The Short Dry Season—Another Best Time to See Mountain Gorillas
The short dry period is another good time to go to Rwanda. This runs from December to February. During this period, less rainfall is received, which hardly affects tourist activities.
Weather in December
The weather in Rwanda in December is usually warm, with precipitation levels that range from moderate to high. Temperature in different regions of Rwanda may differ, but the average temperature ranges from 22°C to 27°C during the day and from 16°C to 17°C at night.
Visiting Rwanda in December is considered one of the best times for fascinating tourist activities, which may include chimpanzee trekking, gorilla tracking, game drives, birding, and tracking golden monkeys in the Virunga Mountains, among others.
Expect prices of safaris and other itineraries to be higher because the month is considered to be part of the peak time.
Consider booking your safari to Rwanda in advance, before the peak time when prices go high.
Weather in January
January is another good time to visit Rwanda. The average temperature during the day in this month is warm, ranging from 22°C in Gisenyi to 28°C in Rwamagana, with the night being cool when temperatures generally drop to 18°C in Rwamagana and 16°C in Gisenyi.
The medium-altitude regions like Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, and Kigali are hot during the day and cool in the evening. Low-lying regions are hot during the day and warm at night.
It is the best time to enjoy the views of stunning scenery, like the rolling hills of this beautiful country. Clear blue skies make photography, gorilla tracking, game drives, hiking, and other activities possible.
As you start planning your Rwanda safari, please ensure you book in advance to avoid the higher prices of the peak season.
Weather in February in Rwanda
February is another opportunity and the best time for a safari in Rwanda. It marks the end of the short rainy season that starts in December.
The average temperature ranges from 23°C to 28°C during the day and 13°C to 18°C at night. Rwanda experiences moderate sunshine of about 119 hours, especially in Kigali, the capital city.
Just like in January, areas of high- and medium-altitude regions like Akagera National Park, Volcanoes NP, lake Kivu, Kigali, and Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda are hot during the day and cool at night.
Visiting Rwanda in February is the best time to track chimpanzees, do gorilla tracking, take nature walks, go birding, and do Nyungwe forest canopy walks, among others.
Why wait? Book your Rwanda safari now for an unforgettable safari experience.
The Long Rainy Season in Rwanda
The long rains arrive in March and they continue up to mid May. The wettest month in this season is April, when it rains almost every day. The heavy rains this season always make roads muddy, thereby affecting some of the tourist activities, especially in Rwanda national parks.
Weather in March
March marks the beginning of the long rainy season in Rwanda. During this month, the county receives an average temperature of about 18.0°C to 27.0°C. Rwanda experiences about 20 days of rainfall with a total of about 118mm and 5 hours of sunshine per day.
There aren’t many places to visit during this period due to too much rainfall, which makes most routes leading to the parks muddy and hard to navigate.
Some other best places to visit in March are genocide memorial sites, Kigali and other cities, national parks like Volcanoes NP, Nyungwe National Park, city malls, art galleries like Niyo Art Center, and museums like the King’s Palace Museum that will introduce you to Rwandan culture and its natural history, among other places.
Visiting Rwanda in March is a great time for enjoying activities like shopping at the market, enjoying the city life in the city recreation centers, tasting Rwanda’s local food, and attending different cultural performances, among others.
Good quality rain gear is needed to hike through the dense forests during the rain downpours in March.
Book now for a memorable safari in Rwanda. March is one of the best times to tour around Rwanda, especially for low-budget travelers, since it is the low season.
Weather in April in Rwanda
April is the wettest month of the year in Rwanda. The country receives high temperatures of around 78°F, falling below 73°F. The daily low temperatures are around 63°F, falling below 60°F.
The heavy rains greatly contribute to lush green landscapes. The grasses that grow tall during this month make animal spottings difficult due to too much foliage.
Visiting Rwanda in April should be done when there are indoor activities; however, those with good quality rain gear can still engage in some other activities, like gorilla tracking to see gorillas in their natural habitat.
Contact our safari experts to help you plan your April safari in Rwanda.
Weather in May in Rwanda
May marks the end of the long wet season in Rwanda. The county receives temperatures ranging from 21 °C (70°F) during the day and can drop to as low as 16 °C (61°F).
Rwanda receives heavy rains; the rains begin to ease in mid-month, as the country prepares for the long dry season that runs from June to September. The vegetation is still lush, and newborn animals can be seen in
Indoor activities are still the best options during this month. However, some outdoor activities can still be done; these may include bird watching, photography, and sports like kayaking and rafting, among others. You can also explore cultural and historical hubs such as genocide sites and museums.
Visiting Rwanda in this wet season, some travelers can trek through the rainforests to see wildlife, though it is not the perfect time like in the dry season. These rainforests are wet all year round, and the rainy season can mean daily downpours.
Book your Rwanda tour now for a memorable safari experience.
The Long Dry Season—The Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
This runs from June to September. During this time, Rwanda experiences more sunshine with very little or no rainfall, especially in the middle of this dry period. It is the perfect weather for tourists to travel to Rwanda.
Many popular locations like Kigali and Akagera NP rarely receive rainfall.
This long dry period coincides with Europe and summer holidays. This makes the dry period the best time to visit Rwanda for its unique attractions, like the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
This season offers better hiking conditions, enabling travelers to trek through the dense rainforests for animal sightings.
Weather In June in Rwanda—Known for The Annual Kwita Izina Ceremony (Naming of Young Gorillas)
June marks the beginning of the long dry season in Rwanda. It’s one of the best times to go to Rwanda. During this time, Rwanda experiences hot temperatures ranging from 22°C to 27°C during the day and dropping to 21°C to 16°C at night.
It is during this month that Rwanda hosts its annual Kwita Izina Ceremony, which involves the naming of all gorillas that were born in the previous 12 months. Through this ceremony, the government of Rwanda appreciates research partners, communities around the Volcanoes National Park, and vets, rangers, and trackers.
Among the places to visit are Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, Gishwati Mukura NP, and museums like Khant House Museum that showcase the country’s natural history, genocide sites, and art galleries, among others.
Embarking on a Rwanda trip in June is another opportunity for enjoying activities like chimpanzee trekking, mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, wildlife spotting, birding, tracking golden monkeys in the Virunga Mountains, sport fishing, city tours, among others.
Book a visit to Rwanda for a wildlife experience and also immerse yourself in Rwanda’s rich culture.
Weather in July
July is another good time to visit Rwanda. There are hot temperatures, ranging from 22°C in Gisenyi to 28°C in Rwamagana during the day. At night, the temperatures fall to 17°C in Rwamagana and 16°C in Gisenyi.
There are about 248 hours of sunshine, a condition that favors all tourist activities. The brighter days favor activities like mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey tracking, game drives, birding, and beach tours, among other activities.
Popular tourist places to visit when on a Rwandan safari in July include Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, museums, and art galleries, among other places.
The high tourist crowds in many tourist destinations make prices for gorilla permits and other related packages go high.
Book your safari to Rwanda in advance when the prices are still low, before July, which is part of the peak season, when prices rise. Do not miss out most interesting things to do, like gorilla trekking.
Weather in August
August is another good time to visit Rwanda when it experiences the driest weather. During this time, little or no rainfall is received. Popular locations like Kigali and Akagera National Park Rwanda do not receive rainfall, a condition that eases tourist activities in those areas.
The subtropical temperatures are at their hottest during the summer, with an average between 21.11°C and 26.67°C. In some cases, these temperatures can get cooler in Rwanda’s mountainous regions.
The August weather in Rwanda coincides with the summer holidays in Europe. This offers the best time to visit the country for Rwanda gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, spotting other wildlife in Nyungwe forest national park, canopy walks, cultural tours, city tours, game drives, nature walks, visiting the Kigali genocide memorial, and more.
Since August is also a peak travel time, make your booking earlier before prices are hiked.
Weather in September
September is another popular time to tour Rwanda. Daily temperatures experienced are around 77°F to 82°F, and they rarely fall to 63°F.
There is a chance of downpours, especially in the rainforests, although these occurrences are minimal. Popular places to visit include Volcanoes NP, Nyungwe NP, Akagera NP, genocide memorial sites, art galleries, and the national museum of Rwanda, among others.
Visiting Rwanda in September is the best time for mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trails in the Virunga Mountains, spotting other wildlife in their natural habitat, beach tours, city tours, cultural tours, and visiting the Genocide Museum in Kigali, among others.
Since September marks the end of the peak season in Rwanda, many tour operators and hotel owners tend to raise prices to make a lot of profits before the season sets.
Start planning now, so as not to miss out on unforgettable Rwanda safaris.
The Short Rainy Season in Rwanda
The short rainy season in Rwanda normally runs from mid September to November; however, serious rain downpours begin in October.
Weather in October
If you start planning to travel to Rwanda in October, you have to be curious about the weather in Rwanda in October. expect short rain downpours that may slightly affect tourist activities. Low temperatures go up to 16 °C and the high may rise to 26 °C.
Rwanda expects 15 to 22 days of rain with about 339 mm of rainfall. There are about 9 to 11 days of sunshine with about 11.4 hours of sunshine.
The weather conditions in October mostly favor indoor tourist activities, with few outdoor activities.
Treks to see mountain gorillas can be done, and a visit to Rwanda outside of these optimum times of the year is possible, though it may be difficult to hike the steep and muddy hiking paths.
The short rains in these months clear to reveal blue skies, creating an excellent opportunity for photographers, birders, and cultural enthusiasts, among others, in this beautiful nation.
Start planning now for a Rwanda trip to take advantage of low costs on gorilla permits, hotels, and lodges since there are fewer tourist crowds, though the rain may delay you in some activities.
Weather in November in Rwanda
November is another popular time to tour Rwanda. Temperatures range from 15 °C to 25°C. In November, Rwanda expects 15 to 22 days of rain with about 335mm of rainfall, 10 days of dry weather, and around 11.1 hours of sunshine.
The weather conditions in November also favor many of the indoor activities, and the few days of dry weather will also favor open-air activities.
Some of the things to do include bird watching, photography, city tours, water sports, attending cultural performances, and tasting Rwanda’s local food, among other activities.
Note that the two rainy seasons are the optimum times for chimpanzee tracking.
As you plan for your trip in November, make sure you pack a rain jacket since there are abrupt rain pours.
When Is the Best Time to Go to Rwanda? FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Which Month Is Best for Rwanda? | What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Kigali, Rwanda?
The best months to take a tour to Rwanda are June to September (the long dry season) and December to February (the shorter). It favors most tourist activities, including mountain gorilla trekking.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Kigali, Rwanda?
The best time to visit Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is during the dry season, which is from June to September and December to February.
What Is the Rainy Season in Rwanda?
The rainy season in Rwanda is split into the long rainy season that runs from March to May and the shorter one from October to November.
How Many Days Are Enough for Rwanda?
For a Rwanda tour, 10 days can be enough; however, the number of days to spend in Rwanda may also depend on the number of activities that one wants to do.
What Is the Best Time to See Gorillas in Rwanda?
The best time to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda is during the two dry seasons, that is, June-September (long dry season) and December-February (short dry season).
Is It Safe for US Citizens to Travel to Rwanda?
It is safe for US citizens to travel to Rwanda since it is politically stable. It was recently ranked as the second safest nation in Africa by the Gallup Global Law and Order Report.
The dry season remains the best time to visit Rwanda to enjoy the different activities that it offers; however, this time may vary depending on one’s free time and the activity to engage in. Different activities are done at different times.
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