Month by month. Updated November 2026. 3 min read.
August is the month of the river crossings. Over a million wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, are usually spread across the Maasai Mara, and few sights on Earth match the herds plunging into the Mara River. It is one of the best months to visit Kenya, with dry, mild weather almost everywhere. It is also the busiest, so the earlier you book, the better your choice of camps.
The weather in August, region by region
- Nairobi and the highlands: still cool and mostly dry, with typical temperatures of about 12°C to 24°C (54°F to 75°F). Mornings are often overcast, and the sun tends to break through more as the month goes on.
- Western Kenya: Kakamega and the Kericho tea country can still be wet, which keeps the forest and the tea fields green.
- The Maasai Mara and the southern parks: dry, cool at dawn around 11°C (52°F) and warm by the afternoon around 25°C (77°F). An occasional afternoon shower is possible in the Mara. Amboseli and Tsavo are at their dustiest.
- The north: hot and dry, with Samburu's animals drawn to the Ewaso Nyiro River.
- The coast: one of the drier, sunnier months, with highs around 28°C (82°F), a steady breeze and the sea at about 26°C (79°F).
The short rains are still two months away. They usually arrive in late October or November and ease in December.
The Great Migration and other wildlife
August is the month most people picture when they think of the migration. By now the herds of wildebeest and zebra are usually spread across the Mara, crossing the Mara River in one direction and then the other as they follow the grass.
- River crossings: they depend on the herds, the rain and the grass, and no one can promise one on a given day. We plan at least two full days near the river.
- Predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and crocodiles all follow the herds.
- Elephants: Amboseli and Samburu are both at their dry-season best.
- Whales: humpback whales usually pass along the coast from about July to September.
- Birds: resident birds are everywhere. The big arrival of migrant birds from Europe and Asia comes later, from about October.
The best places to go in August
- The Maasai Mara National Reserve, for the river and the herds
- The Mara conservancies, which limit vehicle numbers, a real advantage in the busiest month
- Amboseli, for elephants under Kilimanjaro
- Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba, for the Special Five
- Ol Pejeta and Lewa, for rhinos
- Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, where you can walk and cycle among zebra and giraffe
The coast in August
The kusi wind keeps Diani in kitesurfing season, and whale-watching boats run from Watamu while the humpbacks are passing. In Lamu, the Maulidi festival follows the Islamic calendar, so it moves about eleven days earlier each year. When it falls in your dates, Lamu's small guesthouses fill fast. Mombasa's Old Town and Fort Jesus make a good half day before the beach.
Crowds, prices and holidays
August is the peak of peak season. Camps near the Mara River fill nine to twelve months ahead, rates are at their highest, and popular sightings draw many vehicles. If those dates are gone, late July, September and October can be just as rewarding. There are no fixed national public holidays in August.
What to pack, and who August suits
- A fleece or warm jacket for dawn drives and balloon flights
- Layers, a hat and sunscreen for warm afternoons
- A long lens and a dust cover for the crossings
- Binoculars for each traveler, so no one waits their turn at the river
August suits migration travelers who can book early, families on summer break and photographers. If you want quieter roads and more choice of camps, look at late July, September or October.
In August the right camp and the right guide make the trip. Kenya Experience is Kenyan-led, with two U.S. companies behind it and Kenyan guides who read the river. Pay in full or monthly with no deposit; a specialist replies within two business days.
