Best Time to Visit Freetown

Dry season: November to April

This is the time to come. From December to February you get clear days, almost no rain and sun for most of the day. January is the driest month, with no rain at all in the data. December and January also score best for comfort.

Expect heat, though. By March and April the highs reach 32°C and nights stay warm, so afternoons on the city's hilly streets feel slow and sticky. The beaches are the reward. Lumley, Aberdeen and Tokeh are lovely now, and River Number Two, south of the city, is at its best with clear skies. Tokeh and Bureh Beach are good for a weekend away.

Between December and February the harmattan can blow in. It's a dusty wind from the Sahara that makes the sky hazy. It's usually lighter here than in northern West Africa, but it can dull views from Leicester Peak or Mount Aureol.

Rainy season: May to October

Don't underestimate it. July and August are the wettest months, with rain on nearly every day. August has 30 rainy days and July has 29. Freetown sits between the hills and the sea, so storms can be heavy and roads can flood. The sun barely shows, and the air is very humid.

The upside is green hills and very few visitors. If you're here for work, family or volunteering, it's manageable. Boat trips to Banana Islands or Bunce Island, the old slave fort in the river, can be cancelled when the water is rough. For beaches and hiking, skip these months.

May and October are the shoulder months. They're wet, but with fewer rainy days than mid-season. That makes them a little easier if you can't travel at other times.

Crowds, events and what to choose

High season runs from December to February. Many Sierra Leoneans living abroad come home for Christmas and New Year, so flights fill up and beach spots like Tokeh get lively. Christmas and New Year bring street parties, music and big family gatherings. Easter weekend is also a big beach day for locals, usually in April.

Want sunshine with fewer people? Go in November or March. November still sees some showers, but they clear quickly. Travelling for beaches? Choose December to February. Planning city walks around Cotton Tree, Fourah Bay and the National Museum? Go early in the dry season, before the March heat builds.