The variations in altitude and terrain create contrasts in climate. In the areas most frequented by visitors the weather is little short of perfect, it is neither too hot nor too cool with long sun-filled days. Day and night in Kenya are almost equal the whole year round with sunrise between 6 and 6.30 am and sundown between 6.30 and 7 pm. Over most of the country there are two rainy seasons. The short rains normally occur from late October through November and the long rains from late March through to early June.
Rain usually falls in the late afternoon preceded by bright, sunny and fresh days.
In the western Rift Valley, western Kenya and the Lake Victoria region there is really no dry season although rainfall is lowest in January and February. However rainfall is seldom continuous over long periods. Dry periods occur during the rainy seasons and sunny spells are often experienced even on rainy days. Although sometimes referred to as the north east and south east monsoons neither the long or the short rains resemble the textbook tropical monsoons of endless torrents and dripping vegetation. July and August are the coolest months and are often overcast especially in the mornings.