Sierra Leone in January

Dry and sunny, some Harmattan haze; peak beach season.

No other month rates higher than January for Sierra Leone in this guide.

• 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 Mountainssmoke haze

  Drier savanna; Harmattan haze in January; Mount Bintumani best Dec–Mar.

• Freetown31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 1 rain days
• Banana Islands30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 1 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), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Kenema32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
• Koidu31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Magburaka32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Makeni32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °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.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Public holiday.

• Dry season

  About November to April · Freetown

  Best weather for beaches and travel; harmattan haze from December to February.

• Christmas and New Year

  25 Dec–1 Jan · Freetown

  Returning families fill the beaches and hotels; book early.

Crowds · Sierra Leone

Medium

Prices · Sierra Leone

Medium

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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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)

• Freetown

  Dry and dusty (harmattan haze); good for beaches.

• Banana Islands

  Best months: November–April (dry season)

• Bo

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

• Bonthe

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Kenema

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Koidu

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

• Magburaka

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Makeni

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)