The dry season has always been the best time to visit Rwanda. The land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is a nation characterized by a hilly terrain. Therefore, this emphasizes favorable weather conditions for properly exploring Rwanda. The climate of Rwanda is not very different from that of other countries that are situated close to the equator. Annual weather in Rwanda is characterized by two short dry and wet seasons and two long wet and dry seasons. These seasons rotate in unison to make Rwanda an unmissable tourism fortress.
The dry seasons in Rwanda
As mentioned earlier, the dry season ranks as the best time to visit Rwanda. The dry season in Rwanda happens in alternating short and long periods. It is a period characterized by prolonged dry weather. This weather is generally a result of little or no rainfall received throughout this period. This weather offers favorable conditions that enable visitors to explore the country’s hidden tourism sights.
Rwanda’s terrain can be quite challenging, especially when engaging in different tourism activities like gorilla trekking or golden monkey trekking. The dry season therefore plays a vital role in ensuring the best conditions that support these activities. The dry season in Rwanda has two distinct dry seasons that take place in different months throughout the year. These include the following.
The short dry season
Just like the name suggests, the short dry season is a time when the country receives a short bout of dry weather. This is just before the wet season kicks in to dominate the following months until the next dry season. The short dry season runs from December to early February. Visitors on a short tour in Rwanda can utilize this period of approximately 2 months of the dry season.
The long dry season
It occurs from June to September and offers a prolonged dry period. This is the best time for visitors looking for a long travel period in the heart of Rwanda. This long dry season assures visitors of more uninterrupted dry weather to explore the country’s challenging hills. At the climax of this long dry season, the short wet season kicks off in December.
Visitors can take advantage of this long dry season to visit most of the wildlife destinations in the country. Rwanda is a tourism hub with vast opportunities to encounter and spot different wildlife species. With favorable weather, it is more than assured that most of the species will be spotted. This long dry season presents ample time for any visitor interested in exploring this beautiful land of a thousand hills.
It is very important to note that it is not always dry throughout the dry season. There are a few deposits of rainfall dotted across the dry period. This is how the country has a balanced and rich climate. The prolonged dry weather can also present challenging conditions, especially for outdoor activities like gorilla trekking and nature walks. That is why the few dotted rainfall periods in the dry seasons help to cool the hot temperatures.
However, as much as the dry season is the best time to visit Rwanda, the wet season offers an adventurous time too. The best time to visit Rwanda is sometimes subjective to a particular activity a visitor is interested in. For example, birding is best done in the wet season. With this in mind, it is only right to also credit the wet season as a good time for particular activities.
The wet season
In most cases, the wet season is always entirely ignored and blacklisted as not the best time to travel to Rwanda; however, we beg to differ. The wet season is responsible for the long periods of rainfall. Combined with the hilly terrain of Rwanda, the wet season fogs the country with endless showers. This explains why this period is always criticized as not a favorable time to visit Rwanda.
However, it is also important to understand the benefits of this period. The real African adventure is only an adventure if it presents a challenge. What better way to have a challenging adventure in Rwanda than doing it in the wet season? With all the adventures in Rwanda happening outdoors, the wet season is more of a spice for more adventure. I mean, it is worthwhile to have a challenging trek to the mountain gorillas rather than a smooth walk to these giants.
With this in mind, we can only categorize the wet season as a period for challenging adventures. The wet season does not always come second to the dry season at all times, as there are some activities best done in this particular season. Specifically, birding or bird watching is best done in the wet season. This is because during this season, the country receives migratory birds that fly in for breeding.
This presents nature enthusiasts and bird lovers with a rare opportunity to spot migratory and endemic birds at once. The vegetation in Rwanda drastically changes with the wet season, offering plenty of food to the bird species.
Activities best done in the dry season.
As the dry season is considered the best time to visit Rwanda, there are particular tourist activities best done in this period. These include the following.
Gorilla trekking
The most sought-after tourist activity in Rwanda is gorilla trekking and is best done in the dry season. Gorilla trekking involves traversing the dense canopies of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park to encounter the mountain gorillas for an hour. The hilly terrain of the Virunga Mountains in this park presents a challenge to the trekkers.
It is, however, simplified by the dry weather that leaves the gorilla trails dry and navigable. The dry weather also results in sparse vegetation in the park, ensuring clear visibility of the gorillas. With more than 10 gorilla families, visitors are assured of encountering the giants of the Virunga. A gorilla permit can be acquired from the Rwanda Development Board through a registered tour operator like Epic Uganda Vacations.
Chimpanzee trekking
The prime time for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is the dry season. Adding to its long list of tourist activities in this period is chimpanzee trekking. Just like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking offers an intimate time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat for an hour. Chimpanzee trekking is done on the southern side of the country in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Golden monkey tracking
The peak high season, also known as the dry season, is a great time for golden monkey tracking. The foothills of the Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park are the territories of the golden monkeys. These golden monkeys dominate the bamboo forests on the gentle foothills of the Virungas. Visitors are given an hour in the presence of these primates to explore their world and witness them go about their activities. A successful experience is very much guaranteed by the weather conditions, and the dry season has made that so.
Game drive
From the tropical jungles, our focus shifts to the savannah plains for game drives that are best done in the dry season. The predictable nature of the wildlife is even more visible during this season. The vast nature of Akagera National Park, where game drives take place, makes it easy to explore in the dry season. This is because of the dry tracks that ease navigation and sparse vegetation the offer clear visibility of the wildlife.
Boat cruise
Water has always been life for all living things, and this is why the wildlife in the dry season concentrates more on the watering holes. A boat cruise on a big water source like Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park is therefore best done in the dry season. This is because most animals come to this lake to quench their thirst, with scarce watering holes across the park.
In conclusion, the best time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season. However, the predictable nature of the weather in Rwanda means it can shine strongly or rain heavily in either season. Therefore, we advise our visitors to always be prepared for either weather condition. Contact us at Epic Uganda Vacations for more information on when you would like to visit Rwanda.
