What is the best time to visit Mali?

Best Time to Visit Mali

The best time to travel to Mali is during the dry season (November to February) and the hot season (March to May).

Dry Season in Mali

The dry season in Mali is characterized by sunny days and cool nights. The temperatures are mild, ranging from an average of 25°C (77°F) during the day to 13°C (55°F) at night. This is the ideal time to explore the country’s many attractions, such as the ancient city of Timbuktu and the Dogon villages. Visitors can also enjoy the vibrant cultural festivals taking place throughout the season, such as the Festival au Desert in January.

Hot Season in Mali

The hot season in Mali is characterized by high temperatures and little rainfall. The average temperature during the day is around 38°C (100°F), while the nights are still warm at an average of 24°C (75°F). This is the ideal time for outdoor activities such as bird watching and hiking. Visitors can also explore the country’s many national parks, such as the W National Park and the Boucle du Baoulé National Park.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Mali

Mali in January

Weather

January in Mali is generally hot and dry, with temperatures averaging around 30°C (86°F). Rainfall is rare in the north, but more common in the south.

Events

• The International Festival of the Sahara is held in Timbuktu in late January. This event celebrates the culture and history of the Sahara Desert region.
• The Festival of the Bambara Empire is held in Segou in late January. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the Bambara Empire.
• The Festival of the Dogon is held in Bandiagara in late January. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the Dogon people.
• The Festival of the Songhai Empire is held in Gao in late January. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the Songhai Empire.
• The Festival of the Tuareg is held in Kidal in late January. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the Tuareg people.

Mali in January

Weather

January is the coldest month in Mali. Temperatures range from 15-30°C (59-86°F) during the day and can drop to as low as 5°C (41°F) at night. Rainfall is very rare in January, but the occasional thunderstorm can occur.

Events

• The Festival in the Desert is an annual music festival held in January in the Sahara Desert near Timbuktu. The festival celebrates traditional Tuareg music and culture, and features performances by local and international musicians.
• The Festival of Tabaski is an important Muslim holiday celebrated in Mali in January. The holiday marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is celebrated with prayer, feasting, and the sacrifice of a sheep or other animal.
• The Festival of the Dogon is an annual festival held in January in the Dogon region of Mali. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Dogon people, and features traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Camel is an annual festival held in January in the desert regions of Mali. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the nomadic Tuareg people, and features camel races, traditional music and dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Niger is an annual festival held in January in Bamako, the capital city of Mali. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Malian people, and features traditional music, dance, and art.

Mali in March

Weather

March in Mali is the start of the dry season and temperatures begin to rise. The average temperature is around 28°C (82°F) and the average rainfall is around 20mm (0.8in).

Events

• International Women’s Day (March 8th): This is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to raise awareness of gender inequality.
• Festival au Desert (March 11th-13th): This is a music festival held in the desert near Timbuktu. It brings together musicians from all over the world to celebrate the culture of the Sahara.
• Tabaski (March 21st): This is an important Muslim holiday which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It is celebrated with feasts and prayers.
• Festival of the Dogon (March 28th-April 2nd): This is an annual festival held in the Dogon region of Mali. It celebrates the culture of the Dogon people with traditional music, dancing, and storytelling.
• Independence Day (March 22nd): This is the day that Mali celebrates its independence from France in 1960. There are parades and celebrations throughout the country.

Mali in April

Weather

April is the hottest month of the year in Mali, with temperatures reaching up to 38°C (100°F) in some areas. Rainfall is minimal, with the average amount of precipitation being only 0.2 inches (5.1 mm).

Events

• The International Festival of African Music and Culture (FESPAM) takes place in Bamako, Mali’s capital city. This festival celebrates the music, dance, and culture of African nations, and is attended by thousands of people each year.
• The Festival of Tabaski (also known as Eid al-Adha) is a major Islamic holiday celebrated in Mali. It is a time of prayer, feasting, and gift-giving.
• The annual Timbuktu Festival is held in April, and celebrates the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage. This festival features music, dance, and traditional crafts from the region.
• The Festival of the Sahara is a three-day event that takes place in the desert town of Timbuktu. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Tuareg people, and includes camel racing and traditional music and dance.
• The Festival of the Dances of the Dogon is held in April in the town of Bandiagara. This festival celebrates the traditional dances of the Dogon people, and features performances by local musicians and dancers.

Mali in May

Weather

May is the beginning of the dry season in Mali, with temperatures ranging from 17-35°C (63-95°F). Rainfall is low, and humidity is low to moderate.

Events

• The Festival of the Desert is a major event held in Essakane, near Timbuktu. This festival celebrates the Tuareg culture and includes music, dancing, and traditional sports.
• The Festival of the Dances of the Dogon is held in Bandiagara. This festival celebrates the Dogon culture and includes traditional music, dance, and theater performances.
• The Festival of the Great Mosque of Djenné is held in Djenné. This festival celebrates the Great Mosque of Djenné, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and includes traditional music, dance, and theater performances.
• The Festival of the Baobab Tree is held in San. This festival celebrates the baobab tree, a symbol of Mali, and includes traditional music, dance, and theater performances.
• The Festival of the Niger River is held in Mopti. This festival celebrates the Niger River and includes traditional music, dance, and theater performances.

Mali in June

Weather

June in Mali is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 25°C (77°F) to 40°C (104°F). The humidity is low, with an average of around 40%.

Events

• The Festival au Désert is a music and cultural festival held in Essakane, Mali. It is held in the first week of June and features traditional Tuareg music, as well as a variety of international acts.
• The Festival sur le Niger is a week-long cultural festival held in Segou, Mali. It features traditional music and dance, as well as art and craft exhibitions.
• The Festival International de Musique de Bamako is a five-day music festival held in Bamako, Mali. It features a variety of traditional and contemporary music from Mali and around the world.
• The Festival International de la Culture du Sahel is a three-day festival held in Timbuktu, Mali. It features traditional music, dance, and art from the region.
• The Festival International de Jazz de Bamako is a five-day jazz festival held in Bamako, Mali. It features a variety of jazz musicians from Mali and around the world.

Mali in July

Weather

July is a hot month in Mali, with temperatures ranging from a low of 22°C (72°F) to a high of 38°C (100°F). Rainfall is moderate, with an average of 10-15 days of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• Festival au Désert: This annual music festival takes place in Essakane, near Timbuktu, and features performances by both regional and international musicians. It is held in the first week of July.
• Tabaski: Also known as Eid al-Adha, this Islamic holiday is celebrated in Mali on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Tabaski is a time of prayer and celebration, and is marked by the sacrifice of a sheep.
• Independence Day: Mali celebrates its independence from France on July 22nd. This day is marked by parades, fireworks, and other festivities in the capital city of Bamako.
• Festival International de la Bande Dessinée: This comic book festival is held in Bamako and features workshops, exhibitions, and performances by local and international comic book artists. It takes place in the last week of July.
• Festival International de la Culture: This annual festival is held in Bamako and celebrates the culture and heritage of Mali. It features traditional music and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions and workshops.

Mali in August

Weather

August in Mali is typically hot and dry. Temperatures range from the mid-90s Fahrenheit during the day to the mid-70s Fahrenheit at night. Rainfall is minimal, with an average of only 0.2 inches.

Events

• The Festival of the Tabaski is held on August 21st. This festival celebrates the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is marked by the sacrifice of a sheep or goat.
• The Festival of the Korite is held on August 20th. This festival marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with family gatherings and feasts.
• The Festival of the Tabaski is held on August 21st. This festival celebrates the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is marked by the sacrifice of a sheep or goat.
• The Festival of the Tabaski is held on August 21st. This festival celebrates the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is marked by the sacrifice of a sheep or goat.
• The Festival of the Tabaski is held on August 21st. This festival celebrates the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is marked by the sacrifice of a sheep or goat.

Mali in September

Weather

September in Mali is the start of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F). Humidity is low.

Events

• The Festival of the Desert is held in Essakane, and is a celebration of Malian culture and music.
• The Festival of the Horse is held in Nema, and is a celebration of the traditional horse-riding culture of the area.
• The Festival of the Camel is held in Timbuktu, and is a celebration of the traditional camel-riding culture of the area.
• The Festival of the Peanut is held in Kayes, and is a celebration of the peanut-producing culture of the area.
• The Festival of the Baobab is held in Mopti, and is a celebration of the baobab-producing culture of the area.

Mali in October

Weather

October is the start of the dry season in Mali. Temperatures during this month range from 25-35°C (77-95°F). Rainfall is minimal, with only a few days of light showers.

Events

• The Festival International de Musique de Tombouctou is an annual festival held in Timbuktu. It celebrates the traditional music of the region, with concerts, workshops, and other activities.
• The Festival du Desert is an annual music festival held in Essakane. It celebrates the culture and music of the Tuareg people, and attracts performers from around the world.
• The Festival International du Film de Bamako is an annual film festival held in Bamako. It showcases films from around the world, with a focus on African films.
• The Festival International du Sahel is an annual cultural festival held in Bamako. It celebrates the culture and traditions of the Sahel region, with music, dance, and other activities.
• The Festival International de la Culture de Mopti is an annual cultural festival held in Mopti. It celebrates the culture and traditions of the region, with music, dance, and other activities.

Mali in November

Weather

November in Mali is generally hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius (77-93 Fahrenheit). Rainfall is rare, with only a few days of light precipitation.

Events

• The National Festival of Malian Music takes place in Bamako, the capital of Mali, in November. It is a celebration of Malian music and culture, with performances from local and international artists.
• The Festival of the Desert is held in Essakane, Mali in November. It is a celebration of Tuareg culture, with traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Dogon is held in Bandiagara, Mali in November. It is a celebration of Dogon culture, with traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Peul is held in Mopti, Mali in November. It is a celebration of Peul culture, with traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Festival of the Songhai is held in Timbuktu, Mali in November. It is a celebration of Songhai culture, with traditional music, dance, and art.

Mali in December

Weather

December in Mali is hot and dry. Temperatures average around 28-30°C (82-86°F) during the day, and drop to around 18-20°C (64-68°F) at night. Rainfall is rare during this month.

Events

• The Festival of Timbuktu is held in December. This festival celebrates the cultural heritage of the city, and includes traditional music, dance, and storytelling.
• In December, the Festival of the Camel is held in the Sahara Desert. This festival celebrates the importance of the camel to the Tuareg people, and includes traditional music, camel races, and other activities.
• The Festival of the Sun is held in December. This festival celebrates the sun as a symbol of life and fertility, and includes traditional music, dancing, and storytelling.
• The Festival of the Mask is held in December. This festival celebrates the traditional masks of the Dogon people, and includes traditional music, dancing, and mask-making.
• The Festival of the Harvest is held in December. This festival celebrates the end of the harvest season, and includes traditional music, dancing, and feasting.