When to Visit São Tomé
Climate guide & best times to travel
Best Time to Visit
Recommended timing for different travel styles.
What to Pack
Essentials and seasonal recommendations for São Tomé.
Interactive checklist with shopping links for every item you need.
View São Tomé Packing List →Month-by-Month Guide
Climate conditions and crowd levels for each month of the year.
January brings temperatures peaking around 29°C (84°F) with lows around 22°C (72°F). Rainfall of roughly 81mm produces regular afternoon showers. Rarely the sustained downpours that define March.
February is marginally wetter at 84mm. Temperatures stay much the same. This month tends to see some of the year's most dramatic cloud formations over the central peaks.
March is the wettest reliable month São Tomé gets. Around 132mm of rain and high temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F). The heat combined with frequent showers gives the air a thick, tropical quality. The forest is exceptional.
April remains in the wet season with 122mm of rainfall and highs of 30°C (86°F). The showers often clear by mid-afternoon. The evenings can be pleasant.
May marks the tail end of the long rains. 112mm typically falls but the frequency of showers starts to ease. Temperatures nudge back to 29°C (84°F). A reasonable month for travelers who want the green landscape without the peak March rainfall.
June is a genuine transition month. Rainfall drops sharply to around 18mm. Highs ease to 28°C (82°F) and lows to 21°C (70°F). The trade winds begin asserting themselves. For many visitors this is when São Tomé starts to feel noticeably more comfortable.
July is as dry as it gets. Essentially no recorded rainfall and highs around 27°C (81°F). The coolest month of the year, which in equatorial terms still means warm but not oppressive.
August matches July almost exactly in temperature and rainfall. The other peak month. The beaches are at their most reliably clear and the sea conditions tend to be calm on the calmer-water coasts.
September sees the Gravana beginning to wind down. A little rain returns (around 18mm). Temperatures creep back up to 28°C (83°F). The winds are still present and conditions remain good.
October is the beginning of the short rainy season. 109mm of rainfall returning and temperatures sitting around 28°C (83°F) at the high end. The showers are frequent but the island has a lush energy to it.
November brings similar conditions at 99mm of rain and highs around 29°C (84°F). It tends to be a quiet month that rewards patience with the weather.
December rounds out the year with 109mm of rainfall and temperatures at 29°C (84°F). The period around the holidays brings a noticeable uptick in visitors and prices. Outside of that window, the month is relatively low-key.
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