Rwanda
Country · Africa, Eastern Africa
Rwanda is a country in Eastern Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Kigali, and the nation covers 26,338 square kilometers with a population of about 14.6 million people.
Highlights
This guide covers 5 major sights in Rwanda, focusing on natural landscapes and historical memorials. Nature enthusiasts can visit Volcanoes National Park, home to the country's highest point, Mount Karisimbi, as well as Akagera National Park and the UNESCO-listed Nyungwe Forest. For those interested in history, the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the UNESCO-listed Murambi Genocide Memorial Centre are key locations. The Campaign Against Genocide Museum is also available for visitors.
When to go
The weather in Kigali is generally consistent throughout the year, with daily highs around 24 °C to 26 °C and lows between 15 °C and 16 °C. The driest months are June and July, which see very little rainfall, making them suitable for travel. August is also relatively dry. Rainfall increases significantly from March through May and from October through November, with April being the wettest month, recording rain on about 27 days.
Practical notes
The official currency is the Rwandan franc. The country uses Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili as its languages. The time zone is UTC+02:00. Electrical outlets support plug types C, E, and G, operating at a voltage of 230 V. Traffic moves on the right side of the road.
Cities
Top sights in Rwanda
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 20 °C on average. The wettest is April, with about 150 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
| Average low, °C | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| Rainfall, mm | 74 | 84 | 111 | 150 | 98 | 18 | 10 | 31 | 67 | 122 | 137 | 74 |
| Rainy days | 19 | 16 | 23 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 23 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Kigali (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.