches) per year. You are most likely to encounter a rain shower in April and least likely to feel raindrops in July. The Masai Mara has two rainy seasons: the shorty rainy season is in November and December and the long rainy season is in March – May. The heaviest rainfall can be expected in April, however flooding can occur in both rainy seasons.
