BEST TIME TO VISIT TSAVO EAST FOR A SOUTH-EASTERN KENYA SAFARI

Your time in Tsavo East National Park promises to be an unforgettable wilderness holiday in Kenya. Relish in some of Africa’s finest wildlife viewing and safari experiences while enjoying the warm temperatures. Daytime temperatures in the park range from 80 F (27 C) to 90 F (32 C) depending on your month of travel. The months with the coolest daytime temperatures are June through August, and January to March have the warmest daytime temperatures.

Night-time low temperatures range from 60 F (16 C) to 68 (20 C) dependent on the seasonal months. We do advise our guests, though, that droughts are more common in Tsavo East than in the bordering park of Tsavo West National Park. Historically, droughts have been so severe that the 85-hectare reservoir at Aruba Dam has dried up completely.

This results to wildlife congregating at more permanent water sources like the Galana River. While these climatic conditions make Tsavo East Park a superb African bush safari destination any time of year, you should also consider the effects of the dry and rainy seasons. The presence or absence of rain affects not only the vegetation, but also wildlife behavior, room rates and logistics.



We primarily recommend the long dry season from July to October to most of AfricanMecca visitants to Tsavo, especially if you are new to bush travel in Kenya. Without adequate precipitation, plants and grasses are sparse at best, and seasonal watering holes are dry. In the search for food and water, wildlife relocates to more permanent water sources where they also find adequate water and surrounding nourishment.

As a result, the animals are found gathered in small areas. The minimal vegetation and diverse groups of animals affords you to view numerous species in a central area, especially herbivores, much more easily than when dispersed wildlife have more options for eating and drinking. These prime conditions draw many guests, both locally and internationally.

The long dry season also coincides with migration in Masai Mara and also the summer holidays for American and European families, so you will experience the highest guest levels at the park during the long dry season, especially from the coastal resorts of Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu and Kilifi. Guest levels decrease slightly during the short rainy season in November and December, and some accommodations lower their room rates.

The only exceptions are Christmas and New Year’s. Other prices, though, are constant regardless of the season, such as meals, park entry fees, logistics, and activities, to name only some of the costs that are associated with your exploratory travel in East Africa. Rainfall during the short wet season in Tsavo compared to other parts of Kenya is not similar. There is more precipitation in comparison. This is primarily due to location of the park being so close to the coast of Kenya.



In January and February, a short hot, dry season arrives, followed by the wettest time of year – the long rains from March through May and parts of June. The precipitation is significant, and rain may fall continuously for several days but not throughout the day. Roads and trails are muddy because of the increased moisture. Your safari activities may be impacted due to the difficulty of navigating the park by vehicle and on foot.

For those spirited guests who desire a magical Kenya trip in Tsavo East with AfricanMecca, the long rains bring renewed life in both flora and fauna. The landscape is transformed as plants, flowers, trees and bushes spring to life, and you may see first-hand the first few minutes of a newborn mammal’s life. Birding is also best during this time, especially with avian-life migrating from the cold European habitats.