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Bandiagara Escarpment

When to visit to Mali

The climate in Mali varies between the Sahelian (northern) and Sudanese (southern) regions.

The Sudanese regions are known to have some semi-tropical zones and a much higher average annual rainfall of approximately 55 inches compared to the Sahelian region’s 8 inches.

The greatest amount of rain falls in the area of Bamako, where rain is experienced from April to October. The peak of the rainy season occurs in August, with an average of eleven days of rain.

In the rest of the country, a maximum average of two days of rain is experienced during the rainiest months. The months of November, December, January, February, and March, on the other hand, are always completely dry.

All over Mali, the year is divided into three seasons: cool and dry between November and February, hot and dry from March until May, and a rainy season with higher humidity and lower temperature between the months of June and October.

In the highest parts of the country, such as Kidal at 459 meters above sea level, the temperature peaks in June at 42 °C (107 °F) and reaches its lowest point in January at 12 °C (54 °F). In the lowlands, such as Kayes, temperatures reach their peak in April and bottom on January, at 42 °C (107 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F) respectively.

Here are also some ethnic holidays and festivals to mark in your travel calendar:

• January: Festival-au-Desert
• February: Festival on the Niger
• April: Fête des Masques
• May: Africa Day
• July: Prophet’s Birthday
• August: Baptism of the Prophet
• September: Independence Day
• December: Crossing of the Cattle