Rwanda in December

Rains ease mid-month; Christmas trips fill lodges.

• Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzefine

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

• Central plateau · Kigali, Huyefine

  Mild around 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.

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.

• Christmas and Boxing Day

  25–26 Dec

  Lodges busy.

• Umuganda

  Last Saturday monthly, 08:00–11:00

  Community work; traffic stops and shops shut until about midday.

Crowds · Rwanda

Medium

Prices · Rwanda

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Kigali

  Drier again; Christmas and year-end crowds.