Best Time to Visit Sokoto

November to February: dry and comfortable

This is the best stretch for most trips. Days are warm and dry, and the sun is out nearly all day. October is a good month too, as the rains fade and the air is still fairly soft. Our comfort score favours October and December to January, though November is just as pleasant.

Nights get properly cool in December and January, with lows around 15°C. You'll want a light jacket for evenings in the old city. This is also the Harmattan season, when dusty wind blows in from the Sahara. Skies can turn hazy and your throat may feel dry, so don't expect crisp views from the Sultan Bello Mosque area.

This is the time for walking around the old city. You can visit the Sultan's palace area, the Shehu Usman dan Fodio tomb and the Sokoto Central Market without wilting. If you hate crowds, you'll find Sokoto quiet all year. It's not a mass-tourism place, so there's no true high season.

March to May: the hot squeeze

Be honest with yourself here. April is the hottest month, with highs of 41°C and warm nights that don't cool much. March and May are close behind at 39°C. Afternoons are for staying indoors, and sightseeing only works early or after sunset.

Dust storms and the first thunderstorms can arrive late in the season. If you must travel now, keep your plans short and slow.

June to September: the rains

The rains run from June to September, and August is the wettest month, with rain on 28 days. Humidity is high and skies are grey. Roads can flood, and travel outside the city gets slow. On the plus side, the land turns green and the heat eases, with highs around 30°C in August.

This is the quietest time to visit, but it's the hardest for getting around. Pick it only if you're visiting family or have a reason to see the farms in bloom.

Festivals and events

Sokoto is a major centre of Islam in Nigeria, so the calendar follows the Islamic one and the dates move each year. Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha bring prayers, family visits and durbar-style horse displays in northern Nigeria. Check the dates before you book, as these days can fill hotels and close shops.