Brunei Weather, climate and geography

Weather & climate

Brunei's climate is hot and humid. Average annual rainfall is about 2500mm along the coast and over 4000mm in the jungle-cloaked hills of the interior. The wettest months are October, November and December, when average rainfall is over 300mm, while the driest are February and March, when average rainfall is about 130mm. November has the most rainy days, while February and March have the fewest.

Temperatures are amazingly constant. The average daily highs ranges from 30°C in December and January to 32°C from April to August. The average overnight low stays in an even narrower range, from 22°C to 23°C, all year long.

Best time to visit

There is no good or bad season to visit Brunei. You are likely to encounter warm, humid weather and at least some precipitation whenever you come, so whether you're coming for the shopping, the rain forests or the beaches, it's a good idea to bring along lightweight rain gear.

Required clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens. Waterproofing is advisable all year.

Geography

Brunei is on the northern coast of Borneo, the world's third-largest island, just 443km (277 miles) north of the equator. All its land borders are with the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which splits Brunei into two parts. The landscape is mainly pristine equatorial jungle drained by small rivers. Most settlements are situated along estuaries. There are four districts: Brunei-Muara (the capital district), Tutong and Belait (the centre of oil and gas exploitation), in the western part of the country; and non-contiguous, heavily forested Temburong, in the east. The islands in Brunei Bay fall within the Brunei-Muara or Temburong districts.

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.