Visiting Kenya in April: Weather, Safaris, and Travel Tips for the Rainy Season
Visiting Kenya in April may not be the most popular choice for many travelers, but it offers a uniquely rewarding experience if you understand what to expect. During this month, positioned in the middle of the long rainy season, the rains turn the scenery into vibrant, green landscapes. Although it’s not the prime safari season, fewer visitors, lower costs, and striking skies make April an attractive time for budget travelers, photographers, and those seeking tranquility. This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Kenya in April, including weather, wildlife, and expert travel tips to help you enjoy this distinctive season to the fullest.
Places like the Masai Mara National Reserve also offer notable sightings, especially bird species such as sooty chats, secretary birds, Kori bustards, and Usambiro barbets. The coastal area, on the other hand, tends to be hot, but rain is often recorded.
The breakdown of the weather in Kenya in April
Kenya records extreme rainfall amounts, making it the wettest month of the year. On average, temperatures range from 20 °C to 30 °C.
In Nairobi and the Central highlands, temperatures rise between 15 degrees Celsius at night and about 26 degrees Celsius. In April, rains are experienced frequently, typically in the afternoon. Due to heavy rains, Nairobi and the Central Highlands transition to lush green paradises. The cool weather conditions are ideal for tourists to explore the lush Nairobi National Park and visit historical or cultural sites in vibrant Nairobi City.
The coastal region, including Diani, Malindi, and Mombasa, is warm and humid in April. The temperatures rise from 24 degrees Celsius at night to 30 degrees Celsius during the day. Rainfall tends to be less persistent than in the inland regions, making beach vacations and watersports more enjoyable. Scenic coastal scenery is a bonus for tourists visiting Kenya in April.
The Great Rift Valley and Western Kenya –the region that covers Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha. The temperatures in these regions range from 14 °C to 25 °C. The rainfall received makes the lakes and parks more scenic and generally picturesque. April is usually the best month of the year to visit Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha for birding tours.
The Northern and Eastern Kenya –the area that encompasses Marsabit and Samburu records a temperature rise of 20 to 32 degrees Celsius. Game viewing is a bit trickier in this region in April.
As the low season in Kenya
April falls in the off-months of the year in Kenya. However, it is advantageous for most budget-conscious visitors on a Kenya tour. In April, you can enjoy lower accommodation rates as most tend to reduce their prices to attract visitors.
Enjoy trips less with fears of crowds. April is typically the month when most national parks and reserves tend to be quieter. This makes it an ideal month to enjoy a more intimate tour in Kenya.
Flexible tour bookings. Due to the higher availability of accommodations and trips, visitors have the opportunity to make a booking even at the last minute.
Amazing Places to Explore in Kenya in April.
Amboseli National Park
Embark on a journey to witness a range of wildlife in Kenya’s finest Amboseli National Park. Amboseli isn’t only famous for its large herds of elephants but also for its range of wildlife. At Amboseli, visitors have the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of wildlife and birds. On the checklist of wildlife, Amboseli National Park supports a diverse range of mammals, including buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and more.
The different bird species in Amboseli include crowned lapwings, superb starling, Northern shovelers, spur-winged goose, fulvous whistling ducks, white-faced whistling ducks, Eurasian wigeon, blue-billed teal, Knob-billed ducks, African black ducks, scaly spurfowl, red-necked spurfowl, Shelley’s francolin, coqui francolins, crested francolin, bare-faced go-away bird, great spotted cuckoos, purple crested turacos, green malkoha, red-necked stint, little stint, curlew sandpiper, wood sandpiper, and more.
Ol Pejeta National Park/Conservancy
The Ol Pejeta conservacy is known for its mosaic of grass plains, acacia woodland, wooded grasslands, and evergreen thickets. This conservancy spans over 350 square kilometers and is an excellent place to find the largest rhino population in Kenya. The Ol Pejeta protects the world’s only two remaining Northern white rhinos. It is a Big Five destination and also supports a range of other wildlife.
At Ol Pejeta, you can expect to encounter a diverse range of wildlife, including Beisa Oryx, African wild dogs, leopards, Grevy’s zebras, hippos, giraffes, hartebeest, cheetahs, hyenas, and black-backed jackals. The birds present at Ol Pejeta National Park include ring-necked dove, white-browed sparrow-weaver, helmeted guineafowl, crested francolins, Kori bustards, ostriches, rosy-throated long claw, Hildebrandt’s starling, and rufous sparrow.
Other birds of Ol Pejeta include Abyssinian scimitar bill, rufous chatterer, cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, Temminck’s courser, Nubian woodpecker, buff-crested bustards, Montagu’s harrier, and long-billed pipit. Bird-watching in this conservancy area is best done in April when most migratory birds flock to the area from Europe and North Africa.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Located in the Mount Kenya area, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a unique destination to encounter a diverse range of wildlife. During your tour in April at Lewa, you can expect to experience a variety of wildlife, including lions, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, zebras, and more. This conservancy area, located in northern Kenya, was established in 1995.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara is an ideal choice of destinations to explore in April. It is the month of the year when most lodges and camps in the Masai Mara reduce their accommodation rates. Visiting the Masai Mara Reserve in April exposes you to a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, hyenas, jackals, zebras, giraffes, and various antelope species.
Birds of Masai Mara –with a total of about 470 species of birds, a visit to explore Maasai Mara on a birding tour in April allows you to spot birds such as black-crowned night-heron, little bittern, rufous-bellied heron, cattle egrets, dwarf bittern, African open bill storks, Abdim’s storks, white storks, yellow-billed stork, saddle-billed storks, hottentot teal, Egyptian goose, spur-winged goose, verreaux’s eagle, black-chested snake-eagle, brown snake-eagle, and many others.
Lake Nakuru National Park
If you are interested in birding tours, a visit to Lake Nakuru National Park in April is a must. Birds of Lake Nakuru include the flamingos, Shelley’s francolins, yellow-necked spurfowl, scaly francolins, mourning collared dove, dusky turtle doves, Namaqua doves, tambourine dove, laughing dove, ring-necked doves, lemon dove, yellow-throated sandgrouse, blue-spotted wood dove, African green pigeon, slender-tailed nightjars, Sombre nightjars, Alpine swift, African palm swift, freckled nightjars, and white-browed coucal.
Lake Nakuru is also popular for pink-backed pelicans, great white pelicans, dwarf bittern, saddle-bill stork, black-crowned night heron, hammerkop, little stint, sanderling, curlew sandpiper, ruddy turnstone, black-tailed Godwit, Terek sandpiper, and others.
Things to enjoy in Kenya in April
Birding/bird-watching: April is an ideal time for tourists to enjoy sightings of many birds, including migrant species from North Africa and North America. The best places to consider for birding in April include the Lakes along the Great Rift Valley, Amboseli, and Maasai Mara.
Game viewing – While April isn’t a great month for wildlife safaris, it is a great time to explore the Maasai Mara. The reserve tends to be clear in the mornings, and routes can be passable.
Explore the coastal towns and their cultures, especially in Lamu –the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The favorable weather conditions make it easier to navigate through as you learn more about the historical sites in the area.
Final Thoughts: Traveling to Kenya in April
Visiting Kenya in April offers a glimpse into a different side of Africa, one that is quieter, greener, and more affordable. Although the rains can pose challenges, they also open up opportunities: intimate safari experiences, budget-friendly accommodations, and breathtaking photography moments that aren’t available during the busy dry season. If you’re looking for a less crowded, more authentic way to explore Kenya, April could be your ideal travel time.
At Native Africa Tours, we tailor Kenya itineraries for all seasons, including April’s lush month. Whether you seek a private safari, cultural immersion, or beach getaway, our team can help you craft a trip that highlights this often-overlooked time of year. Begin planning your April Kenya adventure now and let us transform the rainy season into your ideal travel experience.
