Best time to see gorillas in Rwanda

All mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place in Volcanoes National Park, the only park in the country where these primates live. So the best time of year for gorilla trekking is based on the weather patterns for Volcanoes National Park, which sits in the northwest corner of Rwanda.

The best time to see gorillas in Rwanda is either:

The long dry season is the very best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda as these months see the least rain and so offer the best trekking conditions as well as the lowest risk of malaria.

While the dry seasons are the best times for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you can still do a trek at any time of the year, as permits are sold for all months. Also, please note that you're never guaranteed of dry trekking conditions, even in the so-called dry seasons. This is because the Virunga Mountain range has a mix of tropical and equatorial climates and so experiences rain and mist all year round.

Rain clouds hover over Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park ranges in elevation from 2,400 m to 4,507 m. It's also just a stone's throw from the Equator to the north. The temperature in the park consequently doesn't change all that much throughout the year. It has a fairly cool mean daily temperature of around 15 ℃ (59 ℉). The mean night-time temperature is 6 ℃ (43 ℉).

The park's high elevation and the presence of many mountains also means that the region is synonymous with clouds, rain and mist. The park has an average annual rainfall of nearly 2,000 mm. By far the most rain falls in March and April. The short rainy season which peaks in November is also a risky time to book a gorilla trek in Rwanda.

The two dry seasons in Rwanda are also the country's peak gorilla trekking seasons. This means gorilla trekking permits sell out sooner for the dry seasons – sometimes many months in advance.

If you don't like travelling during peak seasons or wish make book a last-minute gorilla trek, then please consider the shoulder months (May, September, December and March) or off-peak months.

Gorilla treks require you to hike through thick jungle

The ideal gorilla trekking conditions are no rain and dry ground. Lots of rain can make the trails muddy and slippery, which can be unpleasant for some, especially on steep sections of the trek.

Note that it doesn't have to be raining on the day for you to get wet on a gorilla trek, since you must often pick your way through dense foliage in search of a gorilla troop. So if you'd like a dry trek, your best bet is to travel to Rwanda during a dry season so that you can hope to arrive during a dry (or dryish) spell.

A sunny day is obviously ideal for a gorilla trek, as the sun's rays then filter through the canopy and offer a pretty play of light. But there's charm too to a gloomy day, as that also offers an authentic experience of mountain gorilla life. There's a reason Dian Fossey called her book Gorillas in the Mist, after all.

A gorilla trekking group in Volcanoes National Park

Please note that the best time to visit Rwanda to see gorillas is the same as the best time to go to Uganda to see gorillas. This is because the mountain gorilla population that lives in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is the same as that which lives Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The two parks form a transnational reserve protecting their shared mountain gorilla population.

Note that there's another, separate mountain gorilla population living further north in Uganda. This gorilla population is protected by Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. But the seasons here are similar, so the best time to see mountain gorillas anywhere in Uganda remain the same as the best time to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda. For more on this topic, please read Gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda – which is better?

Finally, if you'd like to know the best time to go to Rwanda in general, then you'll need to please determine where else in the country you wish to visit. While Rwanda is a fairly small country, the different regions and star attractions have varying climates. You might find it helpful to read Top things to do in Rwanda to pinpoint where exactly in Rwanda you want to visit. We can then help you to plan the perfect Rwanda itinerary for you, as well as determine the best time to visit Rwanda for all of these places.