Weather in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast has a tropical climate with two rainy seasons in the south and a single dry-wet cycle in the north, making timing important for a comfortable visit. The best time to visit the south and Abidjan is during the long dry season from November to March, when humidity drops, temperatures are a manageable 27–32°C, and roads are accessible throughout the country. This is also when the harmattan — a dry, haze-laden wind from the Sahara — brings cooler nights to the interior, and when the Fêtes des Masques festival season peaks in the Bété and Wê communities of western Ivory Coast with spectacular masked dance ceremonies.

The north of the country, including Korhogo and the Senufo cultural heartland, is best visited between November and February, before the extreme heat of the dry season (March–May) when temperatures can exceed 40°C and the landscape becomes parched. Travellers interested in wildlife should note that the rainforests of Taï National Park are more accessible during the dry season, though a 4WD vehicle is essential year-round on the park's dirt tracks. April and May see the first rains arrive in the south, briefly reviving the landscape before the heavy rains of June and July make some rural routes impassable.