Things to Do in Kiribati in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Kiribati
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + March lands squarely in Kiribati's wetter half of the year, and on South Tarawa that means breadfruit and pandanus along the lagoon road glow greener than they will by August. Expect frequent short downpours that cool the air to a bearable 31°C (88°F) by late afternoon before the sun returns. Pack rain gear. The showers feel good.
- + The lagoon side of Tarawa atoll stays remarkably calm in March because the prevailing wind remains lighter than in the dry trade-wind months. Flat turquoise water off Bairiki and Bonriki turns glassy enough for easy snorkeling. Channel crossings to North Tarawa by small boat are smoother. Worth it.
- + This is low season for the handful of international visitors who reach Kiribati. The few guesthouses on South Tarawa and the eco-lodges on North Tarawa's Abatao and Buota islets have space. You will often have a reef flat or a stretch of ocean-side beach entirely to yourself. Pure solitude.
- + Tuna runs strong around the Gilbert Islands in March. Fresh catch landed at the Betio fish market is at its best. A slab of just-caught yellowfin eaten raw with lime and coconut, the local te ika raw fish dish, is as good here as anywhere in the Pacific. Taste it.
- − Rain is unpredictable in March, falling across roughly 10 days of the month in heavy bursts. These downpours can turn the single causeway road linking South Tarawa's islets into a slow crawl of potholes and standing water. Any outer-island flight connection needs a buffer day. Plan ahead.
- − Kiribati is one of the hardest countries on earth to reach, with limited flights routing through Fiji or the Marshall Islands. March's wet-season weather occasionally delays the small turboprops that serve Bonriki International. A missed connection can cost you days, not hours. Bring patience.
- − Humidity hovers around 70 percent and the equatorial sun pushes the UV index to 8 even through patchy cloud. The heat feels heavier than the thermometer suggests. Midday outdoor activity is draining if you are not acclimatized. Seek shade.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°C | 25°C | 10.7 inches (272 mm) |
| Feb | 30°C | 25°C | 8.6 inches (218 mm) |
| Mar | 30°C | 25°C | 8.0 inches (203 mm) |
| Apr | 30°C | 25°C | 7.2 inches (183 mm) |
| May | 30°C | 25°C | 6.2 inches (157 mm) |
| Jun | 30°C | 25°C | 6.1 inches (155 mm) |
| Jul | 30°C | 25°C | 6.6 inches (168 mm) |
| Aug | 31°C | 25°C | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Sep | 31°C | 25°C | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
| Oct | 31°C | 25°C | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Nov | 31°C | 25°C | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Dec | 30°C | 25°C | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March's lighter winds leave the inner lagoon of Tarawa atoll calm and clear, good for drifting over the coral bommies and giant clams off the ocean side near Bikenibeu. The water sits around a bath-warm 29°C (84°F), warm enough that you barely notice slipping in. Visibility on the rain-free mornings is excellent before afternoon runoff clouds the shallows. Go early.
Betio islet, at the southwestern tip of Tarawa, holds the rusting Japanese coastal guns, pillboxes, and the wreckage left from the brutal 1943 Battle of Tarawa. March is a good month for this because the activity is mostly walking among low concrete bunkers and shoreline relics, easily paused under cover when a 20-minute downpour rolls through. The heat is intense on the exposed beach, so the cooler post-rain hours suit it best.
The string of islets running north from the airport, Abatao, Buota, and beyond, is where Kiribati slows to village pace. Thatched maneaba meeting houses and reef flats you can wade at low tide define the rhythm. March's calmer lagoon makes the small-boat crossings less choppy than in the windy dry months. The wet-season green makes the coconut groves photogenic. Bring everything you need. No shops once you leave South Tarawa.
March falls in a strong run for yellowfin and skipjack tuna around the Gilbert group. The fishing here is the real draw of the season. Drop a line off the ocean side and you feel the deep blue immediately, the reef shelf falling away within a short distance of shore. Lagoon fishing for bonefish on the flats is also excellent on the calmer March mornings when the water is mirror-flat and you can spot tailing fish.
Kiribati culture centers on the maneaba, the open-sided community meeting house with its low sweeping roof, where dancing and the haunting te kaimatoa group songs still mark community life. March's frequent rain pushes village life under these roofs, which makes it a natural time to witness performances and the te buki dance, where dancers move with sharp bird-like flicks of the arms. The smell of pandanus thatch and the rhythm of a wooden box drum stay with you.
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