Best Time to Visit Rwanda

Best Time to Visit Rwanda : The best time to visit Rwanda is frequently during the dry seasons of June through September and December through early February. However, because gorilla viewing is the main reason visitors come to Rwanda, the best time to visit is frequently whenever a highly sought-after permit becomes available. But don’t let Rwanda’s wet season deter you. You will have full access to the forests, lakes, and mountains during the longer rains in March and May and the shorter rains in November, and gorilla permits are periodically less expensive.

The largest source of foreign exchange earnings for Rwanda comes from tourism, which is projected to grow at a 25% annual rate from 2013 to 2018. The industry makes the most contribution to the national export strategy. In 2014, the industry generated a total of USD 305 million in revenue.

Direct foreign investment in Rwanda’s tourism sector has also increased as a result of the establishment of major international hotel chains there, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blu, Park Inn by Radisson, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Golden Tulip Hotels, and Zinc.

Due to Rwanda’s proximity to the Equator, the country has few seasonal temperature variations. The days are comfortable, with temperatures varying across the country from the late teens to the mid-twenties. In particular at higher elevations, the nights may be chilly.

 BEST TIME TO VISIT RWANDA

  Visiting Rwanda from January to February.

High- and medium-altitude locations such as Kigali, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park, and Nyungwe National Park experience scorching days but freezing nights in January and February. Low-lying places get hot during the day but get cool at night, like Akagera National Park.

This is a popular time of year to visit Rwanda for a wildlife safari, and it’s a great opportunity to take in the breathtaking splendor of this amazing country. Amazing woodland excursions are made possible by the excellent weather and sunshine during these months. To visit Rwanda during this dry season, however, keep in mind that costs are frequently greater and that you must plan ahead.

Visiting Rwanda in March

The rainy season officially begins in March and lasts until mid-May. The weather is still good for trekking to look for the primates that live in this mystery area despite the rain. Good rain gear is necessary to tolerate the dense, wet woodland regions during this season.

Visiting Rwanda in April

Weather patterns in April are similar to those in May. Consider the difficulty of climbing the Virungas at this time of year while organizing your vacation to Rwanda.

pros

Here are a few benefits of visiting Rwanda in April: Since it is a low season, several national parks provide low-season discounts to visitors who visit any of the national parks during this time. During this time, gorilla permits are easily available for purchase. The landscape is greener and the sky is more obscured and polluted in national parks. Witnessing the calving season in Akagera National Park is an exciting time.

Cons

Disadvantages of traveling in the month of April;

• Even when it is pouring rain, gorilla trekking excursions in the park leave on time and according to plan. Since this is a rainy season, forest trails are slippery, muddy, and quite difficult to navigate, especially if you are not wearing the right type of hiking boots. As a result, visitors tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park during this time are advised to keep time.

Visiting Rwanda in May.

The rains have stopped by mid-May. You can escape tourist throngs and possibly obtain a last-minute gorilla trekking permit in April. Birds are in their nesting season in May, so the sky is awash in vibrant, feathered beauty.

pros

Here are a few benefits of visiting Rwanda in May: • Because May is a low season month, several national parks typically give visitors who visit any of the parks at this time a discount.

• During this time, gorilla permits are easily available for purchase.
• If you want to avoid crowds in the national parks, May is a wonderful month to visit Rwanda.
• The landscape is greener and the sky is polluted or obscured in national parks.

In Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzees can be seen more frequently because they are foraging on the forest floor for tasty fruit and ripe figs. This is a great time to see the calving season in Akagera National Park.

Cons

Disadvantages of traveling in the month of May;

• Even when it is pouring rain, gorilla trekking excursions in the park leave on time and according to plan. Since this is a rainy season, forest trails are slippery, muddy, and quite difficult to navigate, especially if you are not wearing the right type of hiking boots. As a result, visitors tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park during this time are advised to keep time.

Visiting Rwanda from June to September

Many people consider the dry season, which runs from June to September, to be the best time to visit Rwanda. It’s usually not too cloudy at this time of year, which makes it a good time to go gorilla trekking. One of the highlights of June in Rwanda is the yearly Kwita Izina Ceremony. At this time, names are given to all of the baby gorillas born in the previous twelve months. Another notable event on the Rwanda travel calendar is the Rwanda Film Festival, which is held in September and features both regional and popular international films.

Pros of traveling to Rwanda from June to September.

Here are some benefits of visiting Rwanda between June and September: • This is actually the best time for gorilla trekking safaris to Volcanoes National Park; • Given that these are dry months, the forest trails in both Volcanoes and Nyungwe Forest national parks are less slick and easier to navigate; • The vegetation in Akagera National Park is less dense, so wildlife animals can easily be spotted during a game drive in the park. The national parks are not congested, even during this time, which is regarded as the high or peak season.

Cons of traveling to Rwanda from June to September.

The drawbacks of visiting Rwanda between June and September include:

Although these months are dry, the scenery is even more stunning in the wet season/months. Visitors are required to book gorilla permits at least three months in advance to avoid any disappointments that come with late bookings during the high/peak season when demand for gorilla permits is high.

Visiting Rwanda from October to December.

You will arrive in Rwanda during the brief rainy season if you travel there between October and December. Throughout these months, it frequently rains, then the clouds clear to reveal brilliant blue skies. If you are not put off by a little mud and wetness, you might also profit from lower prices on lodging, hotels, and Rwanda lodges.

Pros

The benefits of visiting Rwanda from October to December include the following;

• Because it is a low season, several national parks give visitors who visit any of them during this time a low-season discount.

This is an excellent season to visit Rwanda for bird watching, and gorilla permits are easily obtainable during this time. The scenery in the national parks is greener and the sky is more obscured/polluted, so birding enthusiasts can always book a birding tour to Rwanda during this time and will be sure to see a wide variety of bird species, particularly in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, Kigali City, Volcanoes National Park, and Akagera National Park.• These months are the finest seasons for travelers wishing to monitor mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Volcanoes and Nyungwe forest national parks, respectively. It is the perfect time to observe the calving season in Akagera National Park.

Cons

Disadvantages of traveling in the month of October to December;

• Even when it is pouring rain, gorilla trekking excursions in the park leave on time and according to plan. Since this is a rainy season, forest trails are slippery, muddy, and quite difficult to navigate, especially if you are not wearing the right type of hiking boots. As a result, visitors tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park during this time are advised to keep time.

Best Time to Visit Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking?

Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda is open all year round, although the best times to see mountain gorillas are from June to September and from December to February. The gorillas may seek refuge and hide beneath the canopy to avoid the rain in the very wet months of April, May, and November, which makes monitoring them challenging because the paths in the forest are slick and dangerous.

The best time to trek chimpanzees in Rwanda?

The main draws for visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park include chimpanzees and 13 different types of primates. Chimpanzees are the most common travelers through Nyungwe Forest, one of the largest areas of the montane forest. The wet seasons, which run from March to May and from October to November, are when you should go.

When is the best time to view birds in Rwanda?

The best times to observe birds in Rwanda are December and January. These months are exceptional because tens of thousands of migratory birds stop in the country to avoid the harsh winter weather in Europe and the Arctic.