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
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.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, 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 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 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
- Bakel30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Cap Skirring33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Foundiougne32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
- Joal-Fadiouth30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Kafountine34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Kédougou33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
- Mar Lodj30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
- Mboro30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
- Mbour33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
- Palmarin32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Podor39 °C (102 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 70 °F (21 °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-Louis31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
- Salemata39 °C (102 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
- Sokone36 °C (97 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
- Tambacounda39 °C (102 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
- Thies37 °C (99 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Touba34 °C (93 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Toubakouta36 °C (97 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
- Ziguinchor30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 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
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)
Dry; warm.
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