October is a transitional month as the rains withdraw; travel improves and the landscape turns greener after the wet season. This is a good month for visiting historical sites and coastal areas before the peak dry season.
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 October.
Dakar, Saint‑Louis, Casamance & Banjul
The rainy curtain falls through October for most of Senegal and The Gambia, with Casamance drying later in the month; rivers start to subside and rural routes reopen. Dakar and Saint‑Louis offer warm, mostly dry days - ideal for photography and birding expeditions along the delta. Pack a lightweight rain jacket just in case, but also expect mosquitoes to be less numerous as pools drain away.
Guinea‑Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone & Liberia
October sees the monsoon easing across much of Guinea and Sierra Leone, with rainfall tapering and roads slowly reopening; streets drain and the countryside brightens. Conakry gets more frequent sunny intervals and coastal charters become more reliable. This is a good transition month for returning travelers: bring layered clothing for warm afternoons and cooler, breezy evenings.
Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo & Benin
October sees the short secondary rainy season in some Gulf of Guinea coasts peaking - Ghana’s second rains often arrive, making Accra and surrounds intermittently wet and humid. Southern Togo and Benin can see renewed showers that affect coastal travel. Travelers will find fewer crowds and green landscapes; carry a rain jacket and expect slower roads, especially after heavy falls.
Coastal south, Lagos, Niger Delta & Jos Plateau
October generally brings a reduction in rainfall and humidity across much of southern Nigeria - Lagos enjoys more stable, drier weather ideal for beaches and urban exploration. The north begins its cooler dry season, driven by the harmattan in later months. Travellers find better road conditions and improved river crossings; bring layers for slightly cooler evenings in the plateau regions.
Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger & northern Senegal
October delivers drier, warming conditions with comfortable days and cool nights - Timbuktu and the Sahelian towns dry out and roads reopen for overland safaris. Dust levels are low and visibility excellent for photographing historic sites and landscapes. This is a prime month for safe desert travel before the late dry‑season heat peaks.
There are no major festivals or events in West Africa during October to be aware of.
See how October compares with the rest of the year, then read the full guide.