Malindi weather in December
December in Malindi: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 37°C afternoons.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#7 of 12 months in Malindi · #130 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 89/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 31°C
- Nights
- 26°C
- Wet days
- 10
- Sun
- 11.3 h
- Humidity
- 78%
- Daylight
- 12 h
Traveller notes on Malindi in December
Other months in Malindi
Kenya's forum draws a clear line between inland 'winter' and the coast: Malindi stays warm and humid through August, one of the coolest stretches of the year here but still tropical, rarely genuinely cold even in the evenings. The typical rain pattern is rain-sun-rain-sun rather than an all-day soak, and it's common for one beach to get a shower while another just a couple of miles up the coast stays completely dry. Posters were clear that a rain forecast means a chance of a passing shower, not a washed-out day.
Forum posters describe February as hot, dry and sunny by day along Kenya's coast, including Malindi, with warm, balmy evenings and an onshore breeze that keeps things feeling pleasant rather than oppressive even when daytime temperatures run high. Posters are consistent that Kenya's rainy periods are fairly predictable - a shorter one around this time of year and a longer, heavier one from roughly late March through May - positioning February squarely within the drier stretch. Posters do note that even when a forecast shows rain, it typically means just a chance of a shower rather than an all-day washout, and rain in one part of the coast doesn't necessarily mean rain everywhere along it. Posters generally rate February as one of the more reliably good months for a Malindi beach visit.
Add your own note from Malindi's card on the map.
Malindi climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Malindi in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsItalian winter season, Festive season peak, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Malindi's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherMalindi's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Malindi in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Italian winter season
1 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyWinter-sun seasonCrowdedMalindi's high season is driven by Italian charter flights and long-staying visitors escaping Europe's cold, running from early December through Easter. Restaurants along the seafront still post their menus in Italian first. Source ↗
- Holiday
Festive season peak
18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyChristmas to New Year is the busiest fortnight on the coast: Kenyan families and holidaymakers from Nairobi arrive, hotels charge peak rates and book out months ahead, and beaches and restaurants are at their most crowded. New Year's Eve parties run late. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Malindi — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Malindi?
Malindi in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Malindi?
- December in Malindi: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 37°C afternoons. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Malindi on SeasonMap's comfort score (89/100).
- What is the weather like in Malindi in December?
- In December, Malindi averages a daily high of 31.3°C and a low of 25.7°C, with about 43.6 mm of rain over roughly 10.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Malindi in December?
- Malindi has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 45 in December.
Within 300 km: Mombasa's Whale sharks off the coast around 1 Dec – 31 Mar, and Lamu's Lamu Cultural Festival around 27 Nov – 4 Dec.