When to go · The Gambia
The Gambia, month by month
The best months for The Gambia: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec. Months to avoid: Aug, Sep.
Month by month
- JanuaryGreatDry, sunny, 30 °C (86 °F); peak for European winter-sun and birders.Dry, sunny, 86 °F (30 °C); peak for European winter-sun and birders.Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryGreatDry, some Harmattan haze; ideal upriver.Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchGreatWarm and dry; Ramadan may fall here in 2026 (check).Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- AprilGreatCoast still easy; upriver very hot.Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- MayGreatLast dry month; Tabaski may fall here in 2026 (check).Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: hot · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain daysCrowds: Low · 7 festivals or holidays
- JuneMixedHumidity builds; first rains late in the month.Atlantic coast: fine · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain daysAtlantic coast: fine · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 4 rain daysCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- JulyMixedRains begin; some hotels close or discount heavily.Atlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain daysAtlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain daysCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- AugustAvoidWettest month; mosquitoes and floods.Atlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain daysAtlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain daysCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- SeptemberAvoidHeavy rain; upriver tracks muddy.Atlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain daysAtlantic coast: rainy · Upriver: rainy · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 11 rain daysCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- OctoberMixedRains fade; green country, still humid.Atlantic coast: fine · Upriver: fine · Banjul: 32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain daysAtlantic coast: fine · Upriver: fine · Banjul: 90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 4 rain daysCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- NovemberGreatSeason opens; charter flights restart.Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: Medium
- DecemberGreatChristmas peak on the coast; book early; election month in 2026 (check).Atlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain daysAtlantic coast: best weather · Upriver: best weather · Banjul: 88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain daysCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in The Gambia, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Great
Feb: Great
Crowds
Jan: High
Feb: High
Prices
Jan: High
Feb: High
Festivals listed
Jan: 2
Feb: 1
January: Dry, sunny, 30 °C; peak for European winter-sun and birders.
February: Dry, some Harmattan haze; ideal upriver.
The Gambia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.