In Mali there are three types of climate: 1- the desert climate of the Sahara in the north, 2- the semi-desert climate of the Sahel in the centre, with a rainy season from June to September, and rainfall going from 100 to 600 millimetres (4 to 23.5 inches) per year, 3- the tropical climate of the savanna in the south, with a more intense and a bit longer rainy season (May and October), and rainfall exceeding 600 mm (23.5 in).



The vast northern area (zone 1 on the map), virtually lacking settlements except for a few rare oases, is occupied by the desert, and has an average temperature in January between 15 and 20 °C (59 and 68 °F), with some cold nights in the winter months (the cold records are around freezing), while in summer it's scorchingly hot.
In the extreme north-west, the climate is typical of the Sahara desert, July is the hottest month, and it almost never rains, although in the summer some cloud banks can pass and very few downpours can occur. Here are the average temperatures of Taoudenni.
Average temperatures - Taoudenni

Taoudenni	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Taoudenni	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	11	13	17	20	24	27	29	28	27	23	17	11
Max (°C)	25	29	32	36	40	44	45	43	41	37	31	26
Min (°F)	52	55	63	68	75	81	84	82	81	73	63	52
Max (°F)	77	84	90	97	104	111	113	109	106	99	88	79

More to the south, the temperature decreases slightly in July and August, because this area can more often be affected by a bit of cloudiness and some rare showers.
Here are the average temperatures of the northern city of Tessalit, located in the north-east, 500 metres (1,600 feet) above sea level.
Average temperatures - Tessalit

Tessalit	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tessalit	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	12	14	18	22	25	28	27	26	26	24	19	14
Max (°C)	27	30	32	37	40	43	42	40	40	37	33	28
Min (°F)	54	57	64	72	77	82	81	79	79	75	66	57
Max (°F)	81	86	90	99	104	109	108	104	104	99	91	82

The cloudiness and the rare showers in the summer period are caused by the extreme offshoots of the African summer monsoon, so that damp winds move inland from the Atlantic Ocean, but up here they are not felt much.
Here is the average precipitation in Tessalit.
Average precipitation - Tessalit

Tessalit	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Tessalit	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	1	0	0	0	2	5	15	30	15	1	0	0	68
Prec.(in)	0	0	0	0	0.1	0.2	0.6	1.2	0.6	0	0	0	2.7
Days	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	4	3	1	0	0	14

In Tessalit, the sun shines all year round, but in summer the hours of sunshine do not increase, or decrease slightly, even though the days are a bit longer.
Sunshine - Tessalit

Tessalit	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tessalit	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	10	10	10	11	10	9	10	9	9	10	9	9

In the intermediate central area (zone 2), the climate becomes tropical, since the average temperature in January is equal to or higher than 20 °C (68 °F), while the hottest months of the year are April, May and June, when the maximum temperature normally exceeds 40 °C (104 °F), but with peaks of 47/48 °C (117/118 °F), because then the monsoon comes, which is able to lower the temperature by a few degrees, and to bring some downpours, more intense and frequent than in the northern area. This is the area called Sahel, which stretches from west to east, south of the Sahara.
In Timbuktu (or Tombouctou), the legendary city of the past Mali Empire, 180 mm (7 in) of rain per year fall, almost all from June to September, with a maximum of 75 mm (3 in) in August.
Here is the average precipitation.
Average precipitation - Timbuktu

Timbuktu	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Timbuktu	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	1	0	0	1	5	15	55	75	30	5	0	0	183
Prec.(in)	0	0	0	0	0.2	0.6	2.2	3	1.2	0.2	0	0	7.2
Days	0	0	0	1	1	3	7	8	5	1	0	0	25

After the rainy season, in which the temperature remains high, around 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), between September and October the heat increases slightly again, with highs around 37/38 °C (99/100 °F), but with peaks over 45 °C (113 °F), and then it decreases in the winter months, between 27 and 30 °C (81 and 86 °F). These are the only non-torrid months of the year, during which the sky is usually clear, even though a wind from the north-east often blows, the Harmattan, which raises dust and sand, making the sky whitish. What allowed the development of a flourishing city such as Timbuktu over the past centuries, has not been the moderate summer rainfall, but rather the great Niger River, whose headwaters are in the mountains of Guinea, and which passes in this semi-desert area, then bends and returns to the south.
Here are the average temperatures in Timbuktu.
Average temperatures - Timbuktu

Timbuktu	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Timbuktu	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	13	15	19	23	26	27	26	25	25	23	18	14
Max (°C)	30	33	37	40	42	42	39	37	38	39	35	30
Min (°F)	55	59	66	73	79	81	79	77	77	73	64	57
Max (°F)	86	91	99	104	108	108	102	99	100	102	95	86

In Timbuktu, the sun shines all year round, however in summer the hours of sunshine diminish slightly.
Sunshine - Timbuktu

Timbuktu	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Timbuktu	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	9	9	9	8	9	8	8	8	8	9	9	8

Continuing south, the summer rains become more abundant. Already in Mopti, in the area of the "Inner Niger Delta", the rainfall amounts to 500 mm (20 in) per year.
In the southernmost area (zone 3), rainfall exceeds 600 mm (23.5 in) per year, and in the extreme south even 1,000 mm (40 in).
In the capital Bamako, the annual precipitation reaches 1,000 mm (40 in), and the rainy season becomes a little longer, with the first pre-monsoon showers already in May, a maximum of 300 mm (12 in) in August, and the last rains on early October.
Here is the average precipitation.
Average precipitation - Bamako

Bamako	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Bamako	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Y
Prec. (mm)	1	1	2	20	55	130	225	290	195	65	5	1	991
Prec.(in)	0	0	0.1	0.8	2.2	5.1	8.9	11.4	7.7	2.6	0.2	0	39
Days	0	0	1	3	6	8	17	18	15	6	0	0	74

In the southern area, the maximum temperature is lower in the summer months, because of the cloud cover and the rains, so that it hovers around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F), while in winter the southern sun raises daytime temperatures to around 33 °C (91 °F), even though the air is dry and nights are quite cool. In Bamako, the hottest month is April, with highs around 40 °C (104 °F), because already in May the temperature drops a bit, under the blows of the first thunderstorms.
Average temperatures - Bamako

Bamako	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bamako	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Min (°C)	17	20	23	25	25	24	22	22	22	21	18	17
Max (°C)	33	36	39	40	39	35	32	31	32	35	35	33
Min (°F)	63	68	73	77	77	75	72	72	72	70	64	63
Max (°F)	91	97	102	104	102	95	90	88	90	95	95	91

In Bamako, the sunshine hours in summer diminish a bit more than in the central areas, and August is the least sunny month.
Sunshine - Bamako

Bamako	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bamako	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sun (hours)	9	9	9	8	7	7	6	5	6	7	8	7

When to go

---

The best time to visit Mali is winter, from December to February. In February, the heat rises and it starts to get hot in the south, while in January the sandstorms raised by the Harmattan begin to be more frequent in the north-central, so all in all the best month is December. However, in this season the nights can be cold in the north, where the temperature may drop near freezing at night, while in Bamako and in the south it can get to around 8/10 °C (46/50 °F).

What to pack

---

In winter: light clothes for the day, long and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), desert turban for the wind-borne sand and dust, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, desert boots or sandals, sweatshirt or sweater for boat trips on the Niger River.

In summer: for the desert, lightweight clothes, of natural fabric (cotton or linen), desert turban; a sweater for the night, sleeping bag to sleep outdoors. For Bamako and the south, light clothes, umbrella or light raincoat, possibly a sweatshirt for the rain showers.
For women, it is best to avoid shorts and miniskirts.