Ouagadougou in September
Not the best time
September offers the first hints of improvement as rains start decreasing. Still challenging for travel, but you can sense the wet season beginning to break.
Weather
September maintains heavy rainfall with continued flooding risks and high humidity. The rains start becoming slightly less frequent toward month's end. Roads remain waterlogged and transportation stays difficult.
34°C high23°C low11 rain days
Crowds & Cost
low crowds
~$50/day average
Events & Festivals
- •End of rainy season ceremonies
- •Traditional harvest festivals
September Tips
- •Late September shows promise as rains begin tapering
- •Rural areas become completely inaccessible
- •Focus on city-center attractions with good drainage
All Months
November through March offers the sweet spot – dry season without the brutal heat. Temperatures hover around 25-30°C, perfect for exploring markets and outdoor concerts. This is also when FESPACO happens in odd-numbered years, transforming the entire city into Africa's film capital.
April gets hot. Really hot. We're talking 40°C+ with dust storms that'll coat everything you own in red grit. But here's the upside: accommodation prices drop, and you'll have cultural sites mostly to yourself.
The rainy season runs June through September, and while it cools things down, it also turns many roads into muddy obstacles. Some rural day trips become impossible. However, this is when the city looks greenest, and local festivals celebrate the harvest season.
Avoid December if you're not into crowds – that's when the diaspora returns home for holidays, and everything from flights to hotel rooms gets more expensive.
Ouagadougou Scores
Solo
6/10
Couples
3/10
Families
4/10
Adventure
7/10
Budget
8/10
Luxury
2/10
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