Senegal in December

Peak: pleasant heat, Christmas on the Petite Côte; book Saint-Louis and delta lodges early.

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

• 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, Kaolackbest weather

  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, Kédougoubest weather

  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 coastbest weather

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

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

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

• Casamance: Casamance coast and river · Cap Skirring, Kafountine, Ziguinchorbest weather

  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 Senegalbest weather

  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 mouthbest weather

  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-Louisbest weather

  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 corridorbest weather

  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 countrybest weather

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

• Dakar28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Bakel28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
• Cap Skirring31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
• Foundiougne29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Joal-Fadiouth27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 1 rain days
• Kafountine31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
• Kédougou30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Mar Lodj27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
• Mboro28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Mbour30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
• Palmarin30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Podor33 °C (91 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Popenguine30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Saint-Louis30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
• Salemata35 °C (95 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Sokone32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Tambacounda35 °C (95 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Thies33 °C (91 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Touba31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• Toubakouta32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Ziguinchor28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days

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 on the Petite Côte and Cap Skirring full.

• Christmas and year-end

  25 December · Dakar

  Public holiday; bars and restaurants fill.

• Year-end and cool-season peak

  Dec · Dakar

  Hotels, flights and Almadies restaurants fill; book ahead.

Crowds · Senegal

High

Prices · Senegal

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Dakar and the Atlantic coast

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

• Sine-Saloum and the Gambia fringe

  Best weather of the year (Toubacouta, Palmarin, Kaolack)

• Casamance

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

• Inland north and east

  Best weather of the year (Touba, Tambacounda, Niokolo-Koba, Kédougou)

• Dakar

  Dry; cooler nights; year-end crowds.

• 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

• Kédougou

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Mar Lodj

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