SeasonMapBest time to visit West Africa
The best time to visit West Africa is January, March, November and December, judged across 21 places; September is its weakest month.
Updated September 2026 · Africa · 21 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
West Africa month by month
| Month | Season | Why | Best places |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | in season | dry season · the humidity has gone · 32°C highs | Praia, Kololi, Boa Vista |
| February | good | dry season · the humidity has gone · 33°C highs | Praia, Dakar, Boa Vista |
| March | in season | dry season · the humidity has gone · 32°C highs | Praia, Boa Vista, Kololi |
| April | not its best | 32°C highs · best Nov–Jan | Praia, Kololi, Boa Vista |
| May | not its best | 13 wet days · best Nov–Jan | Praia, Boa Vista, Kololi |
| June | not its best | 21 wet days · best Nov–Jan | Praia, Boa Vista, Mindelo |
| July | good | 29°C highs · 10 h sun | Boa Vista, Praia, Mindelo |
| August | not its best | 18 wet days · best Nov–Jan | Boa Vista, Mindelo, Sal |
| September | not its best | 24 wet days · best Nov–Jan | Boa Vista, Sal, Praia |
| October | not its best | 20 wet days · best Nov–Jan | Boa Vista, Praia, Sal |
| November | in season | dry season · 32°C highs · 10 h sun | Boa Vista, Mindelo, Praia |
| December | in season | dry season · 32°C highs · 10 h sun | Praia, Boa Vista, Kololi |
In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.
All 21 places in West Africa
- AbidjanCôte d'Ivoireweather by month →
- AbujaNigeriaweather by month →
- AccraGhanaweather by month →
- BanjulGambiaweather by month →
- BissauGuinea-Bissauweather by month →
- Boa VistaCabo Verdeweather by month →
- Cape CoastGhanaweather by month →
- ConakryGuineaweather by month →
- CotonouBeninweather by month →
- DakarSenegalweather by month →
- FreetownSierra Leoneweather by month →
- KololiGambiaweather by month →
- KumasiGhanaweather by month →
- LagosNigeriaweather by month →
- LoméTogoweather by month →
- MindeloCabo Verdeweather by month →
- MonroviaLiberiaweather by month →
- NouakchottMauritaniaweather by month →
- PraiaCabo Verdeweather by month →
- Saint-LouisSenegalweather by month →
- SalCabo Verdeweather by month →
West Africa — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit West Africa?
- January, March, November and December. In December: dry season · 32°C highs · 10 h sun.
- When is the low season in West Africa?
- West Africa has no month that falls far below the rest of its year; September is the weakest (24 wet days · best Nov–Jan).
- Which months are in season in West Africa?
- January, March, November and December — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.