When to go · Banjul
Banjul in May
Mixed month. Hot and humid; rains build.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C) / 22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 1
- Crowds
- Low
- The Gambia overall
- Prices
- Medium
- The Gambia overall
Verdict
Hot and humid; rains build.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in May
- BanjulHighs around 31 °C (88 °F), lows around 22 °C (72 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 88 °F (31 °C), lows around 72 °F (22 °C), rain on about 1 day
- Atlantic coast, The Gambia · Banjul, Kololi, Kotu, Kartongbest weather
Sunny, 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) and breezy from November to May; Harmattan haze some weeks; the rains hit July–September.Sunny, 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) and breezy from November to May; Harmattan haze some weeks; the rains hit July–September.
Dry season season
Still rain-free, but noticeably hotter and more humid as the season builds.
Watch: Heat management matters more; keep outdoor stops to the morning.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Koriteh (Eid al-Fitr) check
Moves yearly; check · Whole city
A day or two of closures; busy transport and markets beforehand.
Labour Day and Africa Day
1 and 25 May · Nationwide
Public holidays; Banjul itself stays fairly quiet.
Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) check
Moves yearly; check · Whole city
The country's biggest holiday: transport books out, sheep are sold everywhere, and many residents travel to family homes upcountry.
Labour Day
1 May
Public holiday; most shops still open in the market.
Africa Day
25 May
Public holiday; low-key in Banjul itself.
International Roots Festival
Usually around May, moves; check
A biennial heritage festival tied to Kunta Kinteh Island and Juffureh, with events and performers also appearing in Banjul; confirm this year's dates and whether it is running.
Tobaski (Eid al-Adha) big impact
May 2026 (lunar — check) · The Gambia
Heavy travel before; shops shut for days.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · The Gambia overall
- Low
- Prices · The Gambia overall
- Medium
The Gambia overall: Last dry month; Tabaski may fall here in 2026 (check).
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Banjul, side by side.
Verdict
May: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Jan: 30 °C (86 °F)86 °F (30 °C)
Night low
May: 22 °C (72 °F)72 °F (22 °C)
Jan: 17 °C (63 °F)63 °F (17 °C)
Rain days
May: 1
Jan: 0 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Jan: High
Prices
May: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
May: 7
Jan: 1
May: Hot and humid; rains build.
January: Dry, cooler; peak season.
Banjul: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen