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
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.Trade winds keep the coast 9–14 °F (5–8 °C) 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).104 °F (40 °C)+ 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.
- Central Senegal: Sine-Saloum delta and Kaolack · Central Senegalfine
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.Best birding November to March when Palearctic migrants are in. Inland heat builds March–May; 104 °F (40 °C)+ 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.Hot, dry savanna. March–May is the hottest stretch, often well above 95 °F (35 °C); 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 days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Bakel33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
- Cap Skirring33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Foundiougne33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
- Joal-Fadiouth31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
- Kafountine34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
- Kédougou35 °C (95 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 7 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 7 rain days
- Mar Lodj32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 4 rain days
- Mboro31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 3 rain days
- Mbour35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
- Palmarin32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Podor41 °C (106 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days106 °F (41 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 0 rain days
- Popenguine30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Saint-Louis31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Salemata40 °C (104 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days104 °F (40 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 1 rain days
- Sokone37 °C (99 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Tambacounda40 °C (104 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days104 °F (40 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 0 rain days
- Thies37 °C (99 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
- Touba33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Toubakouta37 °C (99 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
- Ziguinchor31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 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
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)
Dry; hot afternoons.
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May (dry season, cooler temperatures)
Best months: Nov–Apr (May is a shoulder month)
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Oct–May (dry season, milder temps)
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May
Best months: Nov–May