When to go · Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone in December
Great month. Dry and festive; diaspora visits fill Freetown hotels.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Sierra Leone
- Prices
- High
- Sierra Leone
Verdict
Dry and festive; diaspora visits fill Freetown hotels.
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for Sierra Leone in this guide.
Weather in December
- Freetown Peninsula and coast · Freetown, River No. 2, Bureh, Banana Islands, Bonthebest weather
One of the wettest capitals in the world: over 3 m of rain a year, most of it July–September, with floods and landslides.
- Eastern forest · Tiwai, Gola, Kenemabest weather
Rainforest; trails and roads become hard in the rains.
- North and highlands · Makeni, Outamba-Kilimi, Loma Mountainsbest weather
Drier savanna; Harmattan haze in January; Mount Bintumani best Dec–Mar.
- Freetown31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 3 rain days
- Banana Islands30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 2 rain days
- Bo30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
- Bonthe30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
- Kenema31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
- Koidu30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Magburaka31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Makeni31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °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.
Christmas and Boxing Day big impact
25–26 Dec
Diaspora visits; beach parties; hotels full.
Dry season
About November to April · Freetown
Best weather for beaches and travel; harmattan haze from December to February.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Sierra Leone
- High
- Prices · Sierra Leone
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Sierra Leone, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Crowds
Dec: High
Jan: Medium
Prices
Dec: High
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 2
Jan: 3
December: Dry and festive; diaspora visits fill Freetown hotels.
January: Dry and sunny, some Harmattan haze; peak beach season.
Sierra Leone: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in December
Rated best or good this month
Freetown Peninsula and coast
Best weather of the year (Freetown, River No. 2, Bureh, Banana Islands, Bonthe)
Eastern forest
Best weather of the year (Tiwai, Gola, Kenema)
North and highlands
Best weather of the year (Makeni, Outamba-Kilimi, Loma Mountains)
Dry; harmattan haze begins late in the month.
Best months: November–April (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)