Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

January falls into the so-called short dry season and most parts of the country receives a medium precipitation (around 50-100mm).

• January is a good month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to dry out underfoot as the short rains subside, and the odds of being drenched by a shower are relatively low.

• Because it falls into the short dry season, January is a good time to visit Akagera National Park.

• For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

February falls towards the so-called short dry season and most parts of the country receives a medium to high precipitation (around 80-100mm).

• February is one of the best months for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are relatively low.

• For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

March marks the start of the main rainy season and most parts of the country receive rainfall in excess of 100mm precipitation.

• March is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in March and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

• For birdwatchers, March and April are probably the best months to visit Rwanda, partly because resident birds are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants, but also because it is the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

April is the middle of the main rainy season and the wettest month in many parts of the country. Monthly rainfall is around 150-200mm.

• April is possibly the worst month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be very wet underfoot and there are showers most days. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in April and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

• For birdwatchers, March and April are probably the best months to visit Rwanda, partly because resident birds are boosted by a large number of passage migrants, but also because it is the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

May falls within the main rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is in excess of 150-200mm.

• May ranks among the worst month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be very wet underfoot and there are showers most days. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in April and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

• For birdwatchers whose main interest is non-migrant species, May is a good month to visit Rwanda, because it falls into the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.

• The Kigali International Peace Marathon is held every May and starts and ends at Kigali’s Amahoro National Stadium.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

June marks the start of the long dry season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is relatively low (below 50mm).

• Jun is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.

• Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.

• A highlight of the calendar at Volcanoes National Park is the annual Kwita Izina (Gorilla Naming) Ceremony held every June, when all baby gorillas born over the previous 12 months are given names.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

July falls within the long dry season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is low (well below 50mm).

• July is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.

• Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.

• First held in 2014, the Ubumuntu Arts Festival is a music and dance dominated four-day event held in the amphitheatre at Kigali Genocide Memorial every July 2018. It attracts acts from all over Africa and further afield.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

August is a dry month but the short rains may start towards the end of the month. Monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is low (under 50mm).

• August is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.

• Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

September falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is moderate to high (above 100mm).

• September is a good month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions still tend to be relatively dry underfoot at the start of the short rains, but expect frequent showers.

• One of Kigali’s premier cultural events since its inauguration in 2005 is the Rwanda Film Festival, which is now held every September and features the work of promising local filmmakers as well an international selection of Africa-themed movies.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

October falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).

• October is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in October and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

November is the peak of the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).

• November is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in November and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

• For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.

Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.

December falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).

• December is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers, though this is less of a risk towards the end of the month. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in December and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.

• For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.