Kenya covers 580,367 km² (224,081 mi²), comprising a landmass of 569,140 km² (219,750 mi²) and a water area of 11,227 km² (4,335 mi²).

The diverse topography with elevations ranging from sea level to the summit of Mount Kenya at 5,199 m (17,057 ft) has a major influence on Kenya’s climate. The climate, in turn, has a significant impact on the lives of the people and wildlife with the result that each region has its unique and characteristic challenges.

Kenya straddles the equator and therefore has an equatorial climate. Generally, it is hot and humid in coastal regions, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast of the country.

The sun shines almost every day throughout the year. In many areas it becomes much cooler from early evening to early morning. In the highlands the drop in night-time temperatures can be a very cool 9°C (48°F). In lowland regions the night-time temperatures can be equivalent to day-time temperatures in the highlands, while the day-time highs are much hotter.

There are two rainy season. The first, being known as the long rains, occurs from April to July. The second is the short rains from October to December. Most usually the rain falls in the afternoons and evenings.

The hottest months are February and March: the coolest are July and August. Rainfall is heaviest in coastal regions and generally becomes less and less the further inland you travel, becoming drier and more arid in the north and northeast.

The general weather patterns in recent years have become less reliable and the rains have been arriving later. This may be a symptom of world-wide changes in climatic conditions due to global warming.

Kenya’s variations in elevation allow us to consider the climate in 4 distinct zones.