When to go · Freetown
Freetown in December
Great month. Dry; harmattan haze begins late in the month.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C) / 23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 3
- Crowds
- High
- Sierra Leone overall
- Prices
- High
- Sierra Leone overall
Verdict
Dry; harmattan haze begins late in the month.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for Freetown in this guide.
Weather in December
- FreetownHighs around 31 °C (88 °F), lows around 23 °C (73 °F), rain on about 3 daysHighs around 88 °F (31 °C), lows around 73 °F (23 °C), rain on about 3 days
- Freetown Peninsula and coast, Sierra Leone · Freetown, River No. 2, Bureh, Banana Islands, Bonthebest weather
One of the wettest capitals in the world: over 3 m of rain a year, most of it July–September, with floods and landslides.
Dry season season
Sun, calm seas and the best beach weather; the road to the peninsula is dry.
Watch: Harmattan haze in Dec–Feb; peak prices around Christmas.
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.
Dry season
About November to April · Whole city
Best weather for beaches and travel; harmattan haze from December to February.
Christmas and New Year
25 Dec–1 Jan · Beaches and hotels
Peak season for returning families and visitors: book flights, rooms and crossings early.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Sierra Leone overall
- High
- Prices · Sierra Leone overall
- High
Sierra Leone overall: Dry and festive; diaspora visits fill Freetown hotels.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Freetown, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Dec: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Jan: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Night low
Dec: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Jan: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 3
Jan: 1 (better)
Crowds
Dec: High
Jan: Medium
Prices
Dec: High
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 2
Jan: 2
December: Dry; harmattan haze begins late in the month.
January: Dry and dusty (harmattan haze); good for beaches.
Freetown: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen