When to go · The Gambia
The Gambia in January
Great month. Dry, sunny, 30 °C (86 °F); peak for European winter-sun and birders.Great month. Dry, sunny, 86 °F (30 °C); peak for European winter-sun and birders.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- The Gambia
- Prices
- High
- The Gambia
Verdict
Dry, 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.
Is another month better than January?
No other month rates higher than January for The Gambia in this guide.
Weather in January
- 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.
- Banjul30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
- Bintang32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °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) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °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) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Serekunda30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °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.
New Year's Day
1 Jan
Public holiday.
Harmattan season begins check
Variable · Banjul
Dusty haze on some days; otherwise the peak dry-season window.
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
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.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in January
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, cooler; peak season.
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