December is one of the best months to visit, with dry weather, comfortable temperatures and many cultural events - ideal for coastal cities like Dakar, Abidjan and Accra. Sahelian areas are cooler and pleasant for exploration.
Average daily low and high (°C) and monthly rainfall, from each country's largest city. The badge shows how it feels, allowing for humidity.
Average temperature across West Africa in December.
Dakar, Saint‑Louis, Casamance & Banjul
The seasonally dry, bright weather of December makes Dakar, Saint‑Louis and Banjul particularly pleasant - daytime warmth with comfortable evenings and minimal rain. Casamance is largely dry and accessible by road, though the landscape remains lusher than in the north. This is high season: expect more crowds, higher prices, and lively markets; pack sun protection and a thin sweater for coastal evenings.
Guinea‑Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone & Liberia
December’s dry months offer crisp mornings and warm, sunny days across Conakry, Bissau, Freetown and Monrovia, with the interior highlands cool and pleasant for hikes. Boat services across archipelagos and estuaries are much more reliable, and coastal lodges reopen at full capacity. This is high season for travel along the monsoon coast: book early and bring sun protection plus a light layer for cooler nights.
Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo & Benin
December is warm and generally dry along the Gulf of Guinea - beach resorts around Grand Bassam and Ada Flor are lively and urban nightlife is active. Some early harmattan haze can cool mornings and leave skies slightly dull, but daytime visibility is usually good for photography and touring. Book accommodations in advance for holiday periods and bring light layers for breezy evenings.
Coastal south, Lagos, Niger Delta & Jos Plateau
December is typically a dry, busy month with warm days and cool evenings in Lagos and the delta; holiday travel peaks and beach resorts fill up. The harmattan often makes mornings crisp and somewhat dusty, more so in the north but noticeable in cities too. Expect crowded flights and roads around holidays and pack layers for cooler nights on the Jos Plateau.
Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger & northern Senegal
December is cool and dry with crisp mornings across the Sahel - ideal conditions for desert treks, archaeological visits and festival attendance around cities like Timbuktu and N’Djamena (if included). Daytime temperatures are comfortable and mosquitoes are at low levels. This is peak season for overland travel; reserve transport and guides early and bring warm night clothing for camps.
Numerous cultural events and markets take place in December across the region.
See how December compares with the rest of the year, then read the full guide.