Best time to visit Rwanda

• “Long Dry Season: June to September (the best time to visit Rwanda)” rwanda-immigration.org
• “Short Dry Season: December to February (another best time to go to Rwanda)” rwanda-immigration.org
• “For many travelers, June to September is the best time to visit Rwanda” primateworldsafaris.com

6 of the 9 travel guides we read name these months.

1. Best timeJanuary82°F / 61°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Part of the short dry season (December to February); the busy festive peak has passed.Called the best time of year to go by one operator, with fewer crowds and less rain.Another source lists January as one of the wettest months, with high humidity.
2. Best timeFebruary82°F / 61°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Dry season ends in early February per one calendar; February to May counted as wet.Another guide puts February in the short dry season, December to February.
3. March81°F / 61°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the long rains, with heavy showers through May.Trails can be soggy and slippery; the least visited months of the year.Heavy rainfall can cause flooding and landslides in some areas.
4. April80°F / 62°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Gorilla trekking in April is still possible with some mud and showers.Low season with fewer travelers and better lodge availability.
5. May79°F / 62°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Rains wind down; a good time for bird watching.May is called a shoulder month with quieter parks.Wet season birdwatching is spectacular as it is peak breeding season.
6. Best timeJune80°F / 61°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the long dry season, the best window for gorilla trekking according to most operators.The Kwita Izina ceremony, where newborn gorillas are named, takes place in June.Trails are less muddy and more accessible between June and September.
7. Best timeJuly81°F / 60°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…One of the driest months, with cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine.Peak season for gorilla treks, so book in advance.
8. Best timeAugust83°F / 62°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Cool and dry, popular for gorilla trekking.Summer holidays in the West bring visitors in June to October, so permits and lodges book early.Kwita Izina
9. Best timeSeptember83°F / 62°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Rwanda Film Festival is held in September.Mild and sunny, though it can be busy with tourists.Gorilla permits, lodges and safari vehicles can book up well in advance in the long dry season.
10. October81°F / 61°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the short rains, with green scenery and fewer visitors.Bursts of rain followed by clear blue skies; permits are often easier to get.
11. November79°F / 61°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…A quieter month for tourism, with plenty of rain and some roads and trails impassable.Short rainy season ends in late November.
12. Best timeDecember80°F / 61°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the short dry season, with temperatures of 20 to 28 C, good for trekking and Lake Kivu.Can be especially busy around the festive holidays.

Weather: Kigali averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

• Kwita IzinaKinigi, Volcanoes National ParkEvery August to October

What are the best months to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking?

The dry months, June to September and December to February, with less rain and easier paths, though crowds are larger.

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