January fair
Visiting Rwanda in January 2026/27
As with nearby Uganda, January sits in the middle of the short dry season in Rwanda and is, accordingly, one of the best months for travel to see the famed mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park.
Activities & Events
Rightly or wrongly Rwanda is often only considered as one of the best places in Africa to see the majestic mountain gorillas. With chimps and game viewing on offer as well there is plenty.
Cheat Sheet
- + Mostly clear, dry weather
- + Good trekking conditions for the gorillas
- + Perfect time to combine with the migration in the Serengeti
- – A busier period so accommodation can be tricky
Top Tips for January 2026/27
- + Combine with Tanzania for a superb safari and gorilla experience
February fair
Visiting Rwanda in February 2026/27
A great time of the year for some gorilla trekking as the dry weather has made the paths and trails nice and firm. Combined with Akagera National Park or Nyungwe for some chimp trekking.
Activities & Events
A great time of the year for some gorilla trekking, it is also an excellent time of the year to head to the Serengeti to see the wildebeest migration herds in the southern grasslands.
Cheat Sheet
- + Warm and, in the main, clear weather
- + Very good gorilla and chimp trekking
- + Low season rates and tourist numbers
- – Rain arrives towards the end of the month
Top Tips for February 2026/27
- + A great start to an East African safari and beach trip
March mixed
Visiting Rwanda in March 2026/27
March signals the start of the main rains in Rwanda and, as such, can be a changeable month as far as weather and trekking is concerned. One of the big benefits is that, if you can travel early in the month, you may benefit from low season rates and may avoid the rain!
Activitities & Events
Gorilla trekking is still good as is the chimp trekking in Nyungwe as the ripe figs bring the chimps down to the forest floor.
Cheat Sheet
- + Trekking trails remain firm in the front half of the month
- + Great value and few visitor numbers
- + Stunning scenery as the rain brings flowers and vegetation
- – Later in the month can make trekking harder
Top Tips for March 2026/27
- + Aim for the front end of the month if possible
April mixed
Visiting Rwanda in April 2026/27
April is a tricky month to travel in Rwanda due to the main rains being in full swing. Trekking with the gorillas can be arduous with slippery trails and rain averse gorillas. This being said, chimp trekking in Nyungwe is still very good.
Activities & Events
Gorilla trekking is still possible albeit hard work and chimp trekking is some of the easiest in the year.
Cheat Sheet
- + Chimp trekking is very good
- + Low season rates can entice those that are not rain averse
- – Plenty of rainfall can marr the trekking
Top Tips for April 2026/27
- + Best advise would be to consider an alternative month!
May mixed
Visiting Rwanda in May 2026/27
As with April, May draws the main rains to an end so rainfall and conditions start to improve towards the end of the month. This being said, with slippery trails and plenty of rainfall, this is still a tricky month.
Activities & Events
Gorilla trekking is hard work at this time of year with the earth soaking up 2 months worth of rainfall. Chimp trekking is still good though.
Cheat Sheet
- + Rwanda is at its most picturesque
- + Very good chimp trekking in Nyungwe
- – Rain soaked trails make for hard trekking to see gorillas
Top Tips for May 2026/27
- + Aim for the end of the month for low season rates and trekking
June great
Visiting Rwanda in June 2026/27
June is the start of the main dry season in Rwanda and, as the rains recede, the trekking improves drastically and the other areas of the country open up once more. A great month for gorilla and chimp trekking.
Activities & Events
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park becomes, once again, the main point of focus for the month along with heading to Tanzania and Kenya for some safari and beach time.
Cheat Sheet
- + The sunshine returns to the country
- + Gorilla trekking becomes much easier again
- + Stunning green scenery and good prices
- – Availability starts to become and issue again
Top Tips for June 2026/27
- + Best to book and travel as early as possible
July best
Visiting Rwanda in July 2026/27
Arguably one of the three best months to visit Rwanda for weather, gorilla trekking and general experience, July has realiably good weather, dry trekking trails and accessibility. Other than the visitor numbers, July has everything you could ask for!
Events & Festivals
Gorilla and chimp trekking is at its very best along with game in Akagera or combining with Kenya or Tanzania for some safari.
Cheat Sheet
- + Clear, dry weather
- + Fantastic gorilla and chimp trekking
- + Great time to combine with the wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania
- – It’s peak season so availabilty and prices are at a premium
Top Tips for July 2026/27
- + Aim to book early
August amazing
Visiting Rwanda in August 2026/27
Along with July and September, August probably offers one of the best all round months to travel to Rwanda. The gorilla and chimp trekking are as good as it gets along with the game parks such as Akagera where the animals now congragate around water sources.
Activities & Events
Combining gorilla trekking in Volcanoes and chimp trekking in Nyungwe with the grasslands of the Serengeti and Masai Mara in this window offer some of the best of African travel.
Cheat Sheet
- + Clear, warm and dry weather
- + Superb gorilla and chimp trekking
- + Easily combinable with Kenya and Tanzania
- – As it’s peak season prices are high and availability low
Top Tips for August 2026/27
- + Look to combine areas for the best experience
September great
Visiting Rwanda in September 2026/27
The final month to be classified as “ideal” with clear skies, dry trails and great temperatures, September is probably our pick of them. Combine the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes with either chimps to the south in Nyungwe or Akagera to the north to have a fuller experience of this beautiful country.
Activities & Events
Gorilla trekking is the prime pursuit in the month with combinations to Tanzania and Kenya for open grassland species.
Cheat Sheet
- + Mostly clear, dry weather with rainfall toward the end of the month
- + Excellent gorilla and chimp trekking
- + Fewer tourists as out of the peak period
- – Rain arrives towards the end of the month
Top Tips for September 2026/27
- + Look to book in the first couple of weeks
October still good
Visiting Rwanda in October 2026/27
October brings the first showers of the short rains to Rwanda and East Africa. With the rainfall often arriving in the afternoon it is still rare that the trekking is affected too much and, as such, it is still a good month to travel.
Activities & Events
With the trails still relatively dry gorilla and chimp trekking are still the highlights of a visit.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry trails give good gorilla trekking
- + Great time to come for migratory birds
- – Rainfall can disrupt game viewing in Akagera
Top Tips for October 2026/27
- + Great month for photography in particular
November fair
Visiting Rwanda in November 2026/27
November is in the height of the short rainy period and, as such, with the accumulation of rain, the pathways can become muddy and harder to navigate so gorilla trekking would be recommended for the more adventurous.
Activities & Events
With excellent birding and scenic contrasts of dark skies and verdant greenery this is arguably one of the prettiest months to visit Rwanda.
Cheat Sheet
- + Stunning scenery
- + Excellent birding
- + Lower visitor numbers give better rates and availability
- – Gorilla trekking becomes harder with the rains
Top Tips for November 2026/27
- + A good time to travel for those on a budget and happy to trek harder
December fair
Visiting Rwanda in December 2026/27
December brings an end to the short rains and, with it, an improvement in the trekking conditions underfoot. For those on a budget, the frotn end of the month still tends to offer great value with low rates and good conditions.
Activities & Events
Gorilla and chimp trekking become much easier as the month progresses. Combine with southern Serengeti for the wildebeest migration.
Cheat Sheet
- + Weather is getting better and better
- + Improving conditions for gorilla and chimp trekking
- + Very good value at the front of the month
- – Prices and visitor numbers increase in the second half
Top Tips for December 2026/27
- + Look to book early if travelling over the Festive period
