Updated
August 23, 2007

Gambia Tourist Support
A Better Holiday
Weather Wise

Dry, Sunny and hot from November to May
An idea winter break location

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Skin Care

Sunset at Kotu

Clear skies over Tanji

In the rainy season a fan will help a little with the humidity and help keep mosquitoes off you

At the Atlantic Coast resorts the temperature varies little throughout the year, 85° & 90° at midday, but degrees hotter inland and less breeze.

Between late November and early June the weather is dry, very warm and mainly gloriously sunny.
The humidity makes a big difference during the Gambian 'Rainy Season' (June - October especially around the Atlantic resorts).
Humidity rises from 50% to 70% by May and to 95% or more in August. There is still plenty of sunshine but it is often a very moist heat both day and especially at night, with August being the wettest month of the year.

During the UK's winter and spring months, you can live in shorts and tops in The Gambia and you only need long clothes in the evening as a protection against the few mosquitoes around. To UK visitors, even late at night it is pleasant, not cold and you won't get caught out by rain.

Although tourists visit during the rainy season, there are far fewer visitors and the country is less prepared for tourists during the rains.

Many of the smaller hotels close and their staff go back to their villages to help during the main agricultural season.

The rains can cause some transport problems on the roads and some of the tourist spots hardly operate, but if you want a hotel holiday by the pool and take pot luck for the rest - then maybe an air conditioned room will be appreciated during Rainy season nights.

You should take all the normal precautions with the sun as it hardly ever doesn't shine. Creams and blocks are available over there in the supermarkets, but are more expensive and there is less choice than in the UK. See Skin Care.

If you do buy creams puit them in your main luggage for the hold of the aircraft - regu;lations are still in place to confiscate and creams, gels or liquids found in your hand luggage.