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When to go · Senegal

Senegal in March

Great month. Warm and dry; Ramadan may fall here in 2026 (check), slowing daytime service.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Senegal
Prices
Medium
Senegal

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Senegal

Warm and dry; Ramadan may fall here in 2026 (check), slowing daytime service.

Is another month better than March?

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

Weather in March

  • 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, 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, 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 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.

  • 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
  • Bakel30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days
  • Cap Skirring33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Foundiougne32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • Joal-Fadiouth30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days
  • Kafountine34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days
  • Kédougou33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Mar Lodj30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days
  • Mboro30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Mbour33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days
  • Palmarin32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days
  • Podor39 °C (102 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days
  • Popenguine30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days
  • Saint-Louis31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days
  • Salemata39 °C (102 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days
  • Sokone36 °C (97 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days
  • Tambacounda39 °C (102 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days
  • Thies37 °C (99 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days
  • Touba34 °C (93 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days
  • Toubakouta36 °C (97 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days
  • Ziguinchor30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 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.

  • Korité (Eid al-Fitr) big impact

    Mar 2026 (lunar — check)

    End of Ramadan; families travel, shops close 1–2 days.

  • 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

    Mar: Great

    Jan: Great

  • Crowds

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Mar: 2

    Jan: 1

March: Warm and dry; Ramadan may fall here in 2026 (check), slowing daytime service.

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 March

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)

  • Dakar

    Dry; warm.

  • 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