When to Go
Gorillas can be trekked on any day of the year. What changes with the months is the mud on the trail, the light in the forest and how early you need to book.
For most travelers, the best time to visit Rwanda is the long dry season from June to mid-September, followed by the shorter dry spell from mid-December to February. Forest trails in Volcanoes and Nyungwe are firmer, road transfers run to time and the mornings are clearer. These are also the weeks when permits and the best-placed lodges sell out first.
Rwanda doesn’t close in the rains, though. The gorillas live in the park all year, the families are visited every day, and a wet-season trek can be every bit as moving as a dry one, only muddier. The real question isn’t whether the gorillas will be there in a given month, but how comfortable the walk will be and how flexible your dates are.
Rwanda lies just south of the equator, so its year is shaped by rainfall rather than by temperature. Altitude matters more than the month: Kigali is mild all year, while the Virunga slopes and Nyungwe’s forest are cooler, cloudier and wetter than the city averages below suggest.
At a Glance
Each row rates one way of experiencing Rwanda through the year, from limited to excellent. For gorilla and golden monkey treks, the rating describes trail comfort, not the chance of meeting the family.
| Experience | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla & golden monkey trekking (trail comfort) | Good | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Good |
| Nyungwe chimps & canopy walkway | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Good |
| Volcano hikes (Bisoke, Karisimbi) | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Good |
| Akagera game viewing | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Birding (Nyungwe & Akagera) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Kigali & Lake Kivu | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Rainfall | Showers | Showers | Rainy season | Rainy season | Showers | Mostly dry | Mostly dry | Mostly dry | Showers | Rainy season | Rainy season | Showers |
| Travel season | High season | High season | Shoulder | Green season | Green season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | High season | Shoulder | High season |
General guidance. Gorillas can be trekked every day of the year — ratings reflect trail comfort, not the chance of seeing them. Rainfall levels follow Kigali averages; the Virunga highlands and Nyungwe are cooler and wetter, and rain is possible in any month.
The Seasons
Two dry seasons and two rainy seasons divide the year. The rainfall figures are long-term averages for Kigali; the mountains and the rainforest receive more.
The driest and most dependable weeks: Kigali averages about 20 mm of rain in June and only 10 mm in July. Forest trails firm up, early mornings often bring clear views of the volcanoes, and Akagera’s wildlife gathers near the lakes as the grass dries. Demand for permits and lodges peaks, so plan early.
Rain builds through October and November, often as heavy afternoon downpours; Kigali averages about 121 mm in November. Many mornings stay dry enough for trekking. Fewer visitors, greener hills and fresh growth in the forest make this a quiet, photogenic window.
A warm, drier spell between the rains, and a second busy period, particularly over the holidays. Trails are generally manageable, Akagera is green, and migrant birds are typically present across the country.
The wettest months, with Kigali averaging about 129 mm in March and 135 mm in April. Trails are steep and slick, cloud can sit on the volcanoes for days, and some roads slow down. In exchange you get the lushest forest and the quietest parks of the year.
Month by Month
What each month is typically like, and what it suits best. Read the rainfall as a guide to how often you’ll meet rain, not as a forecast for your trek day.
| Month | Kigali rain (average) | What it’s like | Especially good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 mm | Short dry season; warm days with occasional showers | Gorilla treks, Akagera, birding |
| February | 84 mm | Often one of the better trekking months of the short dry season | Gorillas, chimps, pairing with Tanzania’s calving season |
| March | 129 mm | The long rains arrive, usually as heavy afternoon storms | Quiet parks and green forest |
| April | 135 mm | The wettest month; Kwibuka commemoration begins on 7 April | Travelers who value solitude and don’t mind mud |
| May | 89 mm | Rain eases through the month | Lush landscapes and a gentle return to drier trails |
| June | 20 mm | The long dry season begins; cold nights at altitude | Gorillas, volcano hikes, Akagera |
| July | 10 mm | The driest month, with the lowest humidity | Every activity; book well ahead |
| August | 30 mm | Dry, often clear mornings; peak demand | Gorillas, chimps, Akagera game drives |
| September | 65 mm | Dry early in the month, showers later; Kwita Izina is often held | Gorillas, Akagera, fewer crowds late in the month |
| October | 109 mm | The short rains set in | Green hills and quieter lodges |
| November | 121 mm | Short rains, mostly in the afternoons | Birding and quiet forest walks |
| December | 76 mm | Rain eases from mid-month; holiday demand | Gorillas and family trips with teens aged 15 and over |
Rainfall is the long-term Kigali average from Meteo Rwanda normals. The Virunga highlands and Nyungwe are wetter and cooler, and rain is possible on any day of the year.
By Experience
Any month works. June to September and mid-December to February bring the firmest trails; the rainy months mean more mud and cloud, but also fewer visitors at Kinigi. Permits for the dry months sell out first.
Explore →Chimp tracking runs all year, but the steep forest paths are far easier in the drier months. Nyungwe is a rainforest, so pack a rain jacket in every season. Its park-run lodging charges high-season rates from June to September and mid-December to February.
Explore →Akagera’s own advice is that November to April is the best time to visit, when the park is green and the birdlife at its richest. From June to September, shorter grass and shrinking water draw animals toward the lakes, which many visitors find easier for game drives. Both views are fair; it depends on what you want.
Explore →Bisoke and Karisimbi are steep, muddy and cold near the top in any month. June to August gives you the best chance of a clear view into Bisoke’s crater lake and firmer footing on the descent.
Explore →Palearctic migrants typically arrive around November and stay into April, joining Nyungwe’s forest specialists and Akagera’s wetland birds. The Albertine Rift endemics of Nyungwe are resident, so serious birders can come at any time.
Kigali is pleasant all year, with short, heavy showers in the wet months. Lakeshore rest days at Karongi are at their sunniest in the long dry season, which is also the easiest time for the drives in and out.
Explore →The Local Calendar
Umuganda, the national community-work morning, takes place on the last Saturday of every month from about 7 to 11 am. Most shops and services pause and road traffic is restricted, so we avoid scheduling long transfers from Kigali that morning. The Kigali Genocide Memorial opens only in the afternoon on those Saturdays.
Kwibuka, the national commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, begins on 7 April each year and continues for 100 days, with the first week the most solemn. Traveling at this time is entirely possible and many visitors find it meaningful, but the atmosphere is subdued and respectful behaviour matters. We’ll brief you on what to expect in the week you arrive.
Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s gorilla-naming ceremony, began in 2005 and is usually held around September. It is a national celebration of conservation rather than a tourist event, and attendance is largely by invitation, so confirm the year’s date before building a trip around it.
Journeys by Season
Every journey runs year-round, but some routes gain more from dry weather than others.
Short enough to slot into any season, and easy to shift by a day if the forecast turns. June to September and December to February give the firmest trails.
Explore →Dry months suit both halves of the trip: firmer trails at Volcanoes and wildlife concentrated near Akagera’s lakes. In the green season the savanna is lush and full of birds instead.
Explore →The long loop has the most road time and two forest parks, so the long dry season makes the biggest difference here, especially for the chimp morning in Nyungwe.
Explore →Both countries are typically dry in these windows. June to September suits the Serengeti’s western and northern areas, while January and February pair your trek with calving on the southern plains.
Explore →Safaris
Kigali · Kinigi (park HQ) · Volcanoes National Park · Kigali International Airport
Couples and experienced travelers with limited leave who want the gorillas without a long safari around them
Kigali · Akagera National Park · Volcanoes National Park · Kigali International Airport
First-time visitors to Rwanda who want gorillas and a classic game drive in a single week
Kigali · Huye · Nyungwe National Park · Karongi (Kibuye) · Volcanoes National Park · Akagera National Park · Kigali International Airport
Primate enthusiasts, photographers and returning safari-goers who want the whole country rather than one park
Kigali · Volcanoes National Park · Kilimanjaro Airport · Arusha · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater · Kilimanjaro Airport
Travelers who want East Africa’s two headline wildlife experiences in one trip, at luxury or ultra level
Experiences
Adventure
Climb 3,711 m Mount Bisoke through bamboo and giant lobelias to a lake in the summit crater, right on the DRC border.
Adventure
Walk a suspended bridge high above a rainforest valley in Nyungwe, level with the treetops, the monkeys and the birds.
On the water
Glide along Lake Ihema’s papyrus shores past hippos and big crocodiles, ideally as the sun goes down over the water.
Where to go
Rwanda’s gorilla park: bamboo and cloud forest on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, about two and a half hours from Kigali.
ExploreMontane rainforest in the far south-west, with chimpanzees, twelve other primate species and a walkway through the canopy.
ExploreRwanda’s savanna chapter: lakes, rolling plains and a Big Five park rebuilt since 2010, about two hours from Kigali.
Explore
A deep Great Lake on the western border, best used for a slow day or two at Karongi between the forest and the volcanoes.
ExploreGood to know
July is the driest month on average, and June to August generally offers the firmest trails. December to February is the other good window. The families are visited every day of the year, though, and rainy-season treks often mean fewer people at Kinigi.
Not necessarily. Rain often falls as heavy afternoon showers rather than all day, and many morning treks stay dry. The forest is at its greenest and the parks are quieter, though trails are muddier and some road transfers take longer.
Yes. It is colder than most visitors expect. Musanze sits at around 1,700 m and its nights are cool in every month, while the gorilla trails climb to 2,500 m and beyond, where early mornings can be chilly and damp. Bring a warm layer and a waterproof even in the dry season.
Akagera’s managers recommend November to April, when the park is green and the birding strongest, while the dry months concentrate wildlife near the lakes. Nyungwe’s trails are easiest from June to September and mid-December to February, when the forest paths are at their driest.
Mostly through accommodation. Many lodges charge less in the rainy months than in July and August, and Nyungwe’s park-run lodging has a published low season from March to May and October to mid-December. Permits and park fees are set separately by the authorities, and we confirm what applies to your dates when we book.
Share your dates, who is traveling and what you hope to see. We check permit availability first, then design a private Rwanda journey around it, and nothing is booked until you approve it.
Plan My Rwanda Safari