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When to go · Senegal

Senegal in August

Avoid month. Wettest month, hot and sticky; the Grand Magal of Touba may fall here (check).

Key facts

Verdict
Avoid
Crowds
Low
Senegal
Prices
Low
Senegal

Verdict

AvoidVoykit month rating for Senegal

Wettest month, hot and sticky; the Grand Magal of Touba may fall here (check).

Is another month better than August?

August is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Weather in August

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

    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, Kaolackrainy

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

  • Casamance · Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring, Oussouyestorm or typhoon risk

    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, Kédougourainy

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 Senegalrainy

    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 mouthrainy

    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-Louisrainy

    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 corridorrainy

    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 countryrainy

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

  • Dakar31 °C (88 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 11 rain days
  • Bakel38 °C (100 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 8 rain days
  • Cap Skirring30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days
  • Foundiougne35 °C (95 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days
  • Joal-Fadiouth34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Kafountine30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days
  • Kédougou35 °C (95 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 2 rain days
  • Mar Lodj34 °C (93 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mboro34 °C (93 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mbour35 °C (95 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 9 rain days
  • Palmarin30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days
  • Podor34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days
  • Popenguine31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Saint-Louis32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Salemata32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 17 rain days
  • Sokone32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days
  • Tambacounda32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Thies31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Touba30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 382 rain days
  • Toubakouta31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Ziguinchor36 °C (97 °F) / 29 °C (84 °F), 13 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.

  • Grand Magal of Touba big impact

    Aug 2026 (lunar — check)

    Millions of Mouride pilgrims head to Touba; roads through the centre are blocked.

  • Maouloud (the Prophet's birthday)

    Aug 2026 (lunar — check)

    Pilgrimage to Tivaouane; heavy traffic on the Saint-Louis road.

  • Assumption

    15 Aug

    Public holiday.

  • Assumption and Grand Magal of Touba check

    15 August; Magal moves yearly · Dakar

    Public holiday; roads to Touba jam.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Senegal
Low
Prices · Senegal
Low

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Aug: Avoid

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Aug: Low

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Aug: Low

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Aug: 4

    Jan: 1

August: Wettest month, hot and sticky; the Grand Magal of Touba may fall here (check).

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

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
  • A spare day in the plan: storms can cancel flights and ferries

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in August

Better another month

  • Casamance

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

  • Dakar

    Peak rains; floods and flooded roads.