When to go · The Gambia
The Gambia in December
Great month. Christmas peak on the coast; book early; election month in 2026 (check).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- The Gambia
- Prices
- High
- The Gambia
Verdict
Christmas peak on the coast; book early; election month in 2026 (check).
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for The Gambia in this guide.
Weather in December
- Atlantic coast · 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.
- Upriver · Tendaba, Janjanbureh, Bassebest weather
Much hotter than the coast: 40 °C (104 °F) in April–May; tracks turn to mud in the rains.Much hotter than the coast: 104 °F (40 °C) in April–May; tracks turn to mud in the rains.
- Banjul31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Bintang32 °C (90 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
- Brikama33 °C (91 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
- Brufut32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Gunjur31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Janjanbureh33 °C (91 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
- Juffureh32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Kunta Kinteh Island32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Serekunda30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
- Tanji31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Yundum33 °C (91 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
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.
Christmas
25 Dec
Resorts full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · The Gambia
- High
- Prices · The Gambia
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in The Gambia, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Crowds
Dec: High
Jan: High
Prices
Dec: High
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Dec: 1
Jan: 2
December: Christmas peak on the coast; book early; election month in 2026 (check).
January: Dry, sunny, 30 °C; peak for European winter-sun and birders.
The Gambia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in December
Rated best or good this month
Atlantic coast
Best weather of the year (Banjul, Kololi, Kotu, Kartong)
Upriver
Best weather of the year (Tendaba, Janjanbureh, Basse)
Dry; peak season; book early.
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: November–May
Best months: Nov–Mar
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–May