- Destinations
- Kenya
- Amboseli National Park
When To Go?
Best Time to Visit Amboseli
Amboseli can be considered a year-round safari destination but the best time to visit is during the long dry season from the beginning of June to the end of October. This is also the time when migrating wildebeest herds have made their way to the Masai Mara, making an Amboseli/Masai Mara safari very rewarding during this period.
Temperatures are at their mildest in June, July and August with the daily average between 24 and 25°C (75 – 77°F) and rainfall virtually non-existent. You’ll need to pack warm clothes for early morning game drives and you’ll appreciate an extra blanket at night but frost is rare. The temperature climbs steadily through September and October but rain remains limited to a few scattered showers. With the dry season’s vegetation low and brown, it is easy to spot wildlife at this time of year, especially since many animals are concentrated at the park’s permanent wetlands.
One disadvantage of the dry season however is the amount of dust and smoke that can be in the air, making the landscape quite hazy, something to consider if you are anticipating clear skies and sharp-edged imagery of – for example – Mount Kilimanjaro.
Rain increases dramatically in November, also triggering the movement of wildebeest away from the Masai Mara and into Tanzania’s Serengeti. There is a little less rain between December and February in Amboseli but average daytime temperatures reach their yearly high at this time – over 30°C (86°F).
The period between March and May is known as the ‘long rains’ and is not considered the best time to go to Amboseli for game viewing. These green rainy seasons do however offer very good bird watching as well as clearer skies for sharper photography. April is the wettest month.
Bear in mind that Amboseli’s relative closeness to Kenya’s capital Nairobi means that the park is often busy with local visitors over weekends and school holidays, especially during Easter and Christmas.
