Tsavo West National Park

Weather & Climate

171 Tsavo West Safaris

Expert

By Anthony Ham

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Climate Chart Tsavo West National Park – 419-1,677m / 1,375-5,502ft

Tsavo West National Park has a climate characterized by hot and dry conditions. During the day, expect temperatures around 28°C/82°F, while 18°C/64°F is typical at night. Cool mornings mean warm clothing is a good idea for early game drives. Rainfall peaks in April and November.

Dry Season –June to October

The coolest months are full of sunshine and have very little rain. Warm clothing is required for open-vehicle game drives.

June & July – Sunny afternoons see temperatures reach about 26°C/79°F. Early mornings and nights are cool at an average of 15°C/59°F.
August & September – Temperatures slowly increase. Although they reach far higher, the average daytime temperature in September is 27°C/81°F.
October – The humidity and heat rise, building up to the Wet season.

Wet Season –November to May

The short rains followed by the long rains comprise the Wet season. In between these two wetter periods is a drier stretch that falls in the months of January and February.

November & December – ‘Short rains’ – Although the first downpours usually come in October, the Wet season really starts in November. Afternoon storms often sweep through. It averages 29°C/84°F in the daytime, although the rain cools things down.
January & February – February is the hottest month: average afternoon temperatures are 30°C/86°F. These months represent a dry spell between the short and long rains. It’s not possible to know exactly when this dry spell will begin or finish.
March, April & May – ‘Long rains’ – The long rains generally begin in the second half of March. Brief afternoon showers are normal. April is the wettest month, and road conditions often worsen in April and May. Afternoon temperatures climb to around 29°C/84°F.