When to Visit Guinea-Bissau

The harmattan is at or near its peak, which means dust haze over Bissau and dry, cooler nights that can feel almost chilly by West African standards.

Still firmly in the dry season, with slightly warmer days. The harmattan begins to slacken but the air stays dry. Arguably the most reliably comfortable month in Guinea-Bissau for outdoor activity.

The hottest month of the year. The dry heat can feel brutal by midday, making early mornings and late afternoons the only sensible times to be outdoors.

Still very warm, though humidity may begin to sneak upward as the season shifts. Rainfall remains minimal. Yet the first distant signs of the coming rains sometimes appear on the horizon late in the month.

A transitional month that can swing either way. Some days stay bone dry. Others open with a sharp shower that vanishes quickly.

The rains arrive in earnest. The atmosphere flips, humidity thickens, and the sky turns dramatic. The landscape greens up fast.

Guinea-Bissau's rainy season is now in full force, making this one of the wettest months. Daytime highs dip slightly, a counterintuitive gift from the constant cloud cover. Travel to rural areas and the islands grows more difficult.

The peak of the wet season, with the most rain of any month. Heavy daily downpours are routine, and flooding is possible in low-lying areas. Infrastructure can strain, and some boat routes to the Bijagós islands run on reduced schedules.

Rainfall begins to retreat from the August peak, and the landscape is as lush as it ever gets. Rivers and channels are full, which can make boat-based wildlife viewing rewarding for those willing to brave the conditions.

The long exit from the wet season. Skies are often partly sunny. An interesting shoulder month for travelers who want to catch Guinea-Bissau when it's green but before the dry-season crowds show up.

The dry season reasserts itself. Only around 41mm of rain falls, mostly early in the month, and by the second half conditions feel settled again. This is when Guinea-Bissau starts to feel accessible and comfortable once more.

Solidly dry, with the harmattan beginning to blow. The mix of dry air, cooler evenings, and clear skies makes this one of the most pleasant months to explore Bissau and the surrounding areas.