About Sierra Leone

Sara and John say...

This tropical African country is unsurprisingly characterised by heat and humidity. However, there is variety through the year.

The most comfortable time of year for many visitors tends to be the dry season, which occurs through the winter months.

From December to February, sunny skies prevail. Coastal areas, including the capital, Freetown, enjoy a refreshing sea breeze, whereas elsewhere a hot and dry Harmattan wind from the Sahara is common at this time of year. Humidities are relatively low, but daytime temperatures still routinely reach the 30s Celsius, and even higher across some inland areas. Nights are cooler, though, especially inland, and can even fall into single figures in some mountainous valleys.

From March, showers begin to break out across southern areas. Through the next few months, in response to soaring heat and humidity, monsoon rains progress northwards. By May, the wet season is established across the whole of the country, and prevails for several months. Coastal areas are wettest, with flooding across the mangroves. The rains occur in the form of intense downpours, particularly through the afternoon. That said, there are still some drier periods on most days. However, with high humidities, conditions can feel very uncomfortable, particularly at night.

The rains retreat southwards through the autumn months, last to clear the south in November.

Sunscreen is a ‘must’, whatever the time of year.