NB/ These are general season dates and the actual may vary depending on destination, and property.

East Africa is the home of safari and the most important thing you ought to know is the best time to go on Safari. African Safaris can be taken all year round (from January to December) but the seasons pose different challenges depending on whether it is raining or dry. The weather patterns play a major role in the great migration, as the animals follow the new grasses, which are dependent upon the rainfall.

There are two main rainy seasons in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania). The first rainy season takes place between April and June (this is commonly referred to as the long rains) and the shorter season from late November through to December. Many game camps in the game viewing areas close during April and May, mainly due to bad road conditions.
 

Dry Season

Generally the dry season is the best to visit because of such factors as accessibility of the game reserves. Roads in national parks and game reserves are not all weather but just tracks made from vehicle tyres over time. However some months like August, September and October can be very dusty. The dry seasons are generally better for game viewing, as game concentrates around the water sources.

During The rains

During the rainy seasons, most of these roads are inaccessible leaving only the robust 4x4 land cruisers and Land rovers to snake through the parks. During the short rains, the rains are not very heavy and may not affect usability of the roads. There is sun in between rains and the temperatures can be humid but comfortable.

After the Rains

The period immediately after the long rains (after June) brings about an abundance of life in the national parks and game reserves because of the new grass which provide abundant pasture for wildlife. This is normally the peak season in most parks and visitors stream in to the parks to get the best experience. In the Maasai Mara, the annual wildebeest migration from across Serengeti in Tanzania is a sight to behold. Safari costs during this period are at peak and occupancy in most accommodation facilities is high. For this reason early booking for a safari between July and October is advisable. For those travelers who seek privacy, this may not be the best time because of the high number of visitors, however, at a higher cost you can book your safari and stay in one of the luxury tented camps available especially in the Maasai Mara. Luxury tented camps accommodate up to 20 people and most are located in less populated areas i.e. Conservancy Areas. A Safari Experience in one of these Luxury camps is a memory to behold. Click here to see some of the Deluxe accommodation in Mara.

Beach holidays to the Kenyan coastal towns (Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu) and islands of Zanzibar are also affected during the rainy seasons.

Some General Information

Climate: The climate of East Africa is typical of equatorial regions. East Africa is surprisingly cool and dry for its latitude. The lower-lying lands of northern Kenya (Samburu) are indeed extremely dry and the highlands mostly in the central parts of Kenya are rich agricultural lands.

Rainfall: The annual rainfall generally increases towards the south and with altitude to a high of 47 inches at the coastal town of Mombasa. Inland it increases with altitude to over 43 inches  at Moshi in Tanzania at the foot of Kilimanjaro. The diverse geographical topology affects the rainfall distribution in East Africa.

 
Temperatures in East Africa, except in the hot and generally humid coastal belt, are moderate, with a maximum of around 26 °C (77 °F) and a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,921 ft). At altitudes of above 2,500 meters (8,202 ft), frosts are common during the dry season with a maximum of about 20 °C (70 °F) or less.