Saruni Basecamp camps and lodges are open all year round* and a safari is recommended during any month of the year.
(*Except Basecamp Dorobo Mobile which is closed during April & May).
In the Masai Mara the resident population of wild animals remains spectacular from January to December, with one of the highest concentrations of wildlife and birdlife on the planet. But during the months of the Great Migration – from July to September/October – hundreds of thousands of additional animals arrive from the Serengeti to join the local herds. It’s the greatest natural show on earth!
The Mara ecosystem, is made of both the National Reserve and the community-owned conservancies, sits on a high plateau where temperatures drop during the night and where rains are not infrequent.
There are two rainy seasons: the ‘long rains’ of mid-April-May and the ‘short rains’ of November. A safari, during these wet weeks, is still an incredibly interesting experience: the Masai Mara is exceptionally green and beautiful, wildlife is abundant and the sky has unusual colours. Sometimes it rains for several hours in the late afternoon and on into the night and the weather is nice during the morning. Sometimes it can rain most of the day. You are rewarded with the feeling that you have the Masai Mara entirely for yourselves, like a private Garden of Eden. In addition, during the wet seasons, there is more “plains” wildlife, which attract more predators.
In Samburu the “Samburu Five” (Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich and gerenuk) are abundant in any season. Elephants are one of the main attractions in Samburu any day of the year. During recurrent droughts and when the river dries up, the wildlife tends to disperse in search of water. Just keep in mind that January, February, March and September tend to be the hottest months in what is – normally – a hot part of the country.
The Samburu ecosystem is a well-known area in central Kenya comprising of Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Samburu National Reserve and Kalama Conservancy. The natural environment is arid and semi-arid.
Kenya, Month by Month
The beginning of January right the way through to the end of February and into March signals the warmest period to visit Kenya; it is a great time to be on safari, especially in the Masai Mara if you want to avoid the heat of Northern Kenya.
Early March still has some blue skies although it signals the start of the rainy season which runs right through April and into May. The rainy season is different depending of which region of Kenya you are in: in normal years, the Masai Mara receives much more rain than Samburu.
June sees the start of Kenya’s dry season with waterholes and river banks teeming with animals.
From July-August to October (depending on the year) you observe the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. It is also – with Christmas – the busiest time of the year.
September is less busy and a wonderful time to visit; October to mid-November (before the short rains start) is also a great time to go on safari.
December can be an excellent time to visit Kenya with its lush green scenery making an ideal habitat for migratory birds and newborn animals.
