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Best time to visit Rwanda

The best time to visit Rwanda is, for most people, outside the rainy seasons – so from June to September and December to early February. But if you want to go gorilla trekking, the best time of year is simply whenever you can get a permit. Read our guide to find out more about the peak and low seasons in Rwanda – and the advantages and disadvantages of both.

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Best time to visit Rwanda

The dry seasons, more comfortable for trekking and safaris, are mid-December to early February and June to September.

The best time to visit Rwanda is usually in the dry seasons in June-September and December-early February. That said, most visitors travel to Rwanda to see gorillas, and so the best time is often whenever you can get a highly in-demand permit. Don’t be put off by the rainy season in Rwanda, either. The shorter rains in November and longer rains from March to May will give you the forests, lakes and mountains all to yourself, plus gorilla permits are occasionally cheaper. Photographers may even prefer the rainy season, with less light contrast in the forests allowing you to focus on your subject matter.

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Rwanda, month by month

Things to do in Rwanda

March is the beginning of the longer rainy season which goes on through April and May. The end of May can often be dry already, however, and yet still devoid of visitors avoiding the ‘big rains’. June to mid-September is the long dry season and the most popular time to visit. You may still get showers during this time though. September sees a very special event take place in Musanze: Kwita Izina, which is a gorilla naming ceremony and celebration of mountain gorilla births. The Kigali International Peace Marathon takes place in May and is a very special event. If you are taking part or just watching. There are three races, a full marathon, half marathon and a 10km run for peace. Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day is 7 April, a public vacation and understandably a very solemn day indeed. If you are going gorilla trekking, things have dried up again in December after the short rains of October and November. So if you’re looking for alternative Christmas vacation ideas then you could do at lot worse than heading to Rwanda to go gorilla watching. Same thing goes for January for a spectacular New Year celebration. The Tour du Rwanda is a spectacular country wide race run by the Rwanda Cycling Federation. It keeps changing dates, however, so keep an eye on their website. At the moment it is scheduled for February/March, although it originally ran in November and has also taken place in August. It’s a good one though, just a bit of a moveable feast. Independence Day takes place 1 July every year in Rwanda, celebrating the day in 1962 when Rwanda was freed from Belgian colonial rule.

Rwanda Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

102

MAR

118

APR

186

MAY

107

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

109

NOV

140

DEC

101

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Paul Calcutt at our supplier of gorilla trekking vacations in Rwanda, Natural World Safaris:

“A lot of people think it is going to be searingly hot, because of the misconception that all Africa is hot. But in fact it is quite temperate during the day, early to mid-20°Cs, and at night time we will light a fire and stick a hot water bottle in the room for you. So, jumpers and things to keep warm in the evening are good.”

Marta Marinelli from our Rwanda supplier, Exodus Travels:

“The dry season goes from June to mid-September so this is generally the best time to visit as rain may make some of the activities such as the gorillas and chimps treks much harder due to the mud. There is also a short dry season from December to February. It is quite special to spend New Year’s Eve in front of a group of 12 gorillas so those looking to spend a different Christmas and NYE have this choice.”