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When to go · Senegal

Senegal in April

Great month. Coast still fine; interior very hot. Independence Day 4 April.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Senegal
Prices
Medium
Senegal

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Senegal

Coast still fine; interior very hot. Independence Day 4 April.

Is another month better than April?

No other month rates higher than April for Senegal in this guide.

Weather in April

  • Dakar and the Atlantic coast · Dakar, Saint-Louis, Petite Côtebest weather

    Trade winds keep the coast 5–8 °C (9–14 °F) cooler than inland; January–March evenings can feel cool, and the sea is cold until May.

  • Sine-Saloum and the Gambia fringe · Toubacouta, Palmarin, Kaolackhot

    Harmattan dust some weeks Jan–Mar; the delta is at its best for birds Nov–Apr.

  • Casamance · Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring, Oussouyebest weather

    Senegal's wettest region: up to 1,500 mm a year, most of it Jul–Sep; many beach hotels close in the rains.

  • Inland north and east · Touba, Tambacounda, Niokolo-Koba, Kédougouhot

    40 °C (104 °F)+ in April–May; Niokolo-Koba tracks close in the rains (roughly Jul–Oct).

  • Cap Vert-Thies: Dakar peninsula · Cap-Vert coastfine

    Cooler and breezier than inland; the rainy season runs roughly July to October.

  • Cap Vert-Thies: Thies and Petite Côte · Inland and coastal beltfine

    Hotter inland; November to May is dry and the comfortable window.

  • Casamance: Casamance coast and river · Cap Skirring, Kafountine, Ziguinchorfine

    Dry November to May; rain June to October, heaviest July–September. Humidity is high year-round; coastal breezes keep the beach strip cooler than inland Ziguinchor.

  • Dry season November to May; rainy season roughly June to October, with the heaviest rain July to September. Heat peaks before the rains.

  • Northern Senegal: Saint-Louis and the coast · Atlantic coast and river mouthfine

    Dry season November to May; the coast stays cooler than inland. Rain June–September, heaviest August. Harmattan haze and cooler nights December–February.

  • Northern Senegal: Djoudj and the river valley · Inland, north-east of Saint-Louisfine

    Best birding November to March when Palearctic migrants are in. Inland heat builds March–May; 40 °C (104 °F)+ afternoons are normal.

  • Tambacounda Region: Tambacounda basin · Tambacounda city and the N1 corridorhot

    Hot, dry savanna. March–May is the hottest stretch, often well above 35 °C (95 °F); the rains run roughly June–September.

  • Tambacounda Region: Kédougou and the south-east hills · Kédougou, Salémata, Bassari countryhot

    Slightly cooler at altitude. Waterfalls are at their best late in the rains, but tracks are worst then; November–February is the cleanest window.

  • Dakar27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Bakel33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Cap Skirring33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days
  • Foundiougne33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Joal-Fadiouth31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • Kafountine34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days
  • Kédougou35 °C (95 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 7 rain days
  • Mar Lodj32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain days
  • Mboro31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days
  • Mbour35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Palmarin32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Podor41 °C (106 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days
  • Popenguine30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Saint-Louis31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days
  • Salemata40 °C (104 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days
  • Sokone37 °C (99 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days
  • Tambacounda40 °C (104 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days
  • Thies37 °C (99 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days
  • Touba33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Toubakouta37 °C (99 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days
  • Ziguinchor31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 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.

  • Independence Day

    4 Apr

    Parade in Dakar; offices closed.

  • Christian holidays

    Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Monday (moves)

    Public holidays; Popenguine pilgrimage at Pentecost.

  • Ramadan and Korité check

    Islamic calendar, moves yearly · Dakar

    Restaurant hours change; Korité is a public holiday.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Senegal
Medium
Prices · Senegal
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Senegal, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Apr: Great

    Jan: Great

  • Crowds

    Apr: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Apr: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Apr: 3

    Jan: 1

April: Coast still fine; interior very hot. Independence Day 4 April.

January: Dry, breezy, 25 °C on the coast; the Dakar Rally legacy crowd and winter-sun Europeans fill Saly.

Senegal: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in April

Rated best or good this month

  • Dakar and the Atlantic coast

    Best weather of the year (Dakar, Saint-Louis, Petite Côte)

  • Casamance

    Best weather of the year (Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring, Oussouye)

  • Dakar

    Dry; hot afternoons.

  • Bakel

    Best months: Nov–May

  • Cap Skirring

    Best months: Nov–May

  • Foundiougne

    Best months: Nov–May (dry season, cooler temperatures)

  • Joal-Fadiouth

    Best months: Nov–Apr (May is a shoulder month)

  • Kafountine

    Best months: Nov–May

  • Mar Lodj

    Best months: Oct–May (dry season, milder temps)

  • Mboro

    Best months: Nov–May

  • Mbour

    Best months: Nov–May

  • Palmarin

    Best months: Nov–May