Climate in west Africa-An over view

For all persons planning a trip to west Africa either in the near or distant future, knowing when the rainy season (or wet season) and the dry season falls, helps determine the best time to go.  It is important to know that in some parts of this region, the heat during the rainy season is worse because of the added discomfort of humidity. This is especially the case in costal areas such as the southern parts of Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast. For the most part, the weather in West Africa is not really predictable with a great degree of certainty and rains do fail causing untold hardships to millions of subsistence farmers in the region.

            In general, it is hot year round in West Africa with an average temperature hovering around 85 Fahrenheit (30 celsius) during the day. The dry season in West Africa generally falls around the end of October –March. Closer to the coast it is always a little more humid even in the dry months, but there are fewer mosquitos around and unpaved roads are passable. Given that most visitors come to West Africa to enjoy its beaches and cultures, the dry season is a good time to visit. This is because at this the issue of mosquitoes is less of a problem and the weather is appropriate enough to enhance a full enjoyment of the beaches. However, it can sometimes get extremely hot during this time, especially at the end of the dry season, i.e. in March/April.

            Another condition that could potentially be a problem to visitors who might be new to that kind of weather is the harmattan. The harmattan is a weather condition, which is a major part of the dry season. Typically, the harmattan is characterized by very dry atmosphere, with strong winds carrying lots of dust and sand in the air. Harmattan is certainly not a good period for photo-shoots. The hardest hit areas by the harmattan are usually the northern parts of the sub-region, such as the northern parts of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Togo and some parts of Nigeria.       

            The rainy season in West Africa generally falls from the end of April - July on the coastal areas with a second shorter rainy season in September/October. The rains don't last all day and are much enjoyed when they fall. Water shortages are common in this region, so rainwater is a blessing especially in cities on the coast. Further inland toward the desert, there's one rainy season and it tends to fall from July - September. This is the best time to go to countries like Mali, as temperatures cool down a little and rivers become more navigable. However, A major problem associated with the rainy season is mosquitoes. The rainy season creates perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes, especially in cities area areas with poor drainage systems and where little ponds of water is found days or even weeks after a downpour. Thus foreigners travelling to West Africa in the rainy season might consider staying in the northern parts because the mosquito-problem is quite minimal in such areas.