Best time to visit Rwanda

Best time to visit Rwanda.

Rwanda, also known as the “land of a thousand hills,” is a popular tourist safari destination mostly because of the well-known gorilla trek. However, there are plenty of other thrilling safari activities and experiences to choose from, like hiking up volcanoes, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, big five safaris in Akagera National Park, and art and culture tours.

After picking up Rwanda, the next question on the minds of travelers is what could be the best time to make the trip to Rwanda?

Well, first of all, and extremely significant to know, Rwanda is one of the simplest, if not the easiest, country to visit in Africa because no matter where you are from, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. Not at all! You just take a plane to Rwanda, where you will easily receive your visa upon arrival. Rwanda follows an “open door policy.”

You can visit Rwanda at any time of the year, it is beautiful and safe all the time. Nevertheless certain variables may influence on the best time for you to decide to visit which I discuss below:

Best Weather season (dry season vs wet season).

There are two weather seasons in Rwanda (dry season and wet season), and the ideal time to visit Rwanda is during the warm/dry season, which is from June to mid-September and from December to February. The dry or warm season receives little to no rains, which makes travel and outdoor activities much more convenient. Gladl,y the long dry season from June to September coincides with the summer time when plenty of people take their safaris.

Though there are more regular rains during the wet/rainy season, which runs from March to April and October to part of December, it’s still worth going to Rwanda because the scenery is at its best and there aren’t many people around, giving you almost exclusive access to many safari activities. That being said, you must prepare for potential rain-related disruptions by having rain gear on hand. The muddy and slick paths will make your trek more difficult, but the scenery of the gorillas, chimpanzees, and other mountain species is breathtaking.

Best time for trekking and safari.

The greatest times to go trekking in the highlands to observe gorillas, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest are from June to September and December to February, when the trails are dry and hiking is more manageable. Nonetheless, the animals are visible all year long.

The dry season is particularly preferable for big game safaris in Akagera National Park since it allows you to easily explore all of the paths without worrying about getting bogged down in the mud. The shorter dry grass may also make it simpler to spot wildlife. During the rainy season, there are more plants and grass, which can make it more difficult to see animals. The most picturesque views of Akagera’s verdant surroundings, however, are found during the rainy season.

 Best time for bird-watching safari in Rwanda

The ideal time to visit Rwanda is during the bird migration season if you want to get the most out of your birdwatching tour there. The Palearctic migration season is the greatest time to visit Rwanda if you want to record the largest checklist of birds, especially after December, when they begin to don their colorful plumage. Palearctic birds migrate from October to May in order to avoid the harsh winters.

Any time of year is acceptable, though, if you’re main focus is on the resident species, particularly the endemic species of the Albertine Rift, which you should seek out after the migrants have departed to facilitate identification.