Senegal in May

Last dry month; Tabaski may fall here in 2026 (check) — transport jams before it.

May is rated good. These months rate higher:

• NovemberGreatDry season starts; lodges reopen; birds arrive in the Saloum and Djoudj.
• DecemberGreatPeak: pleasant heat, Christmas on the Petite Côte; book Saint-Louis and delta lodges early.
• JanuaryGreatDry, breezy, 25 °C on the coast; the Dakar Rally legacy crowd and winter-sun Europeans fill Saly.
• FebruaryGreatStill dry and cool; Harmattan haze some days inland; good birding at Djoudj.

• 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, Oussouyefine

  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-Louishot

  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.

• Dakar29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
• Bakel35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Cap Skirring33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Foundiougne34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 7 rain days
• Joal-Fadiouth33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Kafountine33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 2 rain days
• Kédougou36 °C (97 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 5 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 5 rain days
• Mar Lodj33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 5 rain days
• Mboro31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 4 rain days
• Mbour36 °C (97 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 7 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 7 rain days
• Palmarin32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
• Podor42 °C (108 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 1 rain days108 °F (42 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 1 rain days
• Popenguine31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
• Saint-Louis31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
• Salemata39 °C (102 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 4 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 4 rain days
• Sokone37 °C (99 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
• Tambacounda39 °C (102 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 2 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 2 rain days
• Thies36 °C (97 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Touba32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
• Toubakouta36 °C (97 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Ziguinchor33 °C (91 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 5 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.

• Christian holidays

  Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Monday (moves)

  Public holidays; Popenguine pilgrimage at Pentecost.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) big impact

  May 2026 (lunar — check)

  The biggest holiday: roads jam for days before, sheep everywhere, businesses shut 2–4 days.

• Dak'Art biennale (even years) check

  Varies · Dakar

  Exhibitions across the city; hotels fill.

• Dak'Art contemporary art biennale

  May–June, even years (check) · Dakar

  Exhibitions across the city; hotels fill; check the year's dates and programme.

• Popenguine Catholic pilgrimage

  Late May or June (Pentecost) · Dakar

  Large crowds on the Petite Côte roads; Dakar traffic thickens.

Crowds · Senegal

Low

Prices · Senegal

Medium

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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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)

• 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

• Palmarin

  Best months: Nov–May

• Podor

  Best months: Nov–May

• Popenguine

  Best months: Nov–May