Destination guide
Kololi weather by month
March, April and May are the best months to visit Kololi for dry weather and sunshine. Daytime averages sit around 28-29°C, with March and April offering 9 hours of sunshine a day. This is a good balance for travellers who want time outdoors without choosing the hottest month. The catch is that the sea is cooler than later in the year. July to September suits sun-focused holidays less well, with frequent rain and much less sunshine.
- Hottest month
- 30.7°CNovember
- Coolest month
- 28.2°CMay
- Warmest sea
- 29.3°COctober
- Flight from London
- 6 h 18 minMid-haul (4.5-7 h) · estimated
Kololi, month by month
A little perspective
Kololi through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.7°C | 20.2°C | 21.8°C | 6.5 | 2 | 0 | 95% |
| February | 29.4°C | 20.5°C | 22.0°C | 7.3 | 1 | 0 | 94% |
| Marchbest | 29.4°C | 20.7°C | 22.6°C | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | 96% |
| Aprilbest | 28.3°C | 20.9°C | 23.4°C | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | 95% |
| Maybest | 28.2°C | 22.2°C | 24.6°C | 8.4 | 1 | 0 | 99% |
| June | 29.1°C | 24.6°C | 26.8°C | 6.2 | 14 | 2 | 100% |
| July | 28.9°C | 25.4°C | 28.0°C | 3.5 | 130 | 15 | 100% |
| August | 28.4°C | 25.3°C | 28.4°C | 2.4 | 263 | 24 | 100% |
| September | 28.9°C | 25.4°C | 28.7°C | 3.1 | 192 | 20 | 100% |
| October | 29.9°C | 26.1°C | 29.3°C | 6.0 | 58 | 8 | 100% |
| November | 30.7°C | 24.6°C | 27.7°C | 5.9 | 2 | 1 | 100% |
| December | 29.7°C | 21.9°C | 24.1°C | 5.7 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Kololi
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. August is the wettest month (263 mm, about 24 rainy days) and March the driest (0 mm). The sea is warmest in October at 29.3°C and coolest in January at 21.8°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Banjul International Airport (BJL, 12 km from Serekunda) takes roughly 6 h 18 min - mid-haul (4.5-7 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Africa/Banjul.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Kololi between 1991 and 2020 reached 40.1°C on 14 April 2017; the coldest fell to 15.5°C on 20 January 1994. In November one day in ten tops 32.5°C and about 67% of days pass 30°C; in May one night in ten drops to 20.5°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was August 2013 with 512 mm, against a August average of 263 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Kololi
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:33 | 18:58 | 11.4 h | 6.5 h |
| February | 07:30 | 19:12 | 11.7 h | 7.3 h |
| March | 07:14 | 19:17 | 12.0 h | 8.7 h |
| April | 06:54 | 19:20 | 12.4 h | 8.7 h |
| May | 06:41 | 19:26 | 12.7 h | 8.4 h |
| June | 06:40 | 19:35 | 12.9 h | 6.2 h |
| July | 06:47 | 19:38 | 12.8 h | 3.5 h |
| August | 06:54 | 19:28 | 12.6 h | 2.4 h |
| September | 06:56 | 19:08 | 12.2 h | 3.1 h |
| October | 06:57 | 18:48 | 11.8 h | 6.0 h |
| November | 07:06 | 18:37 | 11.5 h | 5.9 h |
| December | 07:22 | 18:42 | 11.3 h | 5.7 h |
November to February: dry days, with cooler nights later
November brings dry weather back, but it is also Kololi's hottest month, averaging 31°C by day and 25°C at night. It suits travellers who want warmth in the sea as well as on land: the water averages 28°C. December offers more relief after sunset, with nights averaging 22°C. By January and February, daytime averages ease to 29°C and nights to 20°C, making evenings less warm than in autumn. All these months average no rainy days, so rain is unlikely to shape your plans. The trade-off comes in the water: January and February have sea temperatures of 22°C, noticeably cooler than November. Pack light daytime clothes and a light evening layer.
March to June: the best balance, then warmer nights
March and April are the strongest choices if sunshine is your priority, each averaging 9 hours a day with no rainy days. March reaches 29°C by day, while April averages 28°C; both have nights around 21°C. May keeps the dry pattern and averages 28°C by day, but the sea warms to 25°C, making it a useful compromise if March's 23°C water sounds cool. June marks a change rather than an immediate washout: it averages 2 rainy days and 6 hours of sunshine. Its sea temperature reaches 27°C, but nights rise to 25°C. Choose the earlier months for cooler sleeping conditions, or May and June if warmer water matters more.
July to October: frequent rain, then an improvement
July to September is the least suitable stretch for a holiday built around sunshine. Rainy days rise from 15 in July to 24 in August, then ease to 20 in September. August is the clearest compromise: daytime temperatures still average 28°C, but sunshine falls to 2 hours a day. Warm seas do not remove the need for flexible outdoor plans and rain protection. Nights average 25°C throughout this period, so there is limited cooling after sunset. October improves to 8 rainy days and 6 hours of sunshine, while the sea stays warm at 29°C. It is a better prospect for outdoor time, though daytime averages of 30°C and nights of 26°C mean cooler evenings are not the draw.
A little more detail
Kololi weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Kololi?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Kololi are April, March and May. November is the hottest month (average high 30.7°C) and May the coolest (28.2°C).
How many months a year is Kololi over 25°C?
12 months in Kololi average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 12 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Kololi?
August is the wettest month in Kololi (263 mm on average) and March the driest (0 mm). Annual rainfall averages 664 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Kololi?
The hottest day recorded in Kololi between 1991 and 2020 reached 40.1°C on 14 April 2017; the coldest fell to 15.5°C on 20 January 1994. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest in Kololi?
September and October have the warmest sea, averaging 29°C, but both come with rain. November is a useful alternative for swimmers: the sea still averages 28°C and the month averages no rainy days, giving it a better balance of warm water and dry weather.
Which months are best if I want to avoid rain?
November through May average no rainy days. March and April stand out within that dry stretch for sunshine, while May offers warmer water. These are averages rather than a guarantee of rain-free days, but they make the dry season the more reliable choice.
Will I need a layer in the evenings?
A light layer is sensible if you feel the cold, particularly in January and February when nights average 20°C. March and April are similar at 21°C. From June through November, nights stay much warmer, so light clothing is likely to be more useful.
See also: The Gambia weather by month · where else is hot in November
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Serekunda (Serekunda (Kololi)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C