Measured, not vibes
Best Time to Visit Nairobi
By measured weather comfort, the top months for Nairobi are July, June, August — and RouteVerdict's editorial pick, which also weighs crowds and prices, is January, February, June, July, August, September, October. The table below is computed from ERA5 reanalysis data for 2020–2024, measured at Nairobi (1684 m elevation).
Month by month
Nairobi weather and comfort, 2020–2024
| Month | Avg high | Wet days | Comfort | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.4°C / 78°F | 10.3 | 77 | |
| February | 27.2°C / 81°F | 7.5 | 76 | |
| March | 27.2°C / 81°F | 10.5 | 71 | Shoulder |
| April | 25°C / 77°F | 22.5 | 63 | |
| May | 24.2°C / 76°F | 14.2 | 71 | Shoulder |
| June | 23.6°C / 74°F | 6.2 | 87 | Best |
| July | 22.7°C / 73°F | 4.3 | 91 | Best |
| August | 23.6°C / 74°F | 7.5 | 85 | Best |
| September | 25.1°C / 77°F | 6.5 | 85 | |
| October | 26.8°C / 80°F | 10.7 | 72 | |
| November | 24.8°C / 77°F | 17.7 | 64 | |
| December | 25.1°C / 77°F | 14.2 | 70 |
Comfort is RouteVerdict's 0–100 score: 100·exp(−(high−23)²/162) × (1 − min(0.35, wet days × 0.02)). The full method is on the methodology page. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (ERA5, CC BY 4.0), 2020–2024 normals. Wet day = ≥1 mm precipitation.
What the seasons are actually like
Traveling to Nairobi month by month
Nairobi's comfort score peaks in July at 91.3, with an average high of just 22.7°C — the year's coolest — and only 4.3 wet days, the lowest rainfall of any month. Counterintuitively, Nairobi's comfort doesn't track heat: April, the wettest month at 22.5 wet days, drops to a comfort score of 63.4 despite a similar temperature to July. RouteVerdict's editorial pick spans January, February, and June through October, favoring the dry months over the wetter, warmer ones.
FAQ
Nairobi timing questions
What is the best month to visit Nairobi?
By measured weather comfort (ERA5 2020–2024), the top months are July, June, and August, with July scoring highest. RouteVerdict's editorial pick is January, February, June, July, August, September, and October, which also weighs crowds, prices, and events.
What is the hottest month in Nairobi?
February, with an average daily high of 27.2°C (81°F).
What is the rainiest month in Nairobi?
April, averaging 22.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation.
When is shoulder season in Nairobi?
May and March — the best-scoring months outside both the measured top three and RouteVerdict's editorial peak-season pick.
Why does Nairobi's coolest month score the highest comfort?
July averages just 22.7°C, the year's coolest, but also has the lowest rainfall at 4.3 wet days — dryness matters more than temperature here, pushing July's comfort score to 91.3, the highest of the year.
What is Nairobi's wettest month?
April, averaging 22.5 wet days — far more than any other month — with comfort dropping to 63.4 despite a temperature similar to July's.