Things to Do in Nairobi in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Nairobi
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
78°F (25°C)
High Temp
58°F (14°C)
Low Temp
3.4 inches (86 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December is the start of Nairobi's short dry season - the grass turns gold, the sky clears to a hard cobalt blue, and you can see the Ngong Hills from Uhuru Highway without a haze filter.
- + Tourist numbers drop after the summer rush, so you can walk the Karen Blixen Museum gardens without joining a 40-person queue and get sunset tables at the rooftop bars in Westlands without a reservation.
- + The wildebeest migration has trickled back south. But Nairobi National Park is suddenly thick with zebra and giraffe - you will see more animals per square kilometer in December than any other month, and the dry soil means the dust clouds help you spot movement.
- + Hotel rates dip 20-30% from October highs. The same river-view room at the Norfolk that requires three months' advance booking in August often has last-minute availability in early December.
Considerations
- − Afternoon convection storms still pop up twice a week. They arrive fast at 3 pm, dump 15 mm (0.6 in) in 20 minutes, and turn Uhuru Park's paths into ankle-deep red mud that stains white sneakers for the rest of your trip.
- − The sun sits directly overhead - UV index 8 - and at 1,795 m (5,889 ft) altitude you will burn faster than you expect. By midday the metal door handles in the city market are hot enough to sting.
- − School holidays start mid-month, so domestic flights to the coast jump in price and the Saturday morning Village Market parking lot becomes a honking gridlock of SUVs from Karen.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Nairobi in December feels different. The air is warm and thick. Daytime humidity carries a scent of damp earth and charcoal smoke, after an afternoon shower. Evenings turn cool. This relief sends everyone to open-air verandas. The month pulses with national celebration. Jamhuri Day on the twelfth transforms the streets around Nyayo Stadium with marching bands and patriotic anthems. Earlier, the soaring harmonies of competitive choirs fill the concrete dome of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre during the Kenya Music Festival. Visiting now means seeing a city in a festive mood. Green spaces are lush. The pace quickens with holiday preparations.
3 days Masai Mara on Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
adventureThis is a complete dive into the vast savanna. You will see elephants stirring red dust under flat-topped acacias. You will hear the guttural calls of lions at dusk from your vehicle's roof hatch. This journey covers great distances in comfort. It moves from riverine forests with grunting hippos to open plains dotted with wildebeest.
This trip gives you the freedom to follow wildlife across the Mara's big landscapes from your own rugged vehicle.
Insider tip: Pack a warm layer for early morning game drives. The metal frame of the Land Cruiser feels cold in the pre-dawn chill.
This month: The short rains of November often leave the grasslands of the Masai Mara green and the skies dramatic in December. You will see fewer tourist vehicles than in peak summer months.
Nairobi Park Wildlife Safari
otherThis shows untamed animals against a city skyline. You will see giraffes silhouetted by office towers. You will smell wild sage brushed by a zebra herd. Feel the thrill of spotting a black rhino mere miles from traffic. This compact reserve has a fast encounter with well-known species.
It is the only capital city where you can photograph lions with skyscrapers behind them.
Insider tip: Visit the Ivory Burning Site Monument in the park. The quiet memorial's plaque is a sobering counterpoint to the lively wildlife.
Masai Mara 3 Days Tour Safari Private 4WD Landcruiser
guided_experienceThis focuses on intimate wildlife tracking. Your guide will listen for baboon alarm calls to locate predators. They will navigate to places where you can watch cheetahs scan the golden grass from a termite mound. Evenings are for reliving the day's sightings around a campfire under a blanket of stars.
Your private vehicle means your itinerary bends to the whims of the wildlife. You can stay at any interesting sighting.
Insider tip: Request the front passenger seat for the clearest, unobstructed view through the windshield.
2-Day Private Tour in Masai Mara with Pick Up
private_tourThis is a concentrated safari. You will feel the vehicle tilt on earthen tracks by the Mara River, where crocodiles bask on muddy banks. You will taste the dust kicked up by a retreating buffalo herd. This efficient tour maximizes time on the plains. It often includes a visit to a Maasai manyatta to see beadwork being crafted.
It is made for travelers who want the Mara's wildlife spectacle without a multi-day commitment.
Insider tip: Confirm with your operator that park entry fees are included. Avoid a surprise payment at the gate.
Safe and Executive Airport transfer in Nairobi
transportThis provides an easy first impression. A driver will meet you in arrivals holding a placard. You will bypass the taxi touts. They will lead you to a clean, air-conditioned car for the drive into the city. Watch the roadside blur of magenta bougainvillea and busy markets.
It removes the stress of navigating airport logistics and city traffic after a long flight.
Insider tip: Use the drive from the airport to ask your driver where to find the best local *nyama choma* near your stay.
Masai Mara 3 Days Luxury Tented Safari
otherThis blends wilderness with refined comfort. You will hear your tent canvas rustle in the night breeze. You will smell the damp grass after a brief shower. Dine on linen-clad tables under the amber glow of hurricane lamps. The sounds of the bush provide an uninterrupted symphony.
It offers the romance of a classic safari camp with modern amenities. You stay in central the ecosystem without losing comfort.
Insider tip: Zip your tent closed completely at all times. The clever monkeys in camp are adept at finding ways inside.
Where to Stay in Nairobi in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
12 December
Jamhuri Day Celebrations
On 12 December Kenyans mark independence with military parades at Nyayo Stadium and free concerts in Uhuru Gardens. Locals dress in flag-coloured kikoy and the city smells of nyama choma roasting on roadside grills. Get there by 8 am - gates close once the President arrives.
Early December
Kenya Music Festival (Nairobi Edition)
Colleges bring 300-member choirs to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre for a week of competitive gospels and taarab. The acoustics in the main dome make the bass drums feel like heartbeat. Evening shows are open to the public from 6 pm.
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View Nairobi Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
City matatus play deafening reggae after 9 pm - if you're staying along Ngong Road, request a room on the courtyard side.
Java House outlets give free refills until 11 am. Buy one coffee and nurse it while you plan the day over proper Wi-Fi.
The quickest Diani Beach flight leaves from Wilson Airport, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of CBD. Book the 6:30 am departure. You're on a sandbar by 9 am. Speed beats traffic. Worth it.
Kenya Wildlife Service sells a combined "Nairobi Park + Elephant Orphanage" ticket only at the gate. Online platforms don't offer it. Bring cash. Skip the apps.
Avoid These Mistakes
Waiting until 10 am to enter Nairobi National Park is a gamble. Lions go quiet after 9 am. Traffic on Lang'ata Road doubles the drive time. Go early. Beat the heat.
Using Uber cash payments in December evening rush is risky. Drivers cancel if Mpesa network stalls. You're stranded in a dark CBD queue. Carry small bills. Or walk.
Booking the coast train on a whim backfires. The Madaraka Express fills two weeks ahead over school holidays. Standby seats don't exist. Plan early. No mercy.
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