AI-generatedMbandaka at a glance
- Best time
- Jan, Jun – Nov
- Warmest month
- Feb · 33°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,030 h
- Rain a year
- 1,599 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Elevation
- 315 m
Climate in Mbandaka
Mbandaka has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. February is the warmest month with average highs of 33 °C, while September is the coolest at 30 °C. With around 2,030 hours of sunshine a year, Mbandaka is moderately sunny; January is the sunniest month with 6.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Mbandaka
The best time to visit Mbandaka is in January and from June to November. The wettest month is October with 204 mm of precipitation.
Mbandaka through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Mbandaka in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 63 rainy days in all
Mbandaka in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 31 °C by day
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 54 rainy days in all
Mbandaka in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 30–31 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 76 rainy days in all
Mbandaka in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 31–33 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 47 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Mbandaka for you.
Your best months: August – October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: January, June – November
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 30°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 24°
05:2917:36
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:16–05:57 · evening 17:08–17:49
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:08–05:16 · evening 17:49–17:57
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Mbandaka compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs stay at about 30° from start to end.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 30° | 30° |
| Night-time low | 22° | 22° |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | 12.1 h |
What is the weather like in Mbandaka in October?
In October, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 204 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 7 min05:29 – 17:36
- UV index
- 15 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 8 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 81 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 19 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %59 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %30 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Mbandaka
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and June bring similar holiday weather to Mbandaka (score 35 and 38). In June, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. June has 10 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 35 | 38 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 31° |
| Night-time low | 22° | 23° |
| Sunshine | 4.8 h | 6.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 26 | 16better |
| Rainfall | 204 mm | 89 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 30better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Mbandaka month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
36January33° · 6.2 h
In January, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 76 mm in total. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in January32February33° · 6.0 h
In February, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 6.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 107 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka.
Mbandaka in February25March32° · 5.7 h
In March, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 20 days, adding up to 145 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka.
Mbandaka in March27April32° · 5.4 h
In April, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. Expect around 5.4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 154 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka.
Mbandaka in April29May32° · 5.6 h
In May, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 21 days, adding up to 127 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka.
Mbandaka in May38June31° · 6.0 h
In June, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 6.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 89 mm. On about 24 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in June38July31° · 6.0 h
In July, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 6.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 80 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in July35August31° · 5.5 h
In August, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 144 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in August36September30° · 4.9 h
In September, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 186 mm. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in September35October30° · 4.8 h
In October, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 204 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in October34November31° · 4.9 h
In November, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 179 mm. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka – and yet one of the best months here.
Mbandaka in November32December31° · 5.8 h
In December, Mbandaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 110 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Mbandaka.
Mbandaka in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Mbandaka
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (15+ muggy days)
WarmOctober: nights around 22°. Tropical nights: a fan or air conditioning helps. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in September (22°), the warmest in March (24°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) all year, on about 364 days a year.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 36 | 33° | 23° | 6.2 h | 14 | 76 |
| FebruaryFeb | 32 | 33° | 24° | 6.0 h | 15 | 107 |
| MarchMar | 25 | 32° | 24° | 5.7 h | 20 | 145 |
| AprilApr | 27 | 32° | 24° | 5.4 h | 22 | 154 |
| MayMay | 29 | 32° | 23° | 5.6 h | 21 | 127 |
| JuneJun | 38 | 31° | 23° | 6.0 h | 16 | 89 |
| JulyJul | 38 | 31° | 22° | 6.0 h | 16 | 80 |
| AugustAug | 35 | 31° | 22° | 5.5 h | 22 | 144 |
| SeptemberSep | 36 | 30° | 22° | 4.9 h | 26 | 186 |
| OctoberOct | 35 | 30° | 22° | 4.8 h | 26 | 204 |
| NovemberNov | 34 | 31° | 22° | 4.9 h | 24 | 179 |
| DecemberDec | 32 | 31° | 23° | 5.8 h | 19 | 110 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
0.05° N, 18.26° E · 315 m · Africa/Kinshasa
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Mbandaka
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.8 of 12.1 hours of daylight in Mbandaka, 40 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Mbandaka: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Mbandaka has about 26 rainy days with 204 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Mbandaka
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 15 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in March (UV 15).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Mbandaka
How breezy and how cloudy Mbandaka is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Mbandaka typically peaks at 8 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 81 % of the sky over Mbandaka: mostly overcast, with about 4.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat & humidity
Heat and humidity in Mbandaka
How often the day gets hot in Mbandaka (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Mbandaka has about 19 hot days, with an average daytime high of 30 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Planning a trip to Mbandaka
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Mbandaka in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Mbandaka has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 36) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 26).
- 26
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 31
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 36
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
PoorBest holidays
- 31 °C by day
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 20 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 35
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 30 °C by day
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 34
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 32 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h 40 min
- Distance
- 5,980 km
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: DR Congo
- Currency
- Congolese Franc (CDF)
- Language
- French
- Sockets
- Type C, D, E · 220 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the right
- Dialling code
- +243
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Mbandaka compared
Put Mbandaka side by side with another destination.
Mbandaka vs Bangui
In October Mbandaka has the better holiday weather (score 35 vs 30). During the day Bangui is 2 °C warmer than Mbandaka.
| in October | Mbandaka | Bangui |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 35 | 30 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 32° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 26 | 24 |
| Best time | Jan, Jun – Nov | Dec |
Through the year
Best places in the country
DR Congo in October: the best places
In October, Mbandaka ranks 5 of 9 destinations in this country.
- Lubumbashi33°59
- 2Bukavu26°56
- 3Goma24°55
- 4Matadi30°40
- 5MbandakaThis page30°35
- 6Gbadolite31°34
- 7Kisangani30°34
- 8Mbuji-Mayi31°30
Places nearby
Near Mbandaka
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Mbandaka
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Mbandaka's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Mbandaka
When is the best time to visit Mbandaka?
The best time to visit Mbandaka is in January and from June to November. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Mbandaka?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 24 °C. September is the coolest month at 30 °C.
When does it rain most in Mbandaka?
The wettest month is October with 204 mm of precipitation. The driest month is January with 76 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Mbandaka get?
Mbandaka gets around 2,030 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 6.2 hours a day; in October there are 4.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Mbandaka in?
Mbandaka is on UTC+1 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Mbandaka?
A nonstop flight from London to Mbandaka takes about 7 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 5,980 km.
Which school holidays are best for Mbandaka?
Mbandaka has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 36) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 26). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 26, May half-term 31, summer holidays 36, October half-term 35, Christmas holidays 34.