Holidays in Rwanda

Just breathing the name Rwanda evokes visions of the awful genocide the country suffered in 1994. However, these days it’s their gorillas, rather than the guerrillas, making the headlines and these loveable shaggy primates have put Rwanda firmly back on the travel map.

Even though Rwanda’s scars are healing, any visitor should acknowledge its past by paying a visit to Kigali’s poignant Genocide Memorial, as well as enjoying the capital’s thriving art scene while you’re there. The country’s nickname – ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ – is a nod to its richly diverse landscapes, each blessed with extraordinary beauty. In African terms, Rwanda is pint-sized, so soaking up a selection of places in one unforgettable holiday is easy.

The forests, hippo-filled lakes and fertile plains of Akagera National Park are a conservation success story and home to the Big Five, while the singing fishermen of Lake Kivu never fail to make you grin. Volcanoes National Park and its resident mountain gorillas – made famous by the Dian Fossey-inspired film Gorillas in the Mist – are the big drawcard and a few minutes with them will leave you spellbound. In the south, Nyungwe Forest National Park is another primate paradise, renowned for its chimpanzee tracking but also home to plenty of other species of monkey. It may be called the ‘Land of a Thousands Hills’, but you’ll be leaving Rwanda with a thousand smiles.

Rwanda is filled with once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experiences, whether it's tracking chimpanzees or spending precious time in the company of mountain gorillas. Luxury lodges hidden among the emerald scenery offer opulent refuges after a thrilling day in Rwanda's wilds, while boutique hotels serve up comfortable city living in the capital, Kigali.

Rwanda has a warm, tropical climate throughout the whole year, with the ‘dry’ seasons from December-February and June-mid October and the rainy seasons from March-May and late October-November.

The long dry season (June-mid October) is the best time to visit Rwanda for spotting gorillas, offering great weather on the whole. However, it is the rainforest, so there’s always the chance of rain. However, this is also the most popular time for gorilla trekking and permits (July-August is also the European and American summer break), lodges and guides can be fully booked up to a year in advance. So, if you’re considering visiting Rwanda at this time of year, be prepared to book well in advance.

Late October to November sees the ‘short rains’ arrive and though showers are more common, it makes the rainforest even greener and more spectacular than usual, the flowering trees and plants bringing rich birdlife with them. The rainy seasons are the best time to go to Rwanda for spotting chimpanzees in Nyungwe, as in the ‘drier’ seasons it’s harder to find food, so they have to head deeper into the forest. A lot of people are put off by the increased rain but it’s worth remembering that it’s expected across the whole year anyway.

It beings to dry up a little from December to February, making it another great window to spot the country’s fabulous wildlife. Forest hiking trails are less slippery, especially in late-January and February, too. However, the high demand and loftier prices increase during the drier months, so please take those factors into account.

March to May sees the ‘long rains’ arrive, which are heavier than the ‘short rains’. The ripening trees again make it a good time to track chimpanzees, enticed to the fruit on the lower branches, while the landscape is beautifully lush and green. Despite the rain, it’s still an excellent time for tracking wildlife, including the gorillas!