Winter sun in Africa: where to go from December to March

From December to March, the dry sunshine is mostly in West Africa. Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, southern Togo and southern Benin are in the middle of their dry season, with daytime highs of 26 to 33°C. Djibouti is in its coolest season, around 29°C. Southern Morocco has mild, sunny days, but cold nights.

If you are after winter sun in Africa at this time of year, avoid Madagascar, Comoros and Mauritius, which are in their rainy and cyclone season. Seychelles stays hot, but gets a lot of rain. Here are the details country by country, based on official climate normals.

January weather, country by country

The table compares January, the heart of the European winter. The figures are climate normals: the average daytime high, the average nighttime low, and the total rainfall for the month. Most come from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 1991-2020 normals, published by the U.S. agency NOAA and quoted on Wikipedia, or from the German weather service (DWD). Every station is listed in our sources.

Country	Place (station)	January day / night	January rain	Our verdict
Senegal	Dakar	25.9 / 18.6°C	1 mm	Dry, sunny, ideal
Senegal	Ziguinchor (Casamance)	34.1 / 17.8°C	5 mm	Hot and dry
Côte d'Ivoire	Abidjan	31.9 / 23.5°C	25 mm	Hot and humid, little rain
Togo	Lomé	32.8 / 24.0°C	13 mm	Hot and dry
Benin	Cotonou	31.6 / 24.4°C	19 mm	Hot and dry
Djibouti	Djibouti City	29.2 / 21.8°C	14 mm	The most pleasant season
Morocco	Agadir	21.2 / 8.4°C	32 mm	Mild by day, cool in the evening
Morocco	Marrakesh	19.1 / 5.9°C	25 mm	Sunny, cold nights
Morocco	Ouarzazate	17.3 / 1.8°C	6 mm	Nights close to 0°C
Tunisia	Djerba	16.5 / 9.2°C	27 mm	Mild, not hot
Mauritania	Nouakchott	29.1 / 14.5°C	1 mm	Dry, check safety
Madagascar	Toamasina (east coast)	30.7 / 23.2°C	412 mm	Rain and cyclones
Comoros	Moroni	30.4 / 23.4°C	364 mm	Rainy season
Seychelles	Mahé (airport)	30 / 25°C	427 mm	Hot but very wet
Mauritius	Médine, west coast (February)	30.3 / 22.7°C	182 mm	Hot, cyclones possible

What these figures tell you

For Mauritius, the national weather service (MMS) publishes its averages by region: we give the February ones. We have not included sea temperatures, because we found no consistent official source covering all these countries.

The table sums it up. If you want real heat, 30°C and above, head south to the Gulf of Guinea. If you want sunshine without heavy heat, Dakar and Djibouti strike the best balance. North Africa is sunny, but it is still winter there.

Senegal, the safe bet for winter

Between December and March, Senegal is the most obvious choice. Dakar gets an average of 1.2 mm of rain in January, and less than 1 mm in February and March. Days are around 26°C and nights 18 to 19°C: the air is dry and the heat stays comfortable.

The beaches of the Petite Côte, around Saly and Somone, are about 20 kilometers from Blaise Diagne airport. Farther south, you can explore the Sine Saloum delta by pirogue, between mangroves and islands. Our guide to Saly or Somone will help you choose your base.

Casamance and Cap Skirring

Farther south, Casamance is noticeably hotter: 34°C by day in January in Ziguinchor, with 5 mm of rain. According to the French foreign ministry's travel advice (France Diplomatie), the hotel area of Cap Skirring “poses no particular danger” (our translation). The region remains under heightened vigilance: stay on paved roads and do not travel alone.

Malaria is present all year round in Senegal, according to our country guide: ask a doctor for advice before you go. Visas and vaccines are on our Senegal entry requirements page, and the essentials about the country on the Senegal page.

Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin: heat and the dry season

On the Gulf of Guinea, December to February is the driest season. It is hot and humid: 31 to 33°C by day, 23 to 24°C at night, with 13 to 25 mm of rain in January depending on the city. It is the right time for the beach and the coastal cities.

Belgian Foreign Affairs points out that in Côte d'Ivoire, from December to February, the harmattan blows: a hot, dusty wind from the Sahara. The sky can turn hazy, so do not expect perfect blue skies every day.

Where to go on the coast

• Côte d'Ivoire: Abidjan, Grand-Bassam and the beaches of Assinie. The long rainy season does not start until May in the south. See our Côte d'Ivoire page and the Côte d'Ivoire entry requirements.
• Togo: Lomé and its coast. According to our country guide, December, January and February are the driest and sunniest months in Lomé. Details on the Togo page and the Togo entry requirements.
• Benin: Cotonou and Ouidah. The first rainy season in the south starts in March, according to Belgian Foreign Affairs. See the Benin page and the Benin entry requirements.

For all three countries, the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory and malaria is present everywhere, according to our country guides. Our article on malaria in Africa explains how to choose your preventive treatment.

Djibouti, the cool season and whale sharks

Djibouti is scorching from May to October, at over 40°C. Winter is its good season: in January, the normal is 29°C by day and 22°C at night, with 14 mm of rain.

It is also whale shark season in the Gulf of Tadjoura. According to Figaro Nautisme, it lasts into February.

France Diplomatie strongly advises against the areas near the Eritrean border and the road to Somaliland. The rest of the country is under heightened vigilance. Outside the city, travel in at least two 4x4s, with a guide. Visas and vaccines: Djibouti entry requirements.

Morocco: sunshine, but a real winter

Morocco is the closest destination if you are leaving from Europe. There is sunshine, but sunshine is not the same as heat. In Agadir, the mildest city in the south, it is 21°C by day in January and 8°C at night. In Marrakesh, 19°C by day and 6°C at night.

Farther south, on the edge of the desert, the gap gets wide. In Ouarzazate, the January normal is 17°C by day and under 2°C at night. A night camping in the dunes calls for a proper sleeping bag. Our guide to a desert night from Marrakesh covers what to ask the agency.

France Diplomatie lists the border with Mauritania, away from the coastal road, as a red zone, and Western Sahara as an area of heightened vigilance. See the Morocco page and the Morocco entry requirements.

Tunisia and Djerba: mild, not hot

Let's be honest: Djerba is not a sun and beach destination in January. The normal there is 16.5°C by day and 9°C at night, with about 27 mm of rain, according to Tunisia's National Institute of Meteorology. It is pleasant for walking, sightseeing and enjoying a hotel with a heated pool, not for swimming in the sea.

Southern Tunisia has one asset in December: the International Festival of the Sahara in Douz (see below). France Diplomatie does, however, advise against the desert south and east of the line through Bir Rjim Maatoug, Borj Bourguiba and Ben Guerdane, and strongly advises against the far Saharan south. Details on the Tunisia page and the Tunisia entry requirements.

Countries to avoid this winter

Sunshine is not enough. Several Sahel countries have perfect weather in winter, but safety rules them out. Others are in the middle of their rainy season.

No-go areas in the Sahel

Mauritania is a special case. Its winter is dry and sunny: 29°C by day and 14.5°C at night in Nouakchott in January. The Adrar, around Atar and Chinguetti, is the great winter desert. But France Diplomatie advises against all but essential travel north of a line through Choum and Aghouedir, and east of a line through Aghouedir and Tichit. These limits run close to the Adrar sites, and the ministry does not publish a list of towns. That is why it is not in our selection: if you are tempted, check your exact route on the official map and travel with a licensed guide.

The Indian Ocean in its rainy season

From December to March, it is the southern summer: hot, humid and rainy.

• Madagascar: Toamasina, on the east coast, gets 412 mm of rain in January, over 18 days on average. France Diplomatie warns of possible cyclones from January to April, especially on the east coast. Our article on the best time to visit Madagascar covers the drier regions.
• Comoros: 364 mm of rain in January in Moroni. According to Belgian Foreign Affairs, January is the wettest month, and tropical storms and cyclones can strike from November to April.
• Mauritius: the official cyclone season runs from November 1 to May 15, according to the MMS. It is hot, and the west remains the driest coast.
• Seychelles: 427 mm in January at Mahé airport, but it is 30°C and the islands are usually spared by cyclones. Many travelers go anyway and accept the showers.

January is the wettest month, with about 427 mm at Mahé international airport.

Three festivals to plan your trip around

Winter is also the season for major cultural events. The dates below come from our calendar of festivals and celebrations.

Festival	Place	Dates
Dakar Biennale (Dak'Art)	Dakar, Senegal	November 19 to December 19, 2026
International Festival of the Sahara	Douz, Tunisia	December 19 to 22, 2026
Vodun Days	Ouidah, Benin	January 2 to 9, 2027

The Dakar Biennale pairs well with a week on the Petite Côte. The Vodun Days, about 40 kilometers from Cotonou, fall in the middle of the dry season. In Douz, bring warm clothes for the evenings.

Winter sun in Africa: which trip suits you?

What you want	Our pick	Why
Beach and dry heat	Senegal (Petite Côte, Sine Saloum, Cap Skirring)	No rain, 26 to 34°C depending on the region
Serious tropical heat	Côte d'Ivoire, southern Togo and southern Benin	31 to 33°C, dry season
Diving and wide open spaces	Djibouti	Cool season, whale sharks
Mild sun, short flight from Europe	Southern Morocco (Agadir, Marrakesh)	19 to 21°C by day, cold nights
Mild weather and culture	Djerba and southern Tunisia	16°C by day, Douz festival

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find winter sun in Africa in December?

In Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, southern Togo and Benin, or Djibouti: it is the dry season, with 26 to 33°C by day depending on the city. In December, the Dakar Biennale and the International Festival of the Sahara in Douz give you one more reason to go.

Which African country has sunshine without intense heat?

Dakar and Djibouti strike the best balance in January: about 26°C by day in Dakar and 29°C in Djibouti. Southern Morocco is cooler, around 19 to 21°C by day, with cold nights.

What is the hottest French-speaking African country in January?

Among the safe countries in our table, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire: about 32 to 33°C by day in Lomé and Abidjan. In Casamance, Ziguinchor reaches 34°C, with cooler nights.

Can you swim in Morocco in winter?

Agadir sees 21°C by day in January and 8°C at night: the air is mild, but it is not warm swimming weather. For swimming in warm water, choose Senegal or the Gulf of Guinea.

Do I need malaria prevention?

For Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin, generally yes: malaria is present there all year round. There is none in Morocco or Tunisia. Choose your treatment with a doctor before you leave.

Is Seychelles in January a bad idea?

Not necessarily. It is hot, around 30°C, but January is the wettest month, with about 427 mm on Mahé. If you want guaranteed dry skies, choose West Africa.