Niokolo-Koba National Park Parc national du Niokolo-Koba
Senegal UNESCO World Heritage Site
Niokolo-Koba National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve in the Kedougou and Tambacounda regions of Senegal. Covering 9,130 square kilometers, it is one of the most looked-up sights in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The dry season, lasting from November through April, is the most suitable time to visit. During these months, rainfall is minimal or non-existent, and temperatures range from highs of 35 °C to 40 °C. The rainy season, which begins in May and peaks between June and October, brings significant precipitation, with August recording rain on about 30 days. Temperatures are generally lower during the wettest months, with highs around 30 °C to 31 °C.
The park is located 539 kilometers from Dakar. The nearest airport is Kayes Dag Dag Airport in Mali, 212 kilometers away, while Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau is 344 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 41 °C. The wettest is August, with about 281 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 35 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 40 | 36 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 35 |
| Average low, °C | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| Rainfall, mm | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 114 | 210 | 281 | 221 | 64 | 4 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
