AI-generatedBukavu at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 27°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,960 h
- Rain a year
- 1,073 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1,631 m
Climate in Bukavu
Bukavu has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. August is the warmest month with average highs of 27 °C, while December is the coolest at 25 °C. With around 1,960 hours of sunshine a year, Bukavu is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 6.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Bukavu
The best time to visit Bukavu is from June to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. The rainy season is from October to April; the wettest month is April with 189 mm.
Bukavu through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Bukavu in the dry season
May – Sep
Excellent
- 26–27 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Bukavu in the rainy season
Oct – Apr
Fair
- 25–26 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 144 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Apr
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Bukavu for you.
Your best months: June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 20°
- Midday, 13:00: about 26°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 25°
- Evening, 20:00: about 21°
- Night, 23:00: about 19°
05:4517:55
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:33–06:13 · evening 17:27–18:08
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:25–05:33 · evening 18:08–18:16
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Bukavu compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 26° at the start of the month to 25° at the end.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 26° | 25° |
| Night-time low | 16° | 16° |
| Daylight | 12.1 h | 12.2 h |
What is the weather like in Bukavu in October?
In October, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 134 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 10 min05:45 – 17:55
- UV index
- 16 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 11 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 83 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+2offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %28 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Bukavu
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Bukavu: score 91 against 56. Daytime highs are about the same. June has 17 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 56 | 91better |
| Daytime high | 26° | 26° |
| Night-time low | 16° | 16° |
| Sunshine | 4.7 h | 6.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 19 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 134 mm | 5 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Bukavu month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
57January25° · 5.1 h
In January, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 96 mm. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in January60February26° · 5.1 h
In February, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 73 mm. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in February57March26° · 5.1 h
In March, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 132 mm. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in March57April26° · 5.0 h
In April, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 189 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in April72May26° · 5.9 h
In May, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in May91June26° · 6.3 h
In June, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in June91July26° · 6.2 h
In July, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in July89August27° · 6.0 h
In August, Bukavu is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 6.0 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in August78September27° · 5.7 h
In September, Bukavu is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 46 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in September56October26° · 4.7 h
In October, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 134 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in October55November25° · 4.4 h
In November, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 23 days, totalling 176 mm. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in November56December25° · 4.9 h
In December, Bukavu is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 136 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Bukavu.
Bukavu in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Bukavu
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
PleasantOctober: nights around 16°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in July (15°), the warmest in March (17°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 57 | 25° | 16° | 5.1 h | 21 | 96 |
| FebruaryFeb | 60 | 26° | 16° | 5.1 h | 17 | 73 |
| MarchMar | 57 | 26° | 17° | 5.1 h | 21 | 132 |
| AprilApr | 57 | 26° | 16° | 5.0 h | 22 | 189 |
| MayMay | 72 | 26° | 16° | 5.9 h | 12 | 73 |
| JuneJun | 91 | 26° | 16° | 6.3 h | 2 | 5 |
| JulyJul | 91 | 26° | 15° | 6.2 h | 1 | 2 |
| AugustAug | 89 | 27° | 16° | 6.0 h | 2 | 10 |
| SeptemberSep | 78 | 27° | 16° | 5.7 h | 9 | 46 |
| OctoberOct | 56 | 26° | 16° | 4.7 h | 19 | 134 |
| NovemberNov | 55 | 25° | 16° | 4.4 h | 23 | 176 |
| DecemberDec | 56 | 25° | 16° | 4.9 h | 22 | 136 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
2.49° S, 28.84° E · 1,631 m · Africa/Lubumbashi
Sunshine hours in Bukavu
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.7 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Bukavu, 39 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Bukavu: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Bukavu has about 19 rainy days with 134 mm of rain in total.
UV index in Bukavu
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 16 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in March (UV 16).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind and clouds in Bukavu
How breezy and how cloudy Bukavu is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Bukavu typically peaks at 11 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 83 % of the sky over Bukavu: mostly overcast, with about 4.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Bukavu
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Bukavu in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Bukavu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 90) and its weakest during October half-term (score 56).
- 57
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 26 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 76
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 26 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 90
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 27 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 56
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 26 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 57
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 25 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 30 min
- Distance
- 6,610 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Compare & alternatives
Bukavu compared
Put Bukavu side by side with another destination.
Bukavu vs Goma
In October the holiday weather in Bukavu and Goma is about equally good (score 56 vs 53). During the day Goma is 2 °C cooler than Bukavu. Goma gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Bukavu | Goma |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 56 | 53 |
| Daytime high | 26° | 24° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 19 | 18 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
DR Congo in October: the best places
In October, Bukavu ranks 2 of 7 destinations in this country.
- Lubumbashi33°59
- 2BukavuThis page26°56
- 3Goma24°54
- 4Matadi30°40
- 5Kisangani30°35
- 6Mbuji-Mayi31°30
- 7Kinshasa32°28
Near Bukavu
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Bukavu
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Bukavu's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Bukavu
When is the best time to visit Bukavu?
The best time to visit Bukavu is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Bukavu?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C and nights around 16 °C. December is the coolest month at 25 °C.
When does it rain most in Bukavu?
The rainy season is from October to April; the wettest month is April with 189 mm. The driest month is July with 2 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Bukavu get?
Bukavu gets around 1,960 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 6.3 hours a day; in November there are 4.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Bukavu in?
Bukavu is on UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Bukavu?
A nonstop flight from London to Bukavu takes about 8 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,610 km.
Which school holidays are best for Bukavu?
Bukavu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 90) and its weakest during October half-term (score 56). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 57, May half-term 76, summer holidays 90, October half-term 56, Christmas holidays 57.