Senegal has two seasons: a long dry season and a shorter rainy season. For most visitors, the dry season is the obvious choice.
Dry Season: November to May
The dry season is the main travel period. Temperatures are warm to hot, the sun is consistent, and the roads are in good condition. The early dry season — November through February — is the most comfortable. Coastal temperatures hover around 24–28°C, with pleasant evenings. Inland and in the north it can be hotter.
From January onward, the Harmattan — a dry north-easterly wind blowing off the Sahara — occasionally sweeps across the country, filling the air with fine dust and giving the sky a milky haze. It rarely lasts more than a few days at a time and does not significantly disrupt travel.
March through May grows progressively hotter, particularly in the interior. The Casamance in the south can be uncomfortably hot by April.
Rainy Season: June to October
The rains arrive from the south, reaching Casamance in late May or June and the north by July. The wet season brings thunderstorms (often in the evening), intense heat, high humidity, and occasional flooding on unpaved roads. Some rural areas become inaccessible. On the positive side, the landscape turns vivid green, wildlife is active, prices drop, and crowds thin considerably. Birdwatching can be exceptional during and just after the rains.
Festivals
If you want to time your visit around specific events: the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival takes place in late May or early June (check dates annually), and the Dak'Art Biennale runs in even years, typically May–June. The Grand Magal of Touba, the Mouride pilgrimage, follows the Islamic lunar calendar and draws millions to Touba — spectacular if you can handle the crowds.