Kenya Weather in November: Travel Tips for First-Timers

Kenya's short rainy season is a good time to visit the southeast beaches, but the high mountains may be ruled out unless you want to brave the rains. It is better to enjoy the areas of developed infrastructure on the southeast coast and around Nairobi.

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

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• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear
• 5. Recommended Tours

Kenya Weather in November: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 19–29°C (66–85°F)
• Rainfall: 13 cm (5 inches)
• Rainy days: 14
• Sunshine hours/day: 7

November is third rainiest month in Kenya. Expect heavy rainfall in the highlands. The vegetation is green and lush, and the grass is still fairly short for watching the animals and seeing the savanna scenery. Hot weather and warm seas are found at the beaches.

Weather of Kenya's Major Cities in November

In November, the places with better infrastructure around Nairobi and the southeastern coast are the best places for ease of travel.

Highland plateau: The various big attractions such as Nairobi and the large savanna wildlife preserves such as Maasai Mara have moderate rainfall and warm or mild temperatures. Mount Kenya and other high mountain areas are better avoided.

Southeast coastal lowlands: Around Mombasa, it is hot or pleasantly warm, and the beaches are usually sunny and sparkling with 8 or 9 hours of sunshine a day. The weather is good for beach going, and the sea temperature is good for swimming.

The Best Places to Visit in Kenya in November

Top things to do in November include enjoying savanna areas, visiting city highlights in Mombasa, Nairobi and Malindi, and going to the beaches for relaxation, basking in the sun, and water sports.

1. Nairobi — Appreciate the Vibrant Downtown and Natural Parks

Nairobi is the big capital. Most tourists arrive through its airport. November has moderate rainfall and mild temperatures. There is some rain half of the days of the month, and it is usually sunny. The weather is good for touring in the city and having countryside excursions.

Places to go in the city: Giraffe Centre and the Oloolua Nature Trail next to it, the Elephant Sanctuary, and the Nairobi National Museum.

Natural highlights in the Nairobi area: Nairobi National Park is adjacent to the city. Further afield, there are Lake Naivasha (2½ hours' drive), Lake Nakuru (3½ hours), Amboseli (4 hours), and the Maasai Mara (4½ hours).

2. Maasai Mara — Spot the Wildlife

Of the various savanna wildlife preserves in the highlands, Maasai Mara is the best place to go weatherwise for safari. Although there is moderate rainfall, the road conditions are better, and its large expanses of grassland lets you see the animals from the tourist cars.

Samburu and Amboseli both have hampered views from the roads due to more irregular terrain or tree cover, and the travel and sightseeing conditions are worse. It is the rainiest month in Samburu and the second most rainy month in Amboseli.

The sheer numbers of wildlife at Maasai Mara gives a better experience. It is moderate tourism season in Maasai Mara, so November is a better month for solitude and lower costs.

3. Diani Beach — Relax and Do Water Sports

Diani Beach is a long, beautiful, white beach with clear, warm, greenish-blue water that stretches as far as the eyes can see. It rains less than 10 days a month, so you can enjoy most days unhampered by any rain. It usually does not rain in the mornings.

You can enjoy the beach and warm seas almost every morning and enjoy some of the best food in Kenya, including great seafood, when it rains. It is generally recognized as the best beach in East Africa. The sand is generally clean and white. There are a variety of water sports.

Diani is 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Mombasa, and it takes 30 minutes to drive between them. In November, Mombasa gets about 10 cm (4 inches) of rain. It is warm or hot during the day, and the Diani water temperature ranges from 29°C (85°F) to 26°C (79°F).

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

Mombasa is a city of a million people on the southeast coast. There are a variety of things to do suited for the rainy season. When it rains, you can shop and dine. It only rains about 8 days of the month, and the weather is sunny and hot most of the time.

Things to do in the city include going to Fort Jesus museum and the historic Old Town area. When it is not raining, you could visit the natural areas such as the Bamburi Natural Trail. You could scuba dive at Mombasa Marine National Park and Wasini Island.

5. Malindi — Best Surfing Season at the Top Surfing Location

Malindi is probably the best surfing area in Kenya. It has a white sand beach, but there is less solitude than Diani. There are many things to do around town.

You could go to the local Italian restaurants. Outside of town is the ruins of an old town built of rocks and stones called Gede. Most of the ruins date from the 1400s and 1500s, and it was abandoned in the 1600s.

The Watamu Marine Park is nearby. The water in Malindi is quite warm and great for swimming. It ranges from 26°C (79°F) to a maximum of 29°C (84°F).

6. Watamu Beach — See White Sands, Sea Life, and Islets

Watamu Beach is another beautiful white beach with clear warm water and is 25 minutes south of Malindi. The weather is similar to that in Mombasa and Malindi. There are luxury resorts and gourmet seafood restaurants. Watamu is also known for Italian food.

You may see dolphins and an array of other sea creatures. There is a marine park. November is one of the best months for seeing dolphins. You could hike at Mida Creek and other natural areas.

It is warm or hot during the day, usually sunny. Driving from Mombasa takes 2 hours.

Shoulder Tourist Season: Touring Advice for November

November sees moderate levels of tourism. The large crowds are gone and prices are moderate. It is a good time to go see wildlife and enjoy the beaches if low costs or solitude are what you prefer.

Public holidays in November: November 1, 2024 is Diwali. It is an optional holiday celebrated in Hindu areas, mostly around Mombasa.

What to Wear in November

November is rainy, and mosquitoes could be a big nuisance. Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and light trousers or a long dress to avoid mosquito bites and sunburn. Mosquito repellent and a mosquito net may be handy.

You will need a jacket for the highlands. Bring winter clothes for the higher mountains. Bring rain gear or an umbrella. To avoid alarming the animals, wear neutral-colored clothes.

Monthly Weather in Kenya

Recommended Tours for Kenya in November

A private tour is recommended for Kenya. Our travel experts who know the local conditions would provide you with greater comfort, enjoyment, safety, and speed of travel. A private driver and a local guide would help you get more from your tour.

At Global Highlights, we recognize that you may want some private time with your traveling companion(s) such as to hike in a wilderness preserve or go on safari. So, we are flexible to do as much itinerary tailoring and expert arranging as you would wish to make the best trip for you.

Contact us to begin a tour inquiry.

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