When to visit Rwanda

January is part of the first dry period running from mid-December and continuing throughout the whole of January, and into February, and a great time for gorilla trekking. The climate in Rwanda is very similar all year round however it may differ depending upon which area you are staying in. During the two dry seasons there is often light clouds across the country which offers refreshingly, light rainfall as well as being able to moderate the temperature. You can expect fairly dry terrain, but being in the Virunga’s, weather can be a little unpredictable, and rain can come at any time.

The weather at this time is relatively similar to January, concluding the short dry season. The start of the month will be drier than the end, making February the start of a great time to track chimpanzees, and gorillas in the same safari. But Dry terrain means that if you are looking to hike elsewhere in the country, canoe, or even climb, without the worry of rain cutting it short, this is a good choice, along with January and December.

Marking the start of the ‘long rains’ which will last until mid-May, the rain throughout this time can be heavy and persistent, but it can also stop as soon as it starts. The rainforest flourishes under these downpours with green, luscious flora. However, during this time it should be considered that hiking becomes treacherous and many of Rwanda’s unsurfaced roads become tricky to navigate.

April is the peak of the season of the ‘long rains’, with the average rainfall at 186mm, the highest all year. At this time, it is wet, slippery, and the rains can often be relentless, making trekking tough, and doing no favours for those who have expensive equipment. It is, however, still possible to track them at this time, and lodges remain open, as they do year round.

Throughout the month of May there is still a large amount of rainfall which can be very persistent, however; this enables the luscious and thick rainforest to flourish and truly come to life as well as its copious range of flora and fauna which inhabit it. Trekking through this type of land will always be difficult as the rainforest will always be quite marsh-like, so if you don’t mind the wet weather, don’t be put off booking your gorilla trekking holiday in May.

June marks the start of the long dry season, and the start of the peak time for travelling to Rwanda, although it remains fairly quiet until we get into July and August, due to the summer holidays in Europe. The season lasts until September, and is a popular time to go, for many reasons.

Arguably viewed as one of the best months to visit Rwanda; we advise those wishing to travel during July to plan well in advance. This is the beginning of the summer holidays for European and American schools meaning that hotels, lodges and activities will all fill up fast.

With conditions very similar to July, August is just as popular due to the warm and dry weather as well as it being viewed as the best time of the year for trekking the mountain gorillas. As with the month of July we strongly advise that you book well in advance to ensure that you will be able to secure places for your dream accommodation as well as permits for trekking the awe-inspiring mountain gorillas.

In September, Rwanda welcomes the end of the long dry season, with more rainfall this month, starting from about mid-September. The temperature remains the same pretty much, but there is increased precipitation, especially towards the end of the month. After three months of dry weather, September can be a little humid, but nothing too bad usually.

October is the start of the short rains. Unlike the long rains in March and April, showers are often in quick heavy bursts, and shouldn’t affect your day too much. You can get the odd thunderstorm too, which can be incredibly dramatic, especially if you get to watch from the comfort of your lodge. With the extra precipitation, trees and plants start to flower, making landscapes ever more green and that bit more beautiful, bringing with them lots more birdlife. This means October can be excellent for photography, and for birding.

November continues the short rains, and the weather is similar to that of the end of October. Rain comes in short heavy bursts, with an average of 140mm for the month as a whole. Similar to October, although this is not considered to be the best time to go to Rwanda to track mountain gorillas, these incredibles creatures can still be spotted foresting on the jungle floors. Rain can come at any time of year anyway, so no matter when you travel you should always be prepared for it. The gorillas at this time can take shelter during the rains themselves, or youngsters can play out in the droplets.

December is an excellent time to travel to Rwanda, as the weather marks the end of the short rains, and the start of the short dry season. It is a peak month, so you’ll need to book well in advance of travel to secure the accommodation you want, and make sure you get hold of those ever-challenging gorilla tracking permits. Lodge prices can reflect the high season too.