Kenya Weather in April 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

April and May are the months with by far the heaviest rainfall in Kenya. So, it is a time for traveling with lower prices. We recommend touring in the Nairobi region and along the southeast coast in April.

Read on for our travel advice and weather information including average temperatures, rainfall, and humidity, and travel tips…

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Weather in April: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 20–29°C (68–84°F)
• Rainfall: 18 cm (7 inches)
• Rainy days: 16
• Sunshine hours/day: 7

In most of the major attractions travelers go to in April, it rains about half of the days of the month. The highlands have rainy and warm or mild weather, and the lowlands around Mombasa have rainy and hot or warm weather. For example, Kisumu on Lake Victoria has 19 rainy days each April, but Mombasa on the coast has 10 rainy days.

We recommend that you could stay mainly in the developed areas of Nairobi and the southeast coast where there is better infrastructure and where you can enjoy urban attractions and have a base for outdoor excursions. The rains usually begin in the afternoons, so you could have morning excursions.

Weather of Kenya's Major Cities in April

On the highland plateau: April is generally warm or cool at the various big attractions. Maasai Mara, Kisumu where Lake Victoria is, and especially Nairobi experience heavy rainfall. Amboseli and Nakuru are better avoided due to floods, mud, and washed-out roads. Beware of flash floods in mountain and valley areas. To escape the rain and enjoy warmer weather with more sunshine, you could go down to the southeast coast.

In the coastal lowlands: Places such as Mombasa and Malindi are hot during the day in April, and it can be warm at night too. Most of the lowlands get heavy rainfall. On most mornings in April, you can enjoy the outdoors and beaches unhampered by rainfall.

The Best Places to Visit in Kenya in April

Top things to do in April include enjoying the developed urban areas and going to the southeastern lowlands for hiking, beaches, and surfing.

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1. Nairobi — Vibrant Downtown, Natural Parks, and Airport Gateway

Nairobi is Kenya's big capital city, and most tourists arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. During April, temperatures are comfortable with an average high of 28 °C (82 °F), and nights are mild, dropping to around 14 °C (57 °F). It rains half of the days of the month. You are recommended to visit attractions in the city and go out for excursions in the countryside as weather permits.

Urban highlights: You can visit the zoos such as the Giraffe Centre and Elephant Sanctuary. Oloolua Nature Trail next to the Giraffe Centre is a beautiful trail through dense forests and past streams, waterfalls, and caves. It is a place to have a picnic. The Nairobi National Museum is extensive.

Natural highlights in the Nairobi area: There are many to choose from. Nairobi National Park is outside the city. Further afield, you can choose from Lake Naivasha (2½ hours' drive), Lake Nakuru (3½ hours), Amboseli National Park (4 hours), and the Maasai Mara region (4½ hours). Lake Naivasha is a good place to go for a day trip since it is less than 3 hours away and has a vast and stunning lake deep in the Great Rift Valley. We do not recommend Lake Nakuru and Amboseli due to flooding and bad conditions.

2. Naivasha — Vast Lake, Boating, and Closeness to Great Nature

Naivasha is a big beautiful lake and is less than 3 hours from Nairobi, so you could visit on a day trip from Nairobi. It is deep in the Great Rift Valley with exotic scenery. Naivasha feels like a world away from Kenya's capital. You can boat, fish, and see hippos and maybe flamingos. Tour boat operators offer boat trips. There are also guesthouses and lodges to stay at.

If the weather permits, you can go to Hell's Gate National Park nearby too. See below.

3. Hell's Gate National Park — Wild Highland Camping and Hiking

Hell's Gate is 50 minutes from Naivasha and an hour and a half, i.e. 90 kilometers (56 miles), from Nairobi. An easy day trip from either location is doable with a good driver and tour guide.

It is a high-altitude camping and hiking area at altitude 1,900 meters (6,200 feet). Beware of traveling there in April because there are flash floods at times. It is best to go with a good tour guide to avoid weather problems. Park officials permit hiking and tent camping. The entrance fee is about 27 USD.

4. Maasai Mara — Stunning Wildlife and Natural Green Beauty in April

In April, if you want to see a natural savanna, we recommend Maasai Mara. Though it is very rainy, the roads are generally clear, and you can still see wild animals such as wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, and even elephants. It is about 4½ hours from Nairobi.

Since prices are lower, you could enjoy extended stays at lower rates in the hotels and guesthouses. This could allow you to enjoy the Maasai towns and villages more.

The weather in April is generally warm during the day and comfortably cool for sleeping at night. There is a high rainfall of 21 cm (about 9 inches).

5. Mombasa — Beaches, Hiking, Dining and Water Sports

Mombasa is a city of a million people. During the April low tourist season, there are many good luxury hotels and guesthouses with low occupancy at discounted rates. Mombasa gets a moderate 15 cm (6 inches) of rain on average, which usually begins to fall in the afternoons.

You can enjoy a variety of cuisine since there are varied international influences. The pristine white beaches have less crowds. Historical places to visit are a 15th century Portuguese fortress called Fort Jesus and Old Town. When it is not raining, you could visit the natural inland and marine parks. Bamburi Natural Trail is convenient. You can scuba dive at Mombasa Marine National Park and Wasini Island.

Bamburi Beach, 20 minutes from Mombasa, is good for surfing. In the mornings, the calm winds make conditions good for beginners. In the afternoons or when there are storms at sea, there are stronger winds and bigger waves for expert surfers as high as 3.9 meters (12 feet) in April.

6. Malindi — Beaches, Water Sports, Nature, and Possibly Surfing

In April, Malindi is another place to go for beaches, fun, and sun. At 120 kilometers (70 miles) from Mombasa, the weather is similar, and it has a similar mix of urban and outdoor activities. It is a lot smaller and quaint. About 120,000 people live there. A big Italian community makes the city known for Italian food and culture.

Swimming is comfortable since the water temperature averages about 29 °C (84 °F) in April. If the conditions are right, you could surf at Malindi Bay in April, but the main surfing season is May and June. When it is not raining, you can go fishing and boating. The coastal forests and mangroves at Arabuko Sokoke National Park and Marine National Park are nearby.

Low Tourist Season: Bargains and Touring Advice for April

The monsoon season in April is Kenya's low tourist season, and is one of the times in the year when you could be alone on safari. Hotels have "green-season" low rates and the airlines also drop their prices.

However, in the rainy season, be aware that it is better to avoid places where flash flooding might occur such as Amboseli, Nakuru, and Turkana, and beware of travel in the north during the rainy season.

What to Wear in April

On the highland plateau: In general, dress in layers with spring/autumn clothes for protection from both mosquitoes and sunburn. Bring a sun hat and wear light cotton long-sleeved shirts and shorts/trousers or dresses. When visiting parks and reserves, wear neutral-colored clothes so as to avoid alarming the animals. Bring rain gear or umbrellas. In the higher mountains, bring winter clothing too. A mosquito net might prove handy.

Coastal areas: Bring comfortable clothing for warm and hot weather. To avoid sunburn and mosquito bites, bring a hat, long-sleeved shirts, light pants or dresses, mosquito repellent, and a mosquito net.

Mosquitoes: Since 2020, there have been malaria epidemics in Kenya. Oils of lemongrass or citronella on your clothes can help keep mosquitoes away.

Monthly Weather in Kenya

Recommended Tours for Kenya in April

During the monsoon season in Kenya, having things professionally arranged for you by local experts who know the local conditions will be beneficial for comfort, speed, enjoyment, and safety. A private driver and a local guide make enjoying the relatively large country and surrounding region easier, and since they keep abreast of changing weather conditions, they can help you find the best places to go.

At Global Highlights, we recognize that you may want some private time with your traveling companion(s), maybe to safari together or hike in a national park. 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.