Kenya works as a winter sun destination because the coast stays at 31-33°C by day and 27-29°C in the sea from November to February, while the safari parks inland go through their driest weeks of the year. It is also one of the few long-haul beach options where you can add a safari. This guide compares the four winter months, region by region, with the best resort base for each month and a packing list. All prices are approximate as of 2026.
For the festive weeks, see Christmas in Kenya 2026 and New Year’s Eve in Kenya 2026. For the hottest coastal weeks, see the warmest place in Kenya in December.
Winter Sun at a Glance
Kenya straddles the equator, so there is no real winter. What changes is rainfall. The short rains run October to November and then taper; December through February is the main dry spell, and the long rains return in March to May. The coast gets a north-east monsoon breeze (the kaskazi) from roughly December to March, which keeps the heat comfortable and the sea calm in the mornings.
Month-by-Month Comparison, November to February
| Month | Mombasa/Diani day | Sea | Nairobi day | Masai Mara day | Lamu day | Coast rain (approx.) | Best base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 31°C | 28°C | 25°C | 26°C | 31°C | 110mm, showers | Watamu (value, quieter) |
| December | 31-32°C | 28°C | 25-26°C | 26°C | 31°C | 70mm, drying out | Diani (festive, busy) |
| January | 32°C | 28-29°C | 26°C | 27°C | 32°C | 40mm | Diani or Lamu |
| February | 33°C | 29°C | 27°C | 27°C | 32°C | 25mm | Watamu or Malindi |
Night temperatures on the coast sit near 24-25°C throughout winter, so you will not need warm clothing there. Nairobi and the Mara fall to 13-16°C at night.
November: Shoulder Season With Showers
November is the cheapest of the four months and a good value pick if you can accept the odd afternoon downpour. Rain is heavier in the first half. Resorts discount by approximately 20-40 percent against December, and beaches are almost empty. The sea can be cloudier after storms. If you want sun on most days, travel in the last ten days, when conditions improve towards the festive season. Best base: Watamu. Turtle Bay Beach Club and the Marine National Park suit snorkellers, and the Italian-run restaurants stay open. See our Kenya in November guide.
December: Dry, Festive and Expensive
The short rains end and the coast reaches 31-32°C with long sunny stretches. Christmas and New Year send rates up, with festive supplements of approximately USD 50-150 per person. Best base: Diani. The resort strip has the most restaurants, beach bars and activities, and Wilson-to-Ukunda flights make a Mara-plus-beach trip easy. Read our Kenya in December guide.
January: Settled Weather, Lower Prices After 5 January
Rain drops to approximately 40mm and temperatures climb to 32°C. Once the school-holiday crowds leave around 5 January, rates fall by approximately 20-35 percent against the festive fortnight. January is also a strong month for the Mara and Amboseli. Best base: Diani or Lamu. Lamu’s Shela beach is lovely in January, with the north-east breeze keeping the heat easy, and Peponi Hotel and The Majlis Resort are the best-known addresses. See Kenya in January.
February: Hottest, Driest, Quietest Beaches
February is the sunniest month, with approximately 25mm of rain and 33°C highs. The sea reaches about 29°C. It is the best month for diving and snorkelling visibility, particularly around Watamu and Kisite-Mpunguti off the south coast. Prices stay at shoulder level. Best base: Watamu or Malindi. Hemingways Watamu and Turtle Bay Beach Club cover the upper and mid ranges, and Sandies Tropical Village covers Malindi. See Kenya in February.
Choosing a Resort Base
Diani Beach has the widest choice: Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa and Baobab Beach Resort & Spa for families (approximately USD 100-200 per person full board), The Sands at Nomad for boutique stays (approximately USD 280-500), and Almanara Luxury Resort for villas (approximately USD 450-800). It is also the easiest base for day trips and dive courses. See our Diani Beach guide and Diani hotels.
Watamu is better for marine life: the national park and Mida Creek are a short drive away, and the choice runs from guesthouses to Hemingways Watamu. See Watamu.
Malindi has long beaches and an Italian influence, with Sandies Tropical Village and Diamonds Dream of Africa as the reference resorts. See Malindi.
Lamu is for a car-free, slow trip with dhow sailing and Swahili architecture. See Lamu.
Mombasa suits a city-and-beach mix, with Fort Jesus and the Old Town. See Mombasa.
Combining Winter Sun With a Safari
December to February is dry season in the parks, so roads are good and game concentrates near water. A seven-day split of four nights in the Masai Mara or Amboseli and three on the coast fits most budgets. The Mara reserve fee is approximately USD 200 per non-resident adult per day from July to December, then approximately USD 100 per day from January to June, so a January trip is cheaper; confirm current rates on the Kenya Wildlife Service website. Our Masai Mara in December guide and Amboseli guide cover what you will see. Do not expect wildebeest calving in the Mara; that happens in Tanzania’s Serengeti in January and February.
What to Pack
- Lightweight cotton and linen, with a long-sleeved shirt for sun and mosquitoes.
- SPF 30 or higher reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and polarised sunglasses.
- Swimwear, a rash vest and water shoes for rocky Diani reef sections at low tide.
- A fleece or light jacket for Nairobi evenings and early Mara game drives, when temperatures can drop to 13°C.
- Neutral safari colours (khaki, olive), no camouflage.
- Insect repellent with DEET and, on medical advice, malaria prophylaxis. See our Kenya health and vaccinations guide and Kenya packing list.
- Kenya’s electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before you fly. See our visa guide.
- A plug adapter for type G sockets; see power outlets.
How We Would Plan It
For a 10-day winter break we would fly into Nairobi, spend one night near the airport, take a Safarilink or AirKenya flight to the Mara for four nights, return to Wilson and fly to Ukunda for five nights on Diani. Book flights and the Mara camp first, then the beach. Add day trips through Diani tours and Kenya tours. Our flights to Kenya guide lists airlines, and for a comparison with Zanzibar and the Tanzanian coast, see Kenya vs Tanzania for winter sun.