Rwanda in January

Short dry season: good trekking, green hills.

No other month rates higher than January for Rwanda in this guide.

• Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzebest weather

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

• Central plateau · Kigali, Huyebest weather

  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 Forestfine

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

• Eastern savanna · Akagerabest weather

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

• Kigali27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
• Butare27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 rain days
• Cyangugu26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 12 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
• Rwamagana27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 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.

• New Year

  1–2 Jan

  Two public holidays.

• 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.

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.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Virunga volcanoes

  Best weather of the year (Volcanoes NP, Musanze)

• Central plateau

  Best weather of the year (Kigali, Huye)

• Eastern savanna

  Best weather of the year (Akagera)

• Kigali

  Dry and warm; short dry season.

• 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