It is no secret that Rwanda is as diverse as it is beautiful, in fact one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit in Africa. From the pristine shores of Lake Kivu to the misty slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes as well as outstanding mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and jaw-dropping canopy walks of Nyungwe Forest National Park. The most outstanding attractions to see during your visit in Rwanda include Lake Kivu, the iconic Volcanoes National Park, Historical and cultural sites such as Gorilla Guardian Village, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Genocide Memorial Sites, Akagera National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park and many others.
After learning about the different spectacular attractions that draw thousands of visitors to Rwanda, it is also important to understand the best time to visit the country. Well, Rwanda can be visited all year round although the drier season from June to August and December to February is when travelers have the best chances of seeing Rwanda’s incredible highlight – the endangered mountain gorillas. Most visitors to Rwanda are interested in trekking mountain gorillas hence the most preferred time is usually when trekking trails are drier, less muddy and less slippery.
For travelers planning to undertake wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, the dry months are the best, reason being there are fewer watering points in the Park and numerous species and concentrations of animals are usually seen drinking at these points.
Visiting Rwanda in the wet season.
Travelers planning to visit Rwanda shouldn’t be put off by the March to May longer rains as well as October to November short rains as these months experience fewer visitors hence those that take their time to explore the Tropical rainforests, savannah grasslands, Lakes and Mountains are guaranteed of enjoying secluded safaris. This season is normally avoided for a number of reasons that include muddy and slippery trekking trails as well as denser vegetation that make most activities (gorilla treks, chimpanzee treks, guided forest walks and mountain climbs) more challenging. However, the enthusiastic photographers prefer the rainy season because vegetation is more verdant and the air is cleared of dust after the downpours.
Much as chimpanzee treks are challenging through the dense jungles of Nyungwe, the chimpanzees (which are the highlight in the Park) have plenty of food-in form of figs and fruits that are at the peak of ripening. This makes these great apes to descend from the trees and don’t move a lot hence more interesting to feast your eyes on.
However, rainfall and overall temperature slightly deviate all year round in the two mentioned seasons (dry and wet) because of the country’s position, just south of the Equator, amidst dense tropical rainforests. Because of these factors, expect warm days (between 18 and 25˚C) depending on the part of the country you are while nights are cooler especially areas of higher elevations.
The shorter rainy season – October to November is perfect for bird watching, given the fact that trees, flowers and plants are blossoming, hence numerous bird species can be spotted. Accommodation rates also tend to be lower during these low seasons/times of the year.
What to pack when visiting Rwanda?
A number of things are required for any traveler planning to visit Rwanda and these include several pairs of safari pants in breathable and khaki fabric, comfortable hiking boots, cotton socks, lightweight rain jacket, wide brim safari hat for sun protection, long sleeved shirts, binoculars, T-shirts for daytime wear or game drives, swimsuit, flip-flops or sandals for in-room use of relaxation, first aid kit (containing malaria tablets, aspirin, anti-septic, anti-nausea tablets, bandages and liniment), insect repellant, toiletries (nail clipper, moisturizer, wet wipes, toothpaste, hair brush/comb, toothbrush, sunscreen and many others), gardening gloves, camera with extra memory space and spare batteries, to mention but a few.
