Rwanda in December

Rains ease mid-month; Christmas trips fill lodges.

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

• JanuaryGreatShort dry season: good trekking, green hills.
• FebruaryGreatDry and warm; Heroes' Day on 1 Feb.
• JuneGreatDry season; Kwibuka period continues to early July.
• JulyGreatPeak trekking; Liberation Day 4 July.

• Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzefine

  2,500–3,500 m on the treks: cold mornings, rain any month, mud Mar–May and Oct–Nov.

• Central plateau · Kigali, Huyefine

  Mild around 25 °C (77 °F) by day; two rainy seasons.Mild around 77 °F (25 °C) by day; two rainy seasons.

• Lake Kivu and Nyungwe · Gisenyi, Kibuye, Nyungwe Forestrainy

  Nyungwe is a rainforest — wet all year, driest June–August.

• Eastern savanna · Akagerafine

  Lower and warmer; dry season concentrates animals at the lakes.

• Kigali26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Butare27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Cyangugu25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 15 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 15 rain days
• Gisenyi27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
• Kabuga27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Kibeho28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Kibungo27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 4 rain days
• Kibuye27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Muhanga28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
• Nyamata28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
• Ruhengeri22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Rwamagana26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 9 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas and Boxing Day

  25–26 Dec

  Lodges busy.

• Umuganda

  Last Saturday monthly, 08:00–11:00Last Saturday monthly, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM

  Community work; traffic stops and shops shut until about midday.

• Christmas

  25 December · Kigali

  Public holiday; shops close and hotels are busy.

Crowds · Rwanda

Medium

Prices · Rwanda

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Rwanda, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Kigali

  Drier again; Christmas and year-end crowds.

• Butare

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)

• Cyangugu

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb

• Gisenyi

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb

• Kibungo

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb

• Kibuye

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season, pleasant lake breezes)

• Muhanga

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)

• Nyamata

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb (dry season)

• Ruhengeri

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb

• Rwamagana

  Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb