Rwanda is known as the "land of 1,000 hills", and its landscape is indeed rolling and green as far as the eye can see. It also sits entirely above 3000 feet in elevation, which makes for a pleasant temperature year-round. The dry months of June through September and December to February offer the best weather for trekking. Today the country has largely stepped beyond its history of genocide to become one of the most prosperous and progressive in Africa. Rwanda is best known for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but it has recently re-wilded Akagera National Park into a legitimate savannah safari destination. Now visitors can have a complete safari itinerary entirely within the country's borders.
Go for gorilla trekking from some of the world's finest luxury lodges.
Each dimension is rated 0–3: 0 = not offered / avoid, 1 = fair, 2 = good, 3 = excellent. For the monthly strip, a higher score means a better time to travel.
These are our own expert ratings, drawn from years of planning and operating safaris across Africa. They reflect first-hand experience and traveler feedback rather than measured statistics, and conditions vary year to year.
Source: Fauna Travel Safari Seasonality & Suitability Ratings, updated 2026-10-05 — https://faunatravel.com/destination/africa/rwanda
Monthly averages at Volcanoes N.P. · 2021–2025. Bars show rainfall; lines show average daily high and low.
Source: historical daily reanalysis from Open-Meteo (ERA5), averaged over 2021–2025. Our month-by-month travel ratings are Fauna Travel's own, from first-hand experience.
Warmest around Jan–Dec (daily highs near 15°C / 59°F); coolest around Jan (14°C / 57°F); wettest in Jan–Dec (~173 mm); driest in Jun and Jul. Based on 2021–2025 averages at Volcanoes N.P..
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | 137 mm | 27 |
| Feb | 15°C / 59°F | 8°C / 46°F | 143 mm | 24 |
| Mar | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | 173 mm | 28 |
| Apr | 14°C / 57°F | 9°C / 48°F | 167 mm | 28 |
| May | 14°C / 57°F | 9°C / 48°F | 136 mm | 26 |
| Jun | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | 58 mm | 15 |
| Jul | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | 45 mm | 13 |
| Aug | 15°C / 59°F | 8°C / 46°F | 80 mm | 17 |
| Sep | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | 118 mm | 23 |
| Oct | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | 144 mm | 26 |
| Nov | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | 165 mm | 28 |
| Dec | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | 165 mm | 29 |
Visa — required. US passport holders need a visa. You can get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival, or apply in advance (30-day, 90-day, or 10-year options) through the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, DC.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 1 blank page for the entry stamp.
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate — the International Certificate of Vaccination, or “yellow card” — is required if you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is present or active.
Currency. No limit on what you bring in or take out.
Good to know. Plastic shopping and grocery bags are banned and may be confiscated on arrival, so leave them at home. On gorilla treks and game drives alike, follow your guides’ and trackers’ instructions closely — approaching wildlife, even from a vehicle, can be dangerous.
U.S. Embassy, Kigali: rw.usembassy.gov
Guidance is for U.S. passport holders and can change — always confirm with the official source before you travel. Confirm at travel.state.gov →
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