The best times to visit Nairobi for ideal weather are

any time of year (no, really)

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Nairobi Travel Info

Weather in Nairobi

Temperature

Average temperatures in Nairobi vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very enjoyable all year with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is among the most temperate — in the 99th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Nairobi, the hottest months are March, February, and then January. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early March where highs are regularly around 82°F (27.8°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 60.9°F (16.1°C) at night.

Nairobi Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Nairobi Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Nairobi Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Nairobi Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Nairobi Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 79.2 69.6 60.1
Feb 80.9 70.8 61
Mar 81.1 71.1 61.5
Apr 77.6 68.6 61.7
May 75.1 67 60.2
Jun 73.5 65 57.6
Jul 72.7 63.7 55.5
Aug 73.2 64.3 56.5
Sep 77.5 66.7 57.2
Oct 78 68.5 60.7
Nov 76.1 67.7 61.3
Dec 76.4 68.1 60.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 26.2 20.9 15.6
Feb 27.2 21.6 16.1
Mar 27.3 21.7 16.4
Apr 25.3 20.3 16.5
May 23.9 19.4 15.7
Jun 23.1 18.3 14.2
Jul 22.6 17.6 13.1
Aug 22.9 17.9 13.6
Sep 25.3 19.3 14
Oct 25.6 20.3 15.9
Nov 24.5 19.8 16.3
Dec 24.7 20.1 16.1

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Nairobi are February, August, and then January. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid January. For example, on the week of January 8th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid April with an average of 1 days of significant precipitation the week of April 16th.

When can you find snow in Nairobi? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Nairobi.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Nairobi (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 2% 0 0.3
Feb 0% 0 0
Mar 3% 0 0.2
Apr 9% 0 1.3
May 10% 0 1.5
Jun 6% 0 1.8
Jul 3% 0 0.4
Aug 0% 0 0
Sep 2% 0 0.4
Oct 8% 0 1.6
Nov 11% 0 1.6
Dec 6% 0 1.6

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 2 0 0.8
Feb 0 0 0
Mar 3 0 0.5
Apr 9 0 3.3
May 10 0 3.8
Jun 6 0 4.6
Jul 3 0 1
Aug 0 0 0
Sep 2 0 1
Oct 8 0 4.1
Nov 11 0 4.1
Dec 6 0 4.1

 

Humidity and Wind

Nairobi has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is February (45.6% relative humidity), and the most humid month is May (67.4%).

Wind in Nairobi is usually calm. The windiest month is March, followed by February and January. March’s average wind speed of around 7.3 knots (8.4 MPH or 13.5 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in mid February where average top sustained speeds reach 17.6 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Nairobi.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 6.5 Light breeze 14.9 Significant breeze
Feb 6.6 Light breeze 16.2 Significant breeze
Mar 7.3 Gentle breeze 16 Significant breeze
Apr 5 Light breeze 13.9 Significant breeze
May 4.2 Light breeze 12 Significant breeze
Jun 3.7 Barely noticeable 10.6 Gentle breeze
Jul 3.4 Barely noticeable 10.3 Significant breeze
Aug 4.1 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Sep 4.7 Light breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Oct 6.1 Light breeze 13.5 Significant breeze
Nov 6.3 Light breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Dec 6.3 Light breeze 14.6 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 48.9%
Feb 45.6%
Mar 48.3%
Apr 65.7%
May 67.4%
Jun 66.3%
Jul 62.1%
Aug 60.8%
Sep 54.9%
Oct 56.7%
Nov 65.8%
Dec 63%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Nairobi?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Kenya; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 01, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Nairobi, Kenya is November, followed by June and February. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Nairobi in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is slightly extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 81 in December means 81% of the tourists vs. November.

 

 

Overall Nairobi Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 82°F (27.8°C) and 74.7°F (23.7°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 1 to 3 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 0 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Nairobi, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 79.5°F (26.4°C) and 74.3°F (23.5°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 3 days per month. Tourism is the busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be higher priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Nairobi to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 82°F (27.8°C) and 76.4°F (24.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 0 to 2 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Kenya › Nairobi, Kenya