If you’re considering coming to Kenya in May for your safari but google is telling you to avoid the whole country at all costs because it’s the rainy season then you’ll be so happy to have stumbled on this blog post. Written by the folks who have lived/thrived through 20+ Mays in Kenya and are happy to bust a few myths.

There are so many reason why traveling to Kenya in May is actually the best month to be here, but here are our top five…

The weather
Google’s been telling everyone not to travel to Kenya in May because of the rain. It’s true, historically April and May have brought about the “long rains” and this has been a period of significant rainfall across the whole country. This rain caused widespread disruption and camps and lodges would close down completely due to problems with access. But global weather patterns are changing and we’re seeing changes right here too. In fact the last ten years of our rainfall records indicate that May, especially the last two weeks of May, are dryer than most Augusts. In short, you’re no longer guaranteed eternal sunshine if you’re traveling in “dry season” and you’re no longer guaranteed disruptive heavy rainfall in the “rainy season.” If you ask us, we’ll say “stop traveling for the weather and start traveling for the wildlife” and Ol Pejeta delivers incredible wildlife encounters year round, especially in May!
No crowds
As most people have been told to avoid Kenya in May that means you have vast tracks of wilderness almost entirely to yourself. Traveling out of season allows you to see the land in it’s most natural state; free of the rush of tourist vans. This means sitting quietly with a pride of lions on a kill and no other vehicles in site, or hearing only the rumble of elephants at night. It means more even privacy and more exclusivity making traveling to Kenya in May incredible value for money.
Lower prices
Talking of excellent value for money, a lot of camps continue to close annually for maintenance over this period so you may have fewer options to choose from. But those that stay open will offer heavily discounted rates, making May one of the cheapest months to travel to Kenya. Our low season offer runs from April right through to mid-June, and with graded roads we have no problems with access and brilliant wildlife at every turn, so we have no reason to shut our doors.
The landscape
The April rainfall (which is still, for the most part, reliable) turns Ol Pejeta into a lush, green landscape with full rivers, bursting dams and rolling plains of fresh grassland. This is one of the most beautiful times of year to be in Ol Pejeta; ideal for photographers. And photographers aren’t the only ones who are thriving - the normally shy and elusive black rhinos come out onto the open plains during the day in May looking to eat all the tasty herbs and weeds that become available in the open grasslands after the rains.
We also really have to talk about the sky in May; crystal clear skies at night make for excellent stargazing (our askaris love to show you the constellations) and top notch sunrises and sunsets.
The babies
Last but by no means least, we often see so many newborns around during this time, as they’re enjoying the bounty of the recent rainfall. There’s not much sweeter than a prancing baby zebra or watching hyena cubs roll around in the grass.