Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate of Nyungwe is a description of how the pattern of rainfall, humidity, sunshine and anything to do with climate and its changes. The park was conserved in 1933 and it contains a large biodiversity. It is the largest Montane rain forest in East Africa and the rainforest ranges are comprised of a very rare ecosystem. These areas are only seen in the mountainous areas that are above 1,000 feet within the tropical area.
Nyungwe forest national park has a number of tourist attractions and activities including chimpanzee trekking, gold monkey trekking, L’Hoest monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, primate walk, nature walk, canopy walk, birding safaris among others and it has over 90 mammal species within the forest. Nyungwe national park has a variety of wildlife.
Best time for wildlife
For chimpanzee trekking, the wet season is the best to visit the park and the season runs from October to May. By this time chimpanzees are easily located in the forest. March and May are months which are very wet and the perfect time is October to February which are wet but not so wet. During the dry season chimpanzees tend to go deeper into the forest and the dry season runs from June to September and its best time for hiking.
There over 300 bird species to encounter in the forest and forest birding is not that simple, however it’s the most amazing activity to encounter during your visit to Nyungwe national park such as Albertine owle, Blue headed sunbird, Dwarf honeyguide, mountain Masked apalis and many more. The best time for birding is throughout the year round since breeding takes place at the end of every wet season.
During the months of May, June and July a number of birds are quiet and the vocals are very loud during January or February. The best months for birding safaris are January to June. April is a wet season and the trails are very slippery. During April and November, migrated birds are very many in number.
Nyungwe National park weather & climate shows that the park receives more than 2,00mm of rain per year, with high altitudes. The weather & climate is very cool and wet, since the park is close to the equator and the temperatures of the park are the same. In the forest during the day, weather and climate recordings show that the temperature is 20°c/68°f and at night it reduces to 11°c/51°F.
The park has a high altitude and the temperatures drop by 7.8°c as you ascend the hills of Nyungwe which are 1000m above sea level.
Dry season
Nyungwe national park weather & climate shows that the park receives rain throughout the year and the dry seasons are June to September. One needs to be ready for any change of rain and therefore should carry waterproof clothes, shoes, hiking gloves and warm clothes for any change in weather.
June, July and August are the dry months of the year which is the best time to hike through the nyungwe national park hiking trails in the dry season and the temperatures range from 21°c/80°F, with 10°c/50°F in the night.
Wet season
Carry waterproof clothes, shoes for hiking, cloths, warm cloths, long sleeved clothes among other essentials when the weather & climate of Nyungwe indicate it as a wet season. October, December, November, January and February it rains and in November the highest rainfall patterns are recorded. Temperature is around 20°c in the day time and this varies from the altitude and the night hours are very cold.
March, April and May are months with a lot of rain and in the months of March and April, the trails through the forest are muddy and very slippery. Visit Nyungwe Forest and enjoy the best weather & climate of the African tropics.
