Things to Do in Nairobi in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Nairobi
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Long rains haven't started yet - March sits in that sweet spot before the heavy April downpours arrive. You'll get some afternoon showers (typically 20-30 minutes around 3-4pm), but mornings are usually clear and perfect for game drives when animals are most active
- Nairobi National Park wildlife viewing is actually excellent right now. The grass is still relatively short from the dry season, making it easier to spot lions, rhinos, and cheetahs. By late March, you might catch early migratory birds arriving, which adds another dimension to your safari experience
- Tourist numbers drop noticeably after the February school holiday rush. You'll find better rates at mid-range hotels (typically 15-20% lower than peak season) and shorter queues at popular spots like the Giraffe Centre and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Book 2-3 weeks ahead rather than the 6-8 weeks you'd need in July
- The jacaranda trees start blooming in late March, transforming neighborhoods like Karen and Westlands into purple canopies. It's one of those things locals wait for all year, and the timing is unpredictable enough that you might catch the early bloomers or just miss them - adds a bit of magic if you're lucky
Considerations
- Those afternoon showers are genuinely unpredictable. You can't set your watch by them like you might with monsoons elsewhere. Some days you'll get nothing, other days a proper downpour that turns Nairobi's notoriously bad drainage into temporary rivers. Always have a backup indoor plan after 2pm
- The temperature swing between morning and afternoon is more dramatic than you'd expect being this close to the equator. At 1,661 m (5,450 ft) elevation, mornings can be legitimately chilly at 15°C (59°F), then by noon you're dealing with 28°C (82°F) and strong sun. Layering becomes essential, which is annoying when you're trying to pack light
- March sits in an awkward spot for the Great Migration - the herds are in the southern Serengeti, not the Maasai Mara. If seeing massive wildebeest crossings is your main goal, you're about four months too early. Nairobi works better as a city break with day trips in March rather than a safari launching point
Best Activities in March
Nairobi National Park Morning Game Drives
March mornings offer some of the year's best visibility for spotting the Big Four (no elephants here, but you've got lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo). The grass is still manageable height from the dry season, and animals tend to be active early before the midday heat kicks in. Start at 6:30am when gates open - the light is stunning and you'll avoid the afternoon rain risk entirely. The park sits right against the city skyline, which creates these surreal photo opportunities you won't find anywhere else in the world.
Karura Forest Hiking and Cycling
This 1,063-hectare urban forest is where Nairobians escape on weekends, and March is genuinely perfect for it. The trails are still firm enough for comfortable walking (they get muddy in April-May), but the forest is starting to green up beautifully. The waterfalls are flowing decently from the sporadic March rains. Mornings are cool enough that you won't overheat on the longer 10 km (6.2 mile) loop. The canopy provides natural shade, so even if you go midday, it's comfortable.
Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre Combined Visits
These two Karen neighborhood attractions work perfectly together on a half-day itinerary, and March's variable weather actually plays in your favor. Start at the Giraffe Centre around 9am when the Rothschild giraffes are hungriest and most interactive - you'll be feeding them from the raised platform before any afternoon rain threatens. The Karen Blixen Museum (the Out of Africa house) is entirely indoors, making it your ideal backup if weather turns. Late March sometimes catches early jacaranda blooms in the gardens, which is genuinely special.
Nairobi Food Market Tours and Cooking Experiences
March brings interesting seasonal produce to markets like Maasai Market and City Market - you'll find the last of the mango season overlapping with early passion fruit. The indoor market halls provide natural rain protection, which matters more in March than you'd think. Local cooking class experiences typically start with market visits around 9am, then move to indoor kitchens for hands-on ugali, nyama choma preparation, and Kenyan chai techniques. You're learning from home cooks, not restaurant chefs, which gives you actual replicable skills.
Bomas of Kenya Cultural Performances
This cultural center showcases traditional dances, music, and homestead replicas from Kenya's 40-plus ethnic groups. March timing works well because you can catch the main afternoon performance at 2:30pm, which runs about 90 minutes mostly under covered seating. If the typical March afternoon shower hits, you're protected. The outdoor homestead village tour is better done before the performance around 1pm while weather is still clear. It's touristy, yes, but it's also one of the few places you'll see Maasai, Kikuyu, Luo, and Kalenjin traditions in one afternoon without driving across the country.
Nairobi Railway Museum and Uhuru Gardens Historical Sites
March's unpredictable afternoon weather makes indoor-outdoor combination sites like the Railway Museum particularly smart. The museum itself is mostly covered, with vintage locomotives and colonial-era railway cars you can actually walk through. Uhuru Gardens, Kenya's largest memorial park, is best visited in early morning (7-9am) when it's cooler and you can properly appreciate the monuments without rain risk. These sites get overlooked by international visitors but offer genuine insight into Kenya's independence history and British colonial railway legacy.
March Events & Festivals
Nairobi Festival
This month-long celebration of Nairobi's cultural diversity typically runs through March with weekend events at Uhuru Park and various city venues. You'll find live music performances, art exhibitions, traditional dance competitions, and food festivals showcasing everything from coastal Swahili dishes to upcountry Kikuyu specialties. The exact schedule varies year to year, but weekends generally feature the biggest crowds and most diverse programming. It's free to attend, though some workshops or special performances might charge small fees of 200-500 KES.