January
OK
26.2°C / 14.6°C
15 rain days
warm, rainy
- comfortable temperatures (avg high 26.2°C / 79°F)
- warm evenings without humidity overload
Best time to visit Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya — ranked month by month from data: temperature, rainfall, snow, and peak hazard seasons. Every month has trade-offs — pick what you can tolerate.
Best · January & February
About Nairobi
Nairobi, is the capital and largest city of Kenya, located in the south-central part of the country. As of 2026, it has a population of 5.6 million and a metropolitan population of 15.95 million, making it the 8th most populous city in Africa and the 4th most populous metropolitan area. The city goes beyond its borders and has expanded into neighbouring counties, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in Africa.
— condensed from Wikipedia
"
Most travelers transit through to a safari. The city itself rewards a day — Karen, Giraffe Centre, the new Nairobi National Park. Uber/Bolt; never walk after dark.
— how Nairobi really feels, in two sentences
Heading to Kenya? Land connected with a local Airalo eSIM — installs before you fly, no roaming bill. Get an eSIM →
OK — shoulder months
February
OK
27.1°C / 15°C
15 rain days
warm, rainy
- warm evenings without humidity overload
July
OK
22.5°C / 12.6°C
18 rain days
warm, very wet
- comfortable temperatures (avg high 22.5°C / 73°F)
August
OK
23.3°C / 12.8°C
18 rain days
warm, very wet
- comfortable temperatures (avg high 23.3°C / 74°F)
Months to skip
September
Skip
24.9°C / 13.5°C
19 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (19 rain days)
March
Skip
27°C / 15.6°C
21 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (21 rain days)
June
Skip
22.8°C / 13.4°C
21 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (21 rain days)
December
Skip
24.6°C / 14.8°C
22 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (22 rain days)
October
Skip
25.9°C / 14.9°C
23 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (23 rain days)
May
Skip
23.7°C / 14.9°C
26 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (26 rain days)
April
Skip
24.8°C / 15.8°C
28 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (28 rain days)
November
Skip
24.1°C / 15.2°C
29 rain days
warm, very wet
- extremely wet (29 rain days)
How we ranked these
Each month is scored on temperature comfort (18–27°C avg high is the sweet spot), rainfall (more rain days = lower score), snow days, and peak hazard seasons (hurricanes, monsoons, etc.). Green-tier months are within ideal range with no major issues. Yellow are workable but with trade-offs. Red has at least one significant problem — extreme heat or cold, heavy rain, or peak storm season.
On-the-ground reality — Nairobi
The practical stuff most travel sites won't say plainly. Use this to set expectations before you book.
⚠️ Tap water
Filter first
🚶 Walkability
Fair
🛡 Safety
Elevated
🚕 Ride-hailing
Widely available
🗣 English
80% transactable
On the ground: Most travellers use it as a safari gateway. Use Uber/Bolt; avoid walking with valuables visible.
What does Nairobi cost?
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Use these as rough starting points — actual spend varies with season and neighborhood.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $25 | $95 | $295 |
| Food | $15 | $38 | $125 |
| Transit | $4 | $10 | $35 |
| Activities | $18 | $40 | $95 |
| Daily total | $62 | $183 | $550 |
Calculate your trip total
Plug in how long you'll go and how many people you're with. We'll show the total in USD and — if you've set a home city — automatically convert it to your home currency.
Estimated trip cost
—
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person per day. Excludes long-haul flights.