Things to Do in Nairobi in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Nairobi
Long-run averages for December
78°F (25°C)
High Temp
58°F (14°C)
Low Temp
3.4 inches (86 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
13
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ High UV index (13) due to Nairobi's altitude. Sun protection is essential even on cloudy days.
⚠ Sudden, heavy afternoon thunderstorms can cause localized flash flooding and significant traffic disruptions.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December brings Nairobi's short dry season. Mornings stay reliably sunny. Clear skies stretch over the Ngong Hills. Afternoon showers arrive fast and fierce when they come. They clean the air. Everything smells of wet earth and flowering jacaranda afterward.
- + The 'short rains' just ended. Nairobi National Park glows green. Acacia woodlands look lush. The Athi River plains carry wildflowers. You get that classic East African savannah vista. The dust haze of later months hasn't arrived yet.
- + Crowds remain manageable now. The international holiday rush hasn't hit. Space opens up at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The 11 AM elephant orphan feeding won't feel packed. Tables at the Talisman in Karen come easier. Longstanding institutions still have room.
- + Evenings carry a particular crispness. Temperatures drop to 58°F (14°C). A light sweater feels right. Woodsmoke drifts from braziers roasting maize along Lang'ata Road. This smell defines Nairobi in December.
Considerations
- − Afternoon thunderstorms play wild card. They roll in around 3 PM with little warning. Mombasa Road becomes a temporary river for an hour. Your late lunch in Karen suffers. That stroll through City Park arboretum? Cancelled.
- − International holiday season starts now. Flight prices into Jomo Kenyatta International climb steeply from mid-month. Better boutique lodges in Karen and Lang'ata suburbs fill fast. Christmas week books solid early.
- − The high-altitude sun deceives. At 1,795 meters (5,889 feet), UV hits 13 on clear days. Cool morning air tricks you. Sunscreen slips your mind. You'll burn by lunchtime without coverage.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
The air in Nairobi in December carries a different weight. The long rains have passed. The landscape is intensely green, and the city's jacaranda trees have long shed their purple blooms. The sun feels strong but not oppressive, a bright presence during the day that gives way to crisp, clear evenings where a light sweater is welcome. The average daytime temperature sits around 78 degrees Fahrenheit, good for being outdoors. Brief, often intense afternoon showers can sweep across the city, delivering the month's average of just over three inches of rain. They typically clear quickly, leaving behind a washed-clean atmosphere. There are no major verified festivals on the calendar for this month. Nairobi moves at its own, slightly less frenetic, pace. Locals take advantage of the clear skies and warm afternoons, filling the city's many parks and open-air cafes. The scent of charcoal smoke from nyama choma grills mingles with the cool evening air, and the feeling of the year winding down adds a palpable, relaxed energy to the streets. This month is an exceptional time to witness the profound contrast that defines Nairobi, where urban edges meet raw wilderness. The grass in the surrounding savannas is lush from the November rains, offering prime grazing for wildlife and making December a prime window for game viewing, in the nearby Masai Mara. Within the city itself, the pleasant climate makes exploring Nairobi's unique urban parks, markets, and neighborhoods a genuine pleasure, free from the dust of the dry seasons or the mud of the wet ones.
3 days Masai Mara on Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
adventureYou will traverse the rolling golden grasslands, your vehicle kicking up a fine red dust as you track massive herds of wildebeest and zebra that linger on the plains this month, their grunts and calls echoing across the vast expanse. Evenings are spent under an impossibly dense blanket of stars, the air filled with the distant whoop of hyenas and the deep, resonant cough of a lion from the darkness beyond your camp's firelight.
This private safari offers the freedom to pursue sightings deep into the reserve at your own rhythm, with an expert guide dedicated solely to your group's discovery of the Mara's dense December wildlife.
Insider tip: Request a vehicle with a pop-up roof for unobstructed 360-degree viewing and photography, valuable during the serene, golden-light game drives at dawn.
Nairobi Park Wildlife Safari
otherYou will hear the sharp bark of a zebra, smell the dry, earthy scent of acacia trees, and feel the vehicle jostle over dirt tracks as rhinos graze mere meters away. It is a compact, intense immersion into the animal kingdom, all within the city limits.
It delivers a complete safari experience, complete with the Big Five, in just a few hours, a logistical impossibility almost anywhere else on earth.
Insider tip: Go as soon as the park opens to catch predators like lions and leopards still active from the night, before they retreat to shade during the warmer midday hours.
Masai Mara 3 Days Tour Safari Private 4WD Landcruiser
guided_experienceYou will spend days feeling the cool breeze through the open windows as you scan for cheetahs on termite mounds, taste a freshly prepared bush lunch under a solitary acacia tree, and later hear the contented snorts of a hippo pod from your tent's veranda as the sun sets.
The private Landcruiser and dedicated guide allow for agile, all-day exploration to remote river crossings and marsh areas where wildlife concentrates in the December landscape.
Insider tip: Pack a pair of quality binoculars. Your guide can help you spot birds of prey and distant animal behavior you might otherwise miss on the sweeping plains.
2-Day Private Tour in Masai Mara with Pick Up
private_tourYou will feel the anticipation build as your aircraft descends over the vast, green-dappled plains, and within hours you could be watching a tower of giraffes silently move through the bush, listening to the sound of their tearing lips on thorny branches.
It maximizes wildlife viewing time with efficient direct transfers, placing you in the middle of the action faster than overland journeys from Nairobi.
Insider tip: Opt for a camp located near one of the Mara River tributaries. Even outside the peak migration, these areas are perpetual hubs for elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.
Safe and Executive Airport transfer in Nairobi
transportAfter the long flight, you will appreciate the cool, clean interior of a private vehicle, the smooth ride muting the initial chaos of the airport approach road, and the immediate reassurance of a professional driver who knows the fastest route to your hotel through the city's variable traffic.
It eliminates the haggling and uncertainty of arrival, delivering you directly to your accommodation in secure, air-conditioned comfort.
Insider tip: Confirm your driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. Having this arranged ahead of time is invaluable after an international flight.
Masai Mara 3 Days Luxury Tented Safari
otherYou will wake to the smell of brewing coffee and frying bacon carried on the cool morning air, taste expertly prepared meals on fine china in the dining tent, and later feel the thick canvas of your tent walls buffer the sounds of the night while you lie in a plush bed.
It offers the authentic sights and sounds of the bush, from hearing a lion's roar to seeing a million stars, without sacrificing high-end amenities and service.
Insider tip: Use the evening turn-down service. Coming back to a warmed bed with a hot water bottle after a cool night game drive is a sublime luxury.
Where to Stay in Nairobi in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Jamhuri Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Boxing Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Jamhuri Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Boxing Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Jamhuri Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Boxing Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Nairobi Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals call December's weather 'masika madogo' (the small rains). The pattern is usually brilliant sunshine until early afternoon, then a build-up of clouds leading to a short, heavy shower. Plan your outdoor activities for the morning, and have a museum or cafe visit as a backup for after 2 PM.
For the best nyama choma, skip the tourist-focused spots and ask a taxi driver to take you to his local 'butchery' in a residential area like South C or Buruburu. The meat is chosen by weight, grilled over charcoal while you wait, and served with kachumbari (tomato and onion salad) on newspaper.
The traffic in and out of the city center on Friday afternoons in December is apocalyptic, as everyone leaves for the weekend. If you have a flight or a trip to the parks planned for a Friday, leave at least an extra two hours for the journey to the airport or the park gate.
Visit the Giraffe Centre at opening time (9 AM) or just before closing (5 PM). In the middle of the day, the giraffes are often lethargic from the heat and the crowds are thicker. At quieter times, you might get the rare experience of having a giraffe's sandpapery tongue take a pellet right from your palm.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the traffic. Nairobi's gridlock is legendary, and December shopping makes it worse. A distance of 10 km (6.2 miles) can easily take 90 minutes in the late afternoon. Always factor this in.
Packing only for 'warm weather'. The temperature drop at sunset is rapid and significant. You'll be shivering if you're out for dinner in Westlands with only a t-shirt.
Trying to cram in a Masai Mara trip from Nairobi in December. The afternoon rains often make the dirt roads in the Mara treacherous, and flights from Wilson Airport get delayed. If a safari is your focus, base yourself in the Mara itself for a few nights instead of doing a rushed day trip.
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