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Where is the country of Rwanda located? The Republic of Rwanda is a country in Central Africa. With an area of ​​over 26 thousand square kilometers, Rwanda is the smallest country in the region. Neighboring Burundi is slightly larger. The whole country is at a high altitude. The Rusizi River is the lowest point in the country at 950 meters above sea level. Rwanda’s tropical climate has somewhat reduced temperatures due to the elevations at which the country is located. The temperatures are therefore a bit lower than what you would expect based on the geographical location. During the day the mercury rises to 20 to 27 degrees, at night it drops to 10 to 14 degrees.

Two rainy seasons

Rwanda has two rainy seasons and two drier seasons. The first rainy season starts in February and lasts until the end of May. The second rainy season is less intense and starts at the end of September and lasts until the second half of December. The months in between are the dry seasons, with July and August being the driest months for most places. In the capital Kigali, an average of only 7 millimeters of rain is registered within the entire month in July.

Temperatures

The temperate tropical Rwanda has fairly stable temperatures throughout the year. In the capital Kigali, the mercury during the day is constantly around 25/26 degrees and the night temperatures also have little variation. The thermometers indicate temperatures of around 12 to 14 degrees at the end of the night. The moderate temperatures ensure that the climate in Rwanda is pleasant all year round. Within the country there are some fluctuations in the registered temperatures. For example, the mountainous west and north are cooler than the lower east.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Rwanda

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Rwanda? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of Rwanda is a small country located in the central part of Africa. Rwanda is located just south of the equator. Since much of Rwanda is located on a plateau about 1,500 meters above sea level, the climate is somewhat temperate. As a result, you are dealing with a subtropical climate instead of a tropical climate that you would expect from a country so close to the equator. Not only are the temperatures somewhat moderate, the amounts of rain are not too bad. In the capital Kigali, the average annual precipitation is around 900 to 1000 millimeters. This rain falls mainly in the form of fairly short spicy showers. In the north and far west there is more precipitation, think of 1200 to 1400 millimeters per year.

Best months

The best time to travel to Rwanda is from June to August. This is the driest period of the year. Temperatures are pleasant throughout the country: 23 to 28 degrees Celsius during the day. If you want to travel to the Kagera National Park for a safari, it is better to avoid the first half of June, because rainfall in the preceding period can make the unpaved roads still difficult to pass.

Rainy season

Rwanda has a rainy season that starts in September and lasts until April or May. During this wet season, the chances of rain can increase considerably. Usually the rain falls in the form of showers, which can be spicy in character. Prolonged periods of rain are less common. In the mountain areas of Rwanda it rains more often, there is more precipitation and there is no real dry season to be observed.

Sun

Rwanda is not a real sun destination. Throughout the year, the sun shines on average 4 to 6 hours a day. In some places this can increase to an average of seven hours in July and August, but it doesn’t get much sunnier in Rwanda. You will therefore regularly look at a cloudy or partly cloudy sky in every season.