Discover Kenya’s Quiet Beauty in November
Visiting Kenya in November provides a distinctive safari experience with lush landscapes, striking skies, and active wildlife. Although it signals the start of the “short rains,” this month isn’t a washout. The rain comes in brief showers, encouraging fresh greenery and fewer visitors. November is perfect for those wanting a calmer, more budget-friendly safari to locations like the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, and Tsavo. Migratory birds return, baby animals emerge across the plains, and the scenery remains vibrant and perfect for photos. With reduced prices on lodges and safaris, Native Africa Tours ensures you enjoy this off-peak period by offering expert guides, personalized itineraries, and memorable game drives.
November also marks the beginning of the short rainy/wet season. Most game reserves and parks are open, with lodges and camps offering relatively affordable accommodation services. The rainy season comes with amazing news, especially for the newborn animals and migratory species of birds. Visiting Kenya in November presents you with a splendid chance to observe most of these species during your guided game viewing.
Weather variations in Kenya
The weather variations in Kenya per region/location. Most of the cities in Kenya, including Nairobi, receive rainfall amounts of 154mm, and Kisumu receives 139mm. November is the rainiest month of the year in these cities. The driest cities in Kenya to visit in November include Lamu with a rainfall amount of 39 mm, and Eldoret with 57mm.
The hottest cities not to miss while visiting Kenya in November include Lamu with a temperature range of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, and Garissa, which experiences a temperature rise of 24 to 34 degrees Celsius. The coolest cities to visit in Kenya include Eldoret, with a temperature variation of 11 to 23 degrees Celsius, and Nakuru, which experiences a temperature rise of 10 to 24 degrees Celsius.
Best Places to Explore in Kenya in November
Nairobi
Exploring Nairobi should be a must while visiting Kenya in November for a safari. Nairobi City boasts its well-built infrastructure and also offers a vibrant cultural experience. While in Nairobi, you can visit the Giraffe Manor to have a close view of giraffes, plus other species. Visitors can also explore the city’s vibrant markets, including those of the Maasai people, the Nairobi National Museum, and art galleries. In Nairobi, you shouldn’t miss out on enjoying the exceptional local cuisine at some of the finest restaurants.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara offers amazing wildlife tours all year round. But November is the one month when it is less crowded. It is a wildlife paradise, a destination with the Big 5, which include rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and lions. Other animals include bushbucks, bat-eared foxes, common elands, crested porcupines, Coke’s hartebeest, and more.
The bird list in Masai Mara includes common ostriches, African darter, little grebe, long-tailed cormorant, rufous-bellied herons, cattle egrets, yellow-billed egret, great egret, black-crowned night heron, yellow-billed storks, saddle-billed storks, black stork, white stork, marabou stork, African open-bill stork, woolly-necked stork, spur-winged goose, white-faced whistling-ducks, red-billed teal, northern pintail, Egyptian goose, and others.
Samburu National Reserve
People find the Samburu Reserve at the northern end of Kenya, and it is popular for its breathtaking landscapes and distinct species. Samburu is a perfect place to find distinct wildlife in their natural setting, including the Special Five game: Grevy’s zebras, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, Somali ostriches, and reticulated giraffes.
About 450 birds call Samburu their home, including the western crested guinea-fowl, helmeted guinea-fowl, tufted ducks, green-winged teal, northern pintail, crested francolins, blue quail, Shelley’s francolins, yellow-necked spur fowl, laughing doves, lemon doves, Remeron pigeon, ring-necked doves, bustards, sandgrouse, cuckoos, coucals, and cormorants.
Amboseli National Park
At Amboseli National Park, expect to embark on a journey to explore abundant wildlife, including elephants. The highest concentration of elephants in Kenya is in Amboseli National Park. You can also spot other wildlife, including buffalo, zebras, leopards, lions, gazelles, cheetahs, and about 400 species of birds. The birds in Amboseli include African fish eagles, pelicans, flamingos, red-necked francolins, harlequin quail, southern pochard, Northern pintail, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, ring-necked dove, mourning collared-dove, speckled pigeon, white-bellied bustards, African green-pigeon, tambourine dove, laughing dove, dusky-turtle doves, alpine swift, Eurasian nightjars, common cuckoos, red-chested cuckoos, African swamphen, and others.
Lake Nakuru National Park
November is an excellent month of the year to visit Lake Nakuru National Park and explore its diverse attractions. The park lies about 160 km northwest of Nairobi, about a two-to-three-hour drive. Lake Nakuru National Park holds a huge profusion of carnivores and other animals, including leopards, lions, several cats, striped hyenas, side-striped jackals, zebras, giraffes, civets, buffalo, genets, mongoose, and many species of birds. Visit Lake Nakuru National Park to get enriched by the thrilling game viewing and birding expeditions.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is one of the most popular destinations in Kenya for spotting rhinos. The Park recorded a successful story of rhino conservation. A visit to Nairobi National Park allows you to explore, among others, the black rhinos and other wildlife such as cheetahs, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, impalas, hippos, gazelles, elands, hartebeest, and waterbucks.
Bird checklist in Nairobi National Park comprises yellow-billed ducks, Knob-billed ducks, fulvous whistling-ducks, white-faced whistling-ducks, cape teal, Northern pintail, spur-winged goose, Egyptian goose, emerald-spotted wood-dove, lemon dove, Remeron pigeon, rock pigeon, Namaqua dove, Hartlaub’s bustards, white-bellied go-away-birds, mottled swift, little swift, white-rumped swift, and more. The ideal experiences to appreciate on a tour in Nairobi National Park include picnicking, game viewing, and bird watching.
Tsavo West National Park
Visit the charming Tsavo West National Park to explore the big game in its natural setting. This park is prolific in birdlife, with about 600 species. Its landscape comprises 1000 plant species, grasslands, and a mixture of habitats with bush, acacia woodland, also dotted with baobab, fig trees, ivory palm, and others. The main birds to identify on a birding trip in Tsavo West National Park include cardinal quelea, spur-winged goose, marsh sandpiper, banded Parisoma, bearded woodpecker, capped wheatear, white-crested helmet shrike, scaly chatterer, greater flamingoes, southern grosbeak-canary, Northern brownbul, eastern nicator, Kori bustards, and more.
Mount Kenya National Park
Mt. Kenya National Park is one of the best places to explore in Kenya in November. This is one of the designated UNESCO sites in Magical Kenya and is home to the magnificent Mount Kenya (5199m). Mount Kenya National Park features a diversity of wildlife, including waterbucks, elephants, suni, tree hyrax, bongo, elands, mole rats, black-fronted duiker, white-tailed mongoose, giant forest hogs, and diverse birds.
Explore Tsavo East
The Tsavo East National Park is most popular for its diverse wildlife, including small and large mammals. Home to the park are dust-red elephants, leopards, lesser kudus, lions, rhinos, waterbucks, gerenuks, hippos, buffalo, and over 500 bird species. The checklist of birds in Tsavo East National Park includes black-faced sandgrouse, Shelley’s starling, Taita falcon, ostriches, golden pipit, lesser kestrel, white storks, European bee-eaters, common cuckoos, helmeted guinea fowl, and Egyptian goose.
Top Activities to do in Kenya in November
November brings a pack of thrilling adventures for everyone on a Kenyan safari. The exciting things awaiting you to experience in Kenya include guided game viewing, birding, hiking, and city tours in Nairobi, whitewater rafting, horseback tours, and others.
If you’re looking for a peaceful, affordable, and incredibly scenic time to visit Kenya, November is a hidden treasure. The landscapes are lush; the wildlife is active, and the parks are far less crowded. This offers a more intimate safari experience to tourists on Kenyan safaris. Birdwatchers, photographers, and budget-conscious travelers will find November a perfect time to explore Kenya’s wild side.
At Native Africa Tours, we specialize in crafting personalized Kenya safaris that match your style and schedule. Whether you want to chase big cats in the Maasai Mara, photograph elephants in Amboseli, or enjoy bird life in Lake Naivasha, we’ll make your November safari seamless and unforgettable.
Contact Native Africa Tours today if you have plans of visiting Kenya in November before the secret gets out!
