Sierra Leone in July

November through April is your sweet spot – dry season means accessible roads and comfortable temperatures around 80°F. December and January are particularly lovely, with cool Harmattan winds blowing down from the Sahara. But here's what most people don't realize: each season has its perks. The rains from May to October turn everything impossibly green and fill the waterfalls. Bumbuna Falls becomes spectacular during rainy season, though getting there requires serious commitment. March and April get hot – we're talking 95°F hot – but the beaches are perfect and crowds are nonexistent. November marks the end of rains, so rivers are full but roads are passable again. If you're here for surfing, the swells are best from November to March. And look, avoiding rainy season isn't always necessary. Sure, some roads become impassable, but hotel rates drop by half and you'll have places like Tiwai Island practically to yourself.