AI-generatedKigali at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 26°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,000 h
- Rain a year
- 929 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1,542 m
Climate in Kigali
Kigali has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 26 °C, while May is the coolest at 24 °C. With around 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, Kigali is moderately sunny; September is the sunniest month with 5.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
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 19°
- Midday, 13:00: about 25°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 24°
- Evening, 20:00: about 19°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
05:4117:50
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 05:28–06:08 · evening 17:22–18:03
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:20–05:28 · evening 18:03–18:11
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.
What is the weather like in Kigali in October?
In October, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 113 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 9 min05:41 – 17:50
- 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
- 78 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+2Africa/Kigali
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %38 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %3 %
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
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Kigali
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 5.3 of 12.1 hours of daylight in Kigali, 44 % of the day.
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.
UV index in Kigali
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 it, 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.
Rain in Kigali: 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, Kigali has about 18 rainy days with 113 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Kigali
How breezy and how cloudy Kigali 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 Kigali typically peaks at 11 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 78 % of the sky over Kigali: mostly cloudy, with about 5.3 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.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Kigali
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
PleasantOctober: nights around 15°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in December (14°), the warmest in August (16°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from January to October.
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 | 66 | 25° | 15° | 5.6 h | 15 | 78 |
| FebruaryFeb | 66 | 26° | 15° | 5.7 h | 15 | 80 |
| MarchMar | 58 | 25° | 15° | 5.4 h | 21 | 111 |
| AprilApr | 57 | 24° | 15° | 5.0 h | 24 | 143 |
| MayMay | 66 | 24° | 15° | 5.6 h | 14 | 76 |
| JuneJun | 89 | 24° | 15° | 5.7 h | 2 | 10 |
| JulyJul | 89 | 25° | 15° | 5.7 h | 1 | 5 |
| AugustAug | 87 | 26° | 16° | 5.4 h | 4 | 27 |
| SeptemberSep | 75 | 26° | 15° | 5.8 h | 11 | 57 |
| OctoberOct | 59 | 25° | 15° | 5.3 h | 18 | 113 |
| NovemberNov | 57 | 24° | 14° | 5.0 h | 22 | 133 |
| DecemberDec | 58 | 24° | 14° | 5.5 h | 19 | 96 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, 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
1.95° S, 30.06° E · 1,542 m · Africa/Kigali
Best time to visit Kigali
The best time to visit Kigali is from June to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is April with 143 mm.
Kigali through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Kigali in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 24–26 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 50 rainy days in all
Kigali in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 24–26 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Kigali in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 24–25 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 59 rainy days in all
Kigali in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 24–26 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kigali for you.
Your best months: June – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Kigali
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 Kigali: score 89 against 59. In June, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. June has 16 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 59 | 89better |
| Day high | 25° | 24° |
| Night low | 15° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 5.3 h | 5.7 h |
| Rainy days | 18 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 113 mm | 10 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
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 – May
12 or more rainy days
Kigali month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
66January25° · 6 h
In January, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 78 mm. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in January66February26° · 6 h
In February, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in February58March25° · 5 h
In March, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 21 days, adding up to 111 mm. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in March57April24° · 5 h
In April, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 143 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in April66May24° · 6 h
In May, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 76 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in May89June24° · 6 h
In June, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in June89July25° · 6 h
In July, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in July87August26° · 5 h
In August, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 27 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in August75September26° · 6 h
In September, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in September59October25° · 5 h
In October, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 113 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in October57November24° · 5 h
In November, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 133 mm. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in November58December24° · 6 h
In December, Kigali is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 96 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Kigali.
Kigali in DecemberKigali compared
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Kigali vs. Bujumbura
In October Bujumbura has the better holiday weather (score 67 vs. 59). During the day Bujumbura is 5 °C warmer than Kigali.
| in October | Kigali | Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 59 | 67 |
| Daytime high | 25° | 30° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 18 | 3 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Feb – Dec |
Through the year
Planning a trip to Kigali
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Kigali 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.
Kigali has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 88) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 57).
- 57
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 24 °C by day
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 71
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 24 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 88
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 59
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 25 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 62
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 25 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 17 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 25 min
- Distance
- 6,600 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.
Frequently asked questions about Kigali
When is the best time to visit Kigali?
The best time to visit Kigali 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 Kigali?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C and nights around 16 °C. May is the coolest month at 24 °C.
When does it rain most in Kigali?
Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is April with 143 mm. The driest month is July with 5 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Kigali get?
Kigali gets around 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is September with 5.8 hours a day; in April there are 5.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Kigali in?
Kigali uses the time zone Africa/Kigali, at UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Kigali?
A nonstop flight from London to Kigali takes about 8 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,600 km.
Which school holidays are best for Kigali?
Kigali has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 88) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 57). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 57, May half-term 71, Summer holidays 88, October half-term 59, Christmas holidays 62.
Near Kigali
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Kigali
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Kigali's – good alternatives.