Rwanda in January

Short dry season: good trekking, green hills.

• Virunga volcanoes · Volcanoes NP, Musanzebest weather

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

• Central plateau · Kigali, Huyebest weather

  Mild around 25 °C by day; two rainy seasons.

• Lake Kivu and Nyungwe · Gisenyi, Kibuye, Nyungwe Forestfine

  Nyungwe is a rainforest — wet all year, driest June–August.

• Eastern savanna · Akagerabest weather

  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.

• New Year

  1–2 Jan

  Two public holidays.

• 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.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Virunga volcanoes

  Best weather of the year (Volcanoes NP, Musanze)

• Central plateau

  Best weather of the year (Kigali, Huye)

• Eastern savanna

  Best weather of the year (Akagera)

• Kigali

  Dry and warm; short dry season.