Where to go in Africa in February: the last dry month, Ramadan 2027 and the month's festivals

Wondering where to go in Africa in February? Senegal is still dry, and the coast of Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire enjoys its last weeks before the March rains. Djibouti is ending its cool season, and southern Morocco is noticeably warmer than in January.

February 2027 also has a twist: Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday, February 8. From Morocco to Senegal and Djibouti, it changes the pace of daily life for almost the whole month. Here is February's weather, what Ramadan means for you, and the festivals that actually fall this month.

February, a turning point: what sets it apart

Our related guides already cover the winter. Winter sun in Africa compares January temperatures for the whole season. Where to go in Africa in December deals with the year-end holidays and peak season. Where to go in Africa in January follows the harmattan and the Vodun Days. February comes down to three things.

It is the last dry month on the Gulf of Guinea. In Lomé, Cotonou and Abidjan, rainfall doubles or even quadruples between February and March. Traveling in February means enjoying the dry weather before the switch.

Ramadan fills the month. In 2027, it covers about three weeks of February and ends in early March. In Muslim-majority countries, it is the single most important factor when planning your trip.

North Africa comes out of winter. Days gain more than a degree compared with January, and desert nights become less harsh.

February weather and the first rains

The table compares February and March: it shows where the dry season holds and where it ends. Temperatures are the February average highs and lows. These are 1991-2020 normals, except Djerba (1981-2010) and Médine, in Mauritius (1971-2000, Mauritius weather service). Each place links to its station's table.

February and March, station by station

Place	Day / night in February	Rain in February	Rain in March	What it means
Dakar	25.2 / 18 °C	0.4 mm	0.1 mm	Dry until spring
Lomé	33.5 / 25.5 °C	16.4 mm	67.3 mm	Dry, rains in March
Cotonou	32.2 / 26 °C	38.2 mm	80.5 mm	First showers
Abidjan	32.4 / 24.6 °C	41.3 mm	88.3 mm	Still dry, not for long
Djibouti	29.4 / 22.4 °C	12.2 mm	13.7 mm	End of the cool season
Agadir	22 / 10.1 °C	28.6 mm	31.3 mm	Mild, some rain
Marrakech	20.7 / 7.6 °C	25.7 mm	35.2 mm	Milder than January
Ouarzazate	19.3 / 4.5 °C	14.2 mm	16.5 mm	Less cold nights
Djerba	17.8 / 9.6 °C	14.3 mm	15.9 mm	Cool, dry
Nouakchott	30.6 / 15.3 °C	1 mm	0 mm	Dry, check safety
Toamasina	30.9 / 23.1 °C	438 mm	454.6 mm	Rain and cyclones
Moroni	30.4 / 23.3 °C	293 mm	279 mm	Rainy season
Mahé	30.6 / 25.3 °C	250.8 mm	204.5 mm	Less rain than in January
Médine, Mauritius	30.3 / 22.7 °C	182 mm	86 mm	Hot, cyclones possible

What the table shows

On the Gulf of Guinea, the contrast is sharp. Lomé goes from 16.4 mm in February to 67.3 mm in March, Abidjan from 41.3 to 88.3 mm. According to our country guides, southern Benin's first rainy season starts in March, and Togo's in late March. February is therefore the last reliable window.

In Morocco, the warm-up is felt mostly at night. In Ouarzazate, the average low rises from 1.8 °C in January to 4.5 °C in February. In the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles improve, but Madagascar is still in the heart of its wet season.

Ramadan 2027: it starts in February

This is what really sets February 2027 apart. According to the UAE Astronomy Centre, quoted by the newspaper The National, Ramadan should begin on Monday, February 8, 2027. Eid al-Fitr, which ends it, is expected on March 9 or 10.

Ramadan 2027 is projected to begin on February 8, lasting either 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle.

These are projections. Each country sets its own date after the crescent moon is sighted, and the start can shift by a day from one country to another. Our Eid al-Fitr and Korité page details the customs country by country.

What changes for travelers

Ramadan does not close any country: days are quieter, and evenings come alive after the fast is broken. Here is what our festival calendar has found in the countries concerned.

• Morocco: in 2026, government offices worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Outside the big cities and tourist sites, many cafés and restaurants close during the day, then reopen for ftour. Bars close and alcohol sales generally stop. In 2026, the country also switched back to GMT during the month: check the 2027 announcement before booking your transfers.
• Tunisia: most cafés and restaurants close during the day outside tourist areas. Government offices move to a single session, until around 2 p.m. Alcohol sales are banned, except in tourist resorts.
• Algeria: according to France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice), eating, drinking and smoking in public from dawn to sunset is prohibited and can lead to prosecution. Large hotels are the fallback for lunch.
• Mauritania: alcohol is banned all year round. The British government asks visitors not to eat, drink or smoke in public during the day, including in a car.
• Comoros: avoid eating or drinking in public during the day.

Etiquette and practical tips

Eid al-Fitr, around March 9 or 10, brings one to three public holidays depending on the country. If your trip runs into March, allow two days of slack for paperwork and travel.

Where to go in Africa in February: our six picks

Senegal, dry and mild

In Dakar, the February normal is 0.4 mm of rain, with highs of 25.2 °C: the heat stays bearable. It is the ideal month for the Petite Côte: our guide Saly or Somone helps you choose. For a stop in the capital, see where to stay in Dakar.

Senegal also lives to the rhythm of Ramadan, until Korité, expected in early March. According to our Senegal guide, meningitis circulates mainly from February to June in the center and east of the country: ask your doctor about the vaccine. Visas and vaccines are on the Senegal entry requirements page.

Togo and Benin, before the rains

Lomé is the hottest city in the table, at 33.5 °C during the day, with 1.9 rainy days in February. Our Togo guide puts the best period from December to February. In Benin, Cotonou gets its first showers, but most of the rain arrives in March. Our article where to stay in Cotonou helps you pick a base.

Côte d'Ivoire, early in the month

Abidjan averages 3.2 rainy days in February, then 6.6 in March. According to our guide, the harmattan still blows until February: skies can be hazy. Aim for the first half of the month for Grand-Bassam and Assinie. See the Côte d'Ivoire page and the Côte d'Ivoire entry requirements.

Djibouti, the end of whale shark season

In February, Djibouti still averages 29.4 °C during the day, but the heat climbs again from March. According to Figaro Nautisme, whale shark season in the Gulf of Tadjoura runs into February. This is your last chance of the winter. Djibouti also observes Ramadan: factor it into your plans. See the Djibouti entry requirements.

Southern Morocco, milder

Marrakech gains 1.6 °C during the day compared with January, at 20.7 °C. Ouarzazate stays very sunny and its nights become more bearable. It is a good month for the Road of the Kasbahs, as long as you accept the pace of Ramadan.

For the desert, our guide Marrakech to Merzouga: how many days details the routes. According to our guide, modest dress is expected during Ramadan: read what to wear in Morocco. Everything else is on the Morocco page.

Mauritius, for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, according to the Office Holidays calendar. In Mauritius, the Spring Festival is a public holiday: Port Louis's Chinatown is hung with lanterns, with dragon and lion dances and fireworks. Go during the day, when street events are most numerous.

The catch: it is the southern summer, and our guide reminds you to follow the weather during cyclone season, from November to April. Our guide where to stay in Mauritius helps you choose a base. There is no malaria on the island.

Central Africa: February, the hottest month

According to our guide, the dry season lasts until mid-March in Yaoundé and Douala, and February is the hottest month there: about 30 °C in the afternoon in Yaoundé and 33 °C in Douala. On February 11, Youth Day brings school parades to the cities. In Gabon, by contrast, the rainy season returns between February and March. Cameroon's North, Far North and North-West are rated red by France Diplomatie.

February 2027 festivals, and the ones that moved

Dates come from our festivals calendar.

Festival	Country and place	2027 date	Good to know
National Unity Day	Burundi, Bujumbura	February 5, public holiday	Ceremony at the Unity monument
Spring Festival	Mauritius, Port Louis	February 6, public holiday	Chinese New Year
Start of Ramadan	Muslim countries	Around February 8	Each country sets the date
Youth Day	Cameroon, nationwide	February 11, public holiday	School parades
Ségou'Art	Mali, Ségou	February 1 to 6	Mali strongly advised against

National Unity Day commemorates the 1991 Charter of National Unity. In Burundi, the border with DR Congo must be avoided, according to our guide.

Three events often linked to February fall elsewhere in 2027. FESPACO has been pushed back to March 20 to 27, 2027, and Burkina Faso remains strongly advised against. In Mauritius, Maha Shivaratree is expected on March 6, and Thaipoosam Cavadee on January 22. The Tadjoura cultural festival, in Djibouti, ran from February 5 to 7 in 2026, but its 2027 dates have not been announced.

The Indian Ocean in the heart of the wet season

In Toamasina, on Madagascar's east coast, 438 mm of rain falls in February, over about 17 days. According to France Diplomatie, cyclones can hit the island from January to April, especially the east coast. Our article best time to visit Madagascar points to the drier regions.

In the Comoros, Moroni still gets 293 mm, and Ramadan comes on top of the rainy season. The Seychelles are kinder than in January and sheltered from cyclones. According to our guide, dengue and chikungunya circulate mainly from December to February: protect yourself against mosquitoes.

Areas to avoid, even in February

In Mauritania, Nouakchott is dry in February, but the east and north of the country are advised against. Check your route on the official map.

Health and paperwork: planning a February trip

In Togo, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon, a yellow fever certificate is required. According to the WHO (2016), a single dose protects for life. Malaria circulates all year on the West African coast: our article malaria in Africa helps you prepare for the consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ramadan 2027 fall in February?

Yes. The UAE Astronomy Centre expects it to start on Monday, February 8, 2027, for 29 or 30 days. Eid al-Fitr is expected on March 9 or 10. Each country confirms the date after the moon is sighted.

Where to go in Africa in February for the beach?

Senegal, dry all month, or the coast of Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, before the March rains. In Benin, swimming remains advised against because the sea is dangerous.

Is February or March better for the Gulf of Guinea?

February. In Cotonou, rainfall rises from 38.2 mm in February to 80.5 mm in March, and in Abidjan from 41.3 to 88.3 mm.

Can you travel to Morocco during Ramadan?

Yes. Sites stay open and evenings are lively. Expect shorter hours in government offices, restaurants closed during the day outside tourist areas, and generally no alcohol for sale.