When to go · Rwanda
Rwanda in October
Mixed month. Short rains start.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Rwanda
- Prices
- Medium
- Rwanda
Verdict
Short rains start.
Is another month better than October?
October is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in October
- Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzerainy
2,500–3,500 m on the treks: cold mornings, rain any month, mud Mar–May and Oct–Nov.
- Central plateau · Kigali, Huyerainy
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), 15 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 15 rain days
- Butare26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 rain days
- Cyangugu26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 17 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 17 rain days
- Gisenyi27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
- Kabuga26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
- Kibeho27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 7 rain days
- Kibungo25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 9 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 9 rain days
- Kibuye27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
- Muhanga26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
- Nyamata26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
- Ruhengeri22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- Rwamagana24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
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 and prices
- Crowds · Rwanda
- Low
- Prices · Rwanda
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Rwanda, side by side.
Verdict
Oct: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Oct: Low
Jan: Medium
Prices
Oct: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Oct: 1
Jan: 2
October: Short rains start.
January: Short dry season: good trekking, green hills.
Rwanda: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast