A common myth about equatorial countries is that their climates usually lack diversity and stay the same throughout the year. For Kenya, this is simply not the case.
Firstly, Kenya is typified by drastic changes in altitude. The coastal regions in the East of Kenya are at a low altitude and the climate is humid and hot. To the West, as you move towards Nairobi, the altitude increases dramatically.
The climate in Nairobi is cool and dry with lots of sun. We can thank the altitude for that, with Nairobi sitting at 1,795 meters above sea level. Kenya’s highest point, the Batian peak of Mt. Kenya, sits at 5,199 meters above sea level.
The ever-changing landscape of Kenya means that no two climates are the same. As well as the altitude, there is another factor which means Kenya’s climate changes throughout the year: the rain. In this article, we explore the Kenyan rainy seasons and what they mean for Tsavo and Kenyan wildlife.
“Long” Rainy Season
The “long” rainy season is the first of the year and usually lasts from April to late May. It is the longer of the two rainy seasons and has been known to start as early as March. It follows the February period which is one of the driest and hottest times of the year.
The rain can be torrential and can cause drainage ditches to overfill and big puddles to build up by the side of the roads. However, the rain comes down in bursts and there are still lots of sunny spells to enjoy as well as warm temperatures of around 25°C.
April and May are usually quiet seasons for tourism and an intrepid explorer could find themselves on a truly magical holiday if they came to Kenya in this period. The combination of smaller crowds, lower prices and the beautiful change in the landscape make for an unforgettable experience.
“Small” Rainy Season
The “small” rainy season is the shorter of the two and spans from late October to December. It usually follows a long period of drought which leaves the landscape looking dry and bare. The transformation of the landscape is even more breath-taking than during the “big” rainy season.
In Kenya’s national parks, the watering holes fill up and attract animals from all over to a nourishing meeting place for all. Last year, the rainy season came early and all residents to Tsavo were very thankful.
The previously dry and arid landscape has miraculously become green and lush with vegetation. The air, previously hot and dust-filled, feels thick and moist. The animals appear more playful and are clearly enjoying the bountiful vegetation and water.
To add to the magic of this time of year, there are many newborn elephants which can be found trumpeting through the bush and across the plains of Tsavo. The view from above is truly spectacular and who can blame our pilots for wanting to stay up above and observe this magical change from the heavens.
The water-logged plains and muddy roads make life harder for ivory poachers in their clunky vehicles so we at Tsavo Trust, along with our colleagues at KWS, are appreciating the relative peace brought about by the rains.
The rains are a key component of the Tsavo life cycle, and without them, life would not be sustained in the same way as it is now. It is the job of wildlife conservationists to preserve the ecosystem and, around this time of year, we like to give thanks to the rains for nourishing Tsavo once more.