Month by month. Updated November 2026. 3 min read.
May is when Kenya is at its greenest and quietest. The long rains usually ease inland through the month, the parks glow with new grass, you and your Kenyan guide can have the Mara's resident cats almost to yourselves, and many camps offer green-season rates. The coast is the exception: May is usually its wettest month.
May weather by region
In most years the long rains are still active in early May and taper off toward the end of the month in Nairobi and the southern parks. Expect a mix of bright mornings and afternoon storms, with drier spells becoming more common as the weeks go by.
- Nairobi and the highlands: mild and cooler, with highs of about 23 to 25°C (73 to 77°F) and lows of about 12 to 15°C (54 to 59°F). Overcast days become more frequent.
- The Maasai Mara and the southern parks: green and fresh, with long grass and full rivers. Some tracks stay muddy after rain, and Amboseli's dust is gone for a few weeks.
- The north: rainfall in Samburu is usually lighter than in the south, and the bush stays green for weeks after the storms.
- The coast: the wettest month of the year in Mombasa, with heavy showers, high humidity, highs of about 30°C (86°F) and lows near 23°C (73°F).
Where the wildlife is
The migration herds are usually in the central and western Serengeti in Tanzania in May, where the wildebeest rut usually takes place. They don't typically reach the Maasai Mara until late July. In Kenya you have the resident wildlife almost to yourself: the Mara's lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and buffalo, and the year-round herds of zebra, topi and gazelle.
Thick green grass can hide smaller animals, so your guide's eyes matter more than in August. The reward is space: many sightings with no other vehicle in view, and soft, clean light for photographs.
On the coast, sea turtles nest on Watamu's beaches through the year, and Local Ocean Conservation works with the community to protect the nests. The southeast monsoon, the kusi, usually starts to build around May or June, bringing breezier days and rougher seas.
Where to go in May
- Maasai Mara conservancies: quiet game drives and good value at the camps that stay open
- Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha: easy access from Nairobi, rhinos, hippos and birds
- Ol Pejeta and Lewa: rhinos in green Laikipia, with Mount Kenya behind when the cloud lifts
- Samburu: green dry country and elephants along the Ewaso Ng'iro River
- Nairobi: the national park, the Sheldrick elephant orphanage visiting hour and the Giraffe Centre are good in any weather
We usually steer beach time away from May. If you do go to the coast, Watamu and Diani get heavy showers between sunny spells, and some hotels close for the low season. Mount Kenya is also wet in May; we suggest climbing from late June onward, or in January and February.
Crowds, prices, holidays and events
May is one of the quietest months of the year in Kenya's parks, and many camps and lodges offer green-season rates. Some close for part of the month for maintenance, so we check what's open before we quote. It is a good month to stay longer in one place for the same budget.
Labour Day, May 1, is a public holiday. Idd-ul-Azha is also a public holiday, with its date set by the moon; in 2027 it is expected around May 16 or 17. The Rhino Charge, an off-road fundraiser for Kenya's forests run by Rhino Ark, usually falls around the end of May or the start of June, at a venue that changes every year.
What to pack
- A good waterproof jacket
- Layers and a fleece: Nairobi and the Mara are cooler in the evenings
- Quick-dry trousers and shoes that can handle mud
- Insect repellent for damp evenings
- A dry bag or rain cover for cameras and phones
- Binoculars: green grass hides a lot, and good optics help
The verdict: who May suits
May suits travelers who want Kenya's parks at their greenest and quietest, and who would rather spend less per night or stay longer: honeymooners, photographers, return visitors and anyone with flexible dates. It suits beach lovers less, and climbers should wait. Late May is usually the better half of the month, as the rains taper while green-season rates still apply.
Plan May with Kenya Experience: Kenyan-led, backed by two U.S. companies, with Kenyan guides who know the green season well. Pay in full or monthly with no deposit, and a specialist replies within two business days.
