AI-generated

Malindi weather & best time to visit

Sun, sea & sand

Best time: Jul – Oct, Dec – Mar
Warmest month: Mar · 32°
Warmest sea: Apr · 29.0°
Sunshine a year: 2,820 h
Rain a year: 650 mm
Climate: Tropical
Time zone: UTC+3
Elevation: 7 m

Climate in Malindi

Malindi has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. March is the warmest month with average highs of 32 °C, while July is the coolest at 28 °C. With around 2,820 hours of sunshine a year, Malindi is sunny; February is the sunniest month with 8.3 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Malindi

The best time to visit Malindi is from July to October and from December to March. For a beach holiday – sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry – go in September and from December to March. The rainy season is from April to May; the wettest month is May with 138 mm.

Malindi through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Malindi in the dry season

Jun – Mar

Excellent

28–32 °C by day
Sea 27 °C
7.9 h of sun a day
106 rainy days in all

Malindi in the rainy season

Apr – May

Good

29–31 °C by day
Sea 29 °C
6.8 h of sun a day
43 rainy days in all

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

Sep, Dec – Mar

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

No month

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Apr – May

Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Malindi for you.

Preferred daytime temperature 28 °C

Swimming in the sea

Sunshine

Little rain

Avoid muggy heat

Your best months: January – February, September

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Holiday weather in October

Excellent

Best time to visit: July – October, December – March

Where to go in October Sea temperature in October

Air temperature29°CNight 24°All months Sea temperature26.6°CwarmAll months Sunshine7.7h / dayof 12.2 h daylightAll months Rainy days13days / month70 mmAll months

A typical day in October

Morning, 08:00: about 26°
Midday, 13:00: about 29°
Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
Evening, 20:00: about 26°
Night, 23:00: about 25°

06:0018:10

Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour: Morning 05:47–06:28 · evening 17:43–18:23
Blue hour: Morning 05:39–05:47 · evening 18:23–18:31

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

October in Malindi compared with home

Home:

Loading the climate at home …

Early or late October?

In October, daytime highs rise from about 29° at the start of the month to 30° at the end. The sea warms from 26° to 27°.

Early or late October?
October	1 Oct	31 Oct
Daytime high	29°	30°
Night-time low	23°	24°
Sea	26°	27°
Daylight	12.1 h	12.2 h

What is the weather like in Malindi in October?

In October, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 70 mm in total. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

More details for October

Daylight: 12 h 10 min06:00 – 18:10
UV index: 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days: 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind: 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover: 46 %on averageAll months
Hot days: 5 days30 °C or moreAll months
Time zone: UTC+3offset from UTC

How the score comes together

Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
Seaweight 25 %100 %
Sunshineweight 20 %78 %
Few rainy daysweight 20 %36 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

Swimwear
Sunscreen
Sunglasses & sun hat
Light, breathable clothes
Insect repellent
Rain jacket or umbrella

Compare two months in Malindi

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

January has the better holiday weather in Malindi: score 97 against 83. In January, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in January. January has 10 fewer rainy days.

October vs January, Malindi
Month	October	January
Holiday weather score	83	97better
Daytime high	29°	31°
Night-time low	24°	25°
Sea	26.6°	27.4°
Sunshine	7.7 h	8.2 hbetter
Rainy days	13	3better
Rainfall	70 mm	13 mmbetter
Muggy days	31	31

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Malindi month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

97January31° · Sea 27° · 8.2 h

In January, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8.2 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 13 mm in total. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in January

97February31° · Sea 28° · 8.3 h

In February, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8.3 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in February

83March32° · Sea 29° · 7.9 h

In March, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 37 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in March

73April31° · Sea 29° · 7.0 h

In April, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 106 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in April

72May29° · Sea 28° · 6.6 h

In May, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 138 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in May

78June28° · Sea 27° · 7.4 h

In June, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 64 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in June

83July28° · Sea 26° · 7.6 h

In July, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 41 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in July

84August28° · Sea 25° · 7.8 h

In August, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.4 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 33 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in August

87September29° · Sea 26° · 8.0 h

In September, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8.0 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 30 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in September

83October29° · Sea 27° · 7.7 h

Malindi in October

80November30° · Sea 28° · 7.9 h

In November, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7.9 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 67 mm. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in November

88December31° · Sea 28° · 8.3 h

In December, Malindi is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8.3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 43 mm in total. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Malindi.

Malindi in December

Climate in detail

Year & climate table

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Malindi

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

Warm 20–24°
Hot 24° and more
muggy month (15+ muggy days)

HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).

The coolest nights are in August (23°), the warmest in March (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) all year, on about 365 days a year.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 29°Night 24°Sea 27°

DayNightSea

Month	Score	Day	Night	Sea	Sun	Rain days	Rain mm
JanuaryJan	97	31°	25°	27.4°	8.2 h	3	13
FebruaryFeb	97	31°	25°	27.5°	8.3 h	2	8
MarchMar	83	32°	26°	28.7°	7.9 h	11	37
AprilApr	73	31°	25°	29.0°	7.0 h	22	106
MayMay	72	29°	25°	27.9°	6.6 h	20	138
JuneJun	78	28°	24°	26.8°	7.4 h	16	64
JulyJul	83	28°	23°	25.7°	7.6 h	13	41
AugustAug	84	28°	23°	25.4°	7.8 h	13	33
SeptemberSep	87	29°	23°	25.8°	8.0 h	11	30
OctoberOct	83	29°	24°	26.6°	7.7 h	13	70
NovemberNov	80	30°	24°	27.7°	7.9 h	15	67
DecemberDec	88	31°	25°	28.1°	8.3 h	11	43

Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

3.22° S, 40.12° E · 7 m · Africa/Nairobi

Sea temperature

Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Malindi

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October26.6°Cwarm

8 in 10 years: 26.1 – 27.2 °C

Swimming season: all year

cold
fresh
refreshing
pleasant
warm
very warm

OctoberMean sea temperature 26.6°8 in 10 years 26.1° – 27.2°

20°

Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Malindi ranges from 25.4 °C in August to 29.0 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.

The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in April, while the air already peaks in March. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in April, eight out of ten years were between 28.4 and 29.5 °C.

Sea temperature by month
Month	Average	Cool year	Warm year	Feels
JanuaryJan	27.4°	26.5°	28.0°	warm
FebruaryFeb	27.5°	26.8°	28.3°	warm
MarchMar	28.7°	28.0°	29.6°	warm
AprilApr	29.0°	28.4°	29.5°	very warm
MayMay	27.9°	27.4°	28.3°	warm
JuneJun	26.8°	26.3°	27.2°	warm
JulyJul	25.7°	25.2°	26.2°	pleasant
AugustAug	25.4°	25.0°	25.9°	pleasant
SeptemberSep	25.8°	25.4°	26.2°	pleasant
OctoberOct	26.6°	26.1°	27.2°	warm
NovemberNov	27.7°	27.2°	28.1°	warm
DecemberDec	28.1°	27.6°	28.7°	warm

Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Malindi

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

OctoberSunshine 7.7 hDaylight 12.2 hShare of daylight 63 %

SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 7.7 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Malindi, 63 % of the daylight hours.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Rain

Rain in Malindi: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

OctoberRainy days 13Rainfall 70 mm

In October, Malindi has about 13 rainy days with 70 mm of rain in total.

UV index

Sun protection

UV index in Malindi

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October: 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.

The sun is strongest in March (UV 14).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin: about 10 min
Fair skin: about 10 min
Light brown skin: about 15 min
Olive skin: about 20 min

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Malindi

How breezy and how cloudy Malindi is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

OctoberWind 21 km/hBeaufort 4

WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Malindi typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Jan – Feb, Apr – Oct.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

OctoberCloud cover 46 %Sunshine 7.7 h

In October, cloud covers on average 46 % of the sky over Malindi: variable cloud, with about 7.7 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Heat & humidity

Heat and humidity in Malindi

How often the day gets hot in Malindi (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.

Heat calendar

pleasant
some hot or muggy days
often muggy
often hot
hot and muggy

OctoberHot days (30 °C+) 5Daytime high 29 °C

In October, Malindi has about 5 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.

Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year

Planning a trip to Malindi

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

ArrivalNights

Malindi in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Malindi has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 93) and its weakest during May half-term (score 73).

Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
76
Good
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
May half-term
May – Jun
73
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
84
Excellent
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
October half-term
Oct
83
Excellent
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
93
ExcellentBest holidays
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight: about 9 h 10 min
Distance: 7,190 km
Time zone: UTC+3
Jet lag: Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Good to know: Kenya

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Languages: English, Swahili
Sockets: Type G · 240 V
Traffic: Drives on the left
Dialling code: +254
Emergency number: 999 · 112

UK plugs fit

Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.

Compare & alternatives

Compare with another place

Compare

Malindi compared

Put Malindi side by side with another destination.

Nearby:

Compare with home:

Malindi vs Mombasa

In October Malindi has the better holiday weather (score 83 vs 76). During the day Mombasa is 1 °C warmer than Malindi. The sea is about equally warm. Mombasa gets one hour less sunshine a day.

Malindi vs Mombasa, in October
in October	Malindi	Mombasa
Holiday weather score	83	76
Daytime high	29°	30°
Sea	27°	27°
Sunshine	8 h	7 h
Rainy days	13	17
Best time	Jul – Oct, Dec – Mar	Jun – Feb

Through the year

OctoberMalindi 29°Mombasa 30°

MalindiMombasa

Go to Mombasa

Best places in the country

Ranking

Kenya in October: the best places

In October, Malindi ranks 1 of 10 destinations in this country.

MalindiThis page29°27°83
2Lamu30°27°83
3Nairobi27°81
4Mombasa30°27°76
5Diani Beach30°27°76
6Nakuru26°73
7Naivasha25°71
8Eldoret24°61

All destinations: Kenya

Places nearby

Near Malindi

Other destinations close by.

Places with a similar climate

Places with a climate like Malindi

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Malindi's – good alternatives.

Frequently asked questions about Malindi

When is the best time to visit Malindi?

The best time to visit Malindi is from July to October and from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Malindi?

The sea temperature in Malindi ranges from 25.4 °C in August to 29.0 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.

Can you swim in Malindi in October?

Yes. In October the sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.

What is the warmest month in Malindi?

March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C and nights around 26 °C. July is the coolest month at 28 °C.

When does it rain most in Malindi?

The rainy season is from April to May; the wettest month is May with 138 mm. The driest month is February with 8 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Malindi get?

Malindi gets around 2,820 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 8.3 hours a day; in May there are 6.6 hours a day.

What time zone is Malindi in?

Malindi is on UTC+3 all year.

How long is the flight from London to Malindi?

A nonstop flight from London to Malindi takes about 9 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,190 km.

Which school holidays are best for Malindi?

Malindi has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 93) and its weakest during May half-term (score 73). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 76, May half-term 73, summer holidays 84, October half-term 83, Christmas holidays 93.