January ranks 4th of 12 for Dakar — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.8/10January averages 24°C (75°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.2 hours of daylight to work with.
A 8.8/10 puts this among the year's best months in Dakar (4th of 12); only February scores higher, at 9.5/10.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
February in Dakar — the year's strongest window
Best window · 9.5/10February averages 22°C (71°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.5 hours of daylight to work with.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Dakar at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
March in Dakar — one of the year's strongest windows (2nd)
Best window · 9.2/10At 20°C (68°F) this is comfortable city weather in March, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
At just 1 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.9 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Dakar at 9.2/10 (2nd of 12), just behind February at 9.5/10.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
April in Dakar — one of the year's strongest windows (3rd)
Best window · 9.2/10April averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rain is a non-issue at 0 mm for the month, with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.3 hours of daylight to work with.
A 9.2/10 puts this among the year's best months in Dakar (3rd of 12); only February scores higher, at 9.5/10.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
May ranks 5th of 12 for Dakar — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.6/10At 23°C (74°F) this is comfortable city weather in May, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
At just 7 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.7 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Dakar at 8.6/10 (5th of 12), just behind February at 9.5/10.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
June in Dakar — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 6.9/10June averages 26°C (78°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.9/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? February scores 2.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in Dakar — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.9/10July averages 27°C (81°F) and humidity near 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Monthly rainfall reaches 129 mm — wet for this destination — but about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 4.9/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? February scores 4.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Dakar: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.8/10Days in August average 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 84% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 219 mm, but with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 3.8/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Dakar — 5.7 points higher on the same scale.
September in Dakar: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.7/10Days in September average 28°C (83°F) and humidity near 83% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 218 mm, but with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 3.7/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Dakar — 5.8 points higher on the same scale.
October in Dakar — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.6/10October averages 29°C (83°F) and humidity near 81%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rainfall runs 68 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.6/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? February scores 3.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November holds up well in Dakar — 7th best month
Good · 7.2/10November averages 27°C (81°F) and humidity near 73%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.3 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
Flexible dates? February scores 2.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
December in Dakar — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 8.2/10At 25°C (77°F) this is comfortable city weather in December, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
At just 2 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.1 hours of daylight.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.
Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
