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

September is one of the driest high-season months in Kenya, and some of the travel highlights have arid weather. The drier weather is better for beach going, water sports, hiking, and seeing the wildlife.

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

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Kenya Weather in September: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 18–29°C (64–84°F)
• Rainfall: 5 cm (2 inches)
• Rainy days: 5
• Sunshine hours/day: 6

September is the warm and dry season in Kenya, and the weather is about the best it gets for most tourists.

Weather of Kenya's Major Cities in September

September is a great month for beach going and going to places further afield from the better infrastructure around Nairobi and the southeastern coast. It is easier to travel in dry weather. In September, you can safari and watch the end of the animal migration in Maasai Mara.

Highland plateau: Various big attractions such as Nairobi and the large savanna wildlife preserves have moderate or almost no rainfall and comfortable to cool weather. The high-altitude areas have flash floods at times.

Southeast coastal lowlands: September is one of the best months for beach going and water sports. The weather in the coastal lowlands around Mombasa and Malindi is hot or warm with low/moderate rainfall, and the water is warm.

The Best Places to Visit in Kenya in September

Top things to do in September include enjoying the great wilderness areas where you can safari and hike and going to the beaches for relaxation, basking in the sun, hiking, and water sports.

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

Nairobi is Kenya's big capital city. Most tourists arrive through its airport. September has low rainfall and mild temperatures. At night, it might be cool. The weather is comfortable for visiting attractions in the city and going out for excursions in the countryside.

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 — Watch the Wildlife Migration

In September each year, you can watch a huge mixed herd of grazing animals and their predators travel from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara. It is a natural wonder. There are fewer tourists than in July and August, but the prices at local hotels generally stay as high.

Maasai Mara abounds with more big animals and big cats such as cheetahs and lions than most other African savannas. September is one of the driest months, and the lower vegetation helps allows you to see them better.

The weather in September is generally warm during the day and cool at night with moderate rainfall (10 cm (4 inches)).

3. Amboseli — See the Elephants and Other Wildlife

September is one of the best months to visit Amboseli, a national park near Kilimanjaro. Like Maasai Mara, the Maasai tribe occupies Amboseli. Many tourists want a safari tour in both places. Dry weather in September makes travel on the poor roads easier.

Amboseli has almost no rain in September, and the low vegetation allows people to have a much clearer view of the wildlife. Amboseli is known as a place for elephant watching. You can see the scenery from above with a balloon ride.

Transportation: Depending on conditions, it takes about 4 hours to travel from Nairobi by private vehicle. From Maasai Mara, driving requires about 11 hours, and taking a plane involves perhaps 4 or 5 hours. We recommend 2 days for a tour.

4. Mount Kenya — Mountain Climbing, Hiking, and Seeing Nature

September is one of the best months for going to Mount Kenya. It is the second highest mountain in Africa.

For those wanting to scale one of the three high, rocky, snow-capped peaks at around 5,000 m (16,000 ft) altitude, it is especially important to go when the weather is dry. Most of the park is over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), and almost everyone gets altitude sickness, so leave time to acclimate.

Transport from Nairobi: Depending on what part of the big mountain you go to, the travel distance is about 176 kilometers (110 miles). It takes about 3 hours by private vehicle. We recommend that you hike with a locally-experienced guide.

5. Turkana — Go Far Into the Desert for an Exotic Africa Experience

September is the driest month of the year in Turkana, so it is the best month to go for a visit to rugged desert scenery and the biggest desert lake in the world. You could stay in guesthouses there and experience tribal life.

Transport: Turkana is a long, 16-hour or 2-day drive from Nairobi. For safety and ease of travel, it is better to go with a private driver and a guide who is familiar with the people and area.

6. Diani Beach — Huge White Beach for Relaxation plus Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, and Hiking

Diani Beach is a long, beautiful, white beach with clear, warm, greenish-blue water that stretches as far as the eyes can see. It is generally recognized as the best beach in East Africa. There are a lot of things to do there such as hiking and water sports.

Diani is 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Mombasa. In September, Mombasa gets about 10 cm (4 inches) of rain. It is warm or hot during the day, and the water temperature ranges from 27°C (81°F) to 25°C (77°F).

High Tourist Season: Touring Advice for September

September is one of the best times of the year to visit Kenya. There is dry or moderately rainy and comfortable weather, but the crowds are less compared to July and August.

Peak tourist season rates and prices remain in effect. Tour costs remain high until the middle of October. Airfares are also more expensive this time of year.

There are no public holidays in September.

What to Wear in September

September is fairly dry. In general, to avoid sunburn and mosquito bites, wear a hat, long-sleeved shirts, and light trousers or long dresses.

For the highlands: Bring mosquito repellent and a mosquito net, plus rain gear or umbrellas. Bring a jacket for the highlands and appropriate mountain wear (winter clothing) for climbing high peaks.

For wildlife parks: To avoid alarming the animals, wear neutral-colored clothes.

Monthly Weather in Kenya

Recommended Tours for Kenya in September

Consider a private tour with us... The aid of travel experts who know the local conditions would greatly benefit tour planning, comfort, enjoyment, safety, and speed of travel, as would a private driver and a local guide.

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 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.

Our Important Travel Tips for Visiting Kenya

• How to Plan a Lifetime Trip to Kenya
• Best two-week itineraries for Kenya
• How Much Does a Kenya Trip Cost for a Private Tour