Questions pertaining the “best time to visit Rwanda” are some of the commonest we receive from travelers planning to explore the “land of a thousand hills”. These questions determine what visitors pack, and activities to enjoy but also, it is always important to plan for everything in advance because weather keep changing.
Based on experiences of past visitors, the best time to visit Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills is the dry season that runs from June through September as well as December through February because it is when you expect lesser challenging treks (better hiking conditions) while tracking this country’s unmissable highlight- Mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees. Also, the dry months offer the lowest risk of Malaria.
However, it is important to note that regardless of the weather (or time of the year), Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees can be trekked, and travelers are offered unforgettable experiences all year round. The only difference is that Park roads are in better conditions and hiking trails are considerably drier. The dry season is also considered ideal for Volcano climbing in Volcanoes National Park as forest trails are relatively drier, less muddy or slippery hence making it less challenging.
For travelers expecting unforgettable game viewing experiences also visit Rwanda’s Akagera National Park in the dry season as grasses become shorter and watering points reduce making animals converge at the fewer remaining ones thus offering out-of-this-World sights of warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, Topis, impalas, giant elands, Masai giraffes, lion, spotted hyenas, Rhinos, leopards, impalas, Oribis and many others. Travelers have chances of spotting remarkable wildlife species during these months
The wet months- March to May, October to November are considered low season because travelers tend to avoid the muddy, slippery and more challenging forest trails as well as thicker while tracking mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees or exploring the Virunga Volcanoes. However, whichever time of the year you choose to visit the beautiful Rwanda, meeting face-to-face with the Great Apes (chimps and gorillas) are once-in-a-lifetime and riveting experiences that can be undertaken throughout the year.
Months of March to May and October to November do not favor game drives (although are still conducted all year round) because grasses become taller and animal hide in them thus making it challenging to sight wildlife. Also, there are numerous watering points in Akagera National Park making animals to scatter throughout the Park hence sights are not as phenomenal as they are in the dry season as animals converge around watering points. However, these months are the breeding season for birds thus providing remarkable bird watching experiences.