
Climate Chart Kigali – 1,600m/5,250ft
Straddling the equator, there is little year-round fluctuation in temperature and no real winter or summer. There is a defined Dry season from June to September, but in Volcanoes NP and Nyungwe Forest that only means that it will rain less as these parks are wet throughout the year.
Kigali’s Climate Compared to Rwanda’s Parks
In general, the east of Rwanda, including Akagera NP, shares the warm climate of Kigali. However, it never gets extremely hot due to the relatively high altitude. The parks in the western mountainous area, including Volcanoes NP and Nyungwe Forest NP, are a lot colder with daytime temperatures around 16°C–21°C (61°F–70°F), due to the even higher altitude. The temperature drops by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft). The latter two parks are also a lot wetter due to the mountain peaks and rainforest habitat. The new Gishwati–Mukura NP also shares a similar climate to the larger western parks.
Dry Season –June to September
There is little rainfall during these months in most of the country but it can rain at any time in the rainforest.
Wet Season –October to May
The Wet season is characterized by two periods of rain, the short rains and the long rains, interrupted by a drier spell.
The Wet season is characterized by two periods of rain, the short rains and the long rains, interrupted by a drier spell.