Weather & Climate in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Weather & Climate in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has a constant stream of rain and mist. When combined with the high altitude, this results in a rainy and chilly environment. Temperatures do not vary significantly throughout the year. During the day, temperatures hover around 16°C/61°F. It cools down to approximately 6°C/43°F at night. The park’s diverse height range results in a diverse set of climatic conditions. For every 1,000m hiked, the temperature reduces by around 6.5°C (or 3.5°F every 1,000ft).
The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is located in the north-western portion of Rwanda and spans around 16,000 hectares. It has afro-montane forests, bamboo forests, savannah grassland, extensive wetlands, and five volcanoes (Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Karisimbi).
Mount Karisimbi is one of Africa’s four highest mountains. Among the various creatures found in the Volcanoes National Park are spotted hyenas, buffaloes, elephants, bush bucks, duikers, and golden monkeys. The most popular activity in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is gorilla trekking, and the odds of spotting mountain gorillas are extremely high.
Weather & Climate in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Wet/Rainy Season in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda receives plenty of rainfall throughout the year. Visitors are advised to pack waterproof clothing, sturdy shoes for hiking and warm clothes for the cold weather and damp conditions. The rainy season in Volcanoes national park lasts from September to May.
September – If the rains don’t come in August, they’ll come in September. During the day, temperatures range between 16°C to 61°F, depending on height. The nights are chilly, with an average temperature of 6°C/43°F.
October and November — It rains a lot, with October being the wettest month. Temperatures stay constant.
December, January, and February — Rainfall is slightly lower than in October and November, although it might fall at any time. Wet-weather clothing is still required.
March and April are the wettest months, with days of rain. Hiking can be challenging since the pathways become quite slick. Temperatures do not fluctuate significantly.
May — By May, the rain has stopped and there are more bright days. The temperature is somewhat lower throughout the day.
What to do in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking
One of the thrills of a Rwanda safari is gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans. Tourists can follow mountain gorillas in the national park for a cost of USD 1500. Gorilla trekking may be done at any time of year depending on when people book; however, the ideal time to hike gorillas is between June and September, which is peak season. All tourists wishing to hike must get a gorilla trekking permit, and trekking is only permitted for people aged 18 and over.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda is a thrilling and challenging adventure. Tourists may see two habituated groups of Golden monkeys in the national park. Both of these groups have 80 members, and monitoring activities begin at 7 a.m. Permits for golden monkey trekking cost USD 100 and are valid across Rwanda and Uganda.
Hiking Karisimbi and Bisoke Mountains
Hiking adventures on the Mountains Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, or Gahinga are part of this activity. Tourists on a trekking excursion to Mount Karisimbi can see birds, animals like as mountain gorillas and forest elephants, and bug species. While trekking Mount Bisoke, visitors may see sights such as Crater Lake on the mountain’s peak. Hiking in Volcanoes National Park costs between $75 and $100 per person.
Hike to Dian Fossey Grave Site
Visitors to Volcanoes National Park may enjoy a trek to Dian Fossey’s mausoleum as well as a visit to the Karisoke Research Centre, all of which are located inside the park. For further details, please see our Dian Fossey article. This activity costs $100 USD per person.
Iby’iwacu Village Tour
It is impossible to visit Volcanoes National Park without also seeing the surrounding settlements. Tourists on cultural tours may visit Iby’iwacu community village, where they can engage with the locals, be entertained by the local intore dance troupe, and roam about the hamlet. Guests are also taken through the village’s cultural background as well as the process of creating local banana beer.
Note: Regardless of whether it is the dry or rainy season, Rwanda may be visited at any time of year and all activities can be completed regardless of the season. This allows visitors to see and experience all of Rwanda’s riches at any time of year.
