Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali
Kigali is a capital city in Rwanda, 1,542 m above sea level. It has a population of about 1,745,555 (2022). The climate is classified as tropical savanna (Köppen Aw), with .
Now17°C
Best timeJun–Aug
Population1.75M
Local time22:34
1.95° S, 30.06° EElevation 1,542 mUTC+2 · Central Africa Time
October: high / low25° / 15°
Rain this month132mm
Best timeJun–Aug
Best: Jun–Aug. Warmth, sunshine and dry days, month by month.
Kigali at a glance
Sunrise · sunset05:40 · 17:5012 h 10 min of daylightThe moon tonightWaxing gibbous87% · Moonrise 15:35Next holiday25 DecemberChristmas DayNext eclipse21 Feb 2027Penumbral lunar eclipse
Best time to visitJun–Aug
The months with the highest weather score
Warmest month26°C
Average high in September
Coolest month15°C
Average low in May
Wettest monthApril
166 mm of rain
Driest monthJuly
12 mm of rain
Monuments nearby2+
1 of them World Heritage
How Kigali has grown
People living in the built-up area (286 km² today), every five years since 1975; 2030 is the projection.
+1290%117k in 1975 → 1.62M in 2025Weather in Kigali
Now and the next ten days. The 14 and 30-day outlooks are one click away.
17°C
Today hour by hourCloudy · wind 5 km/h · humidity 97%
Today22 Oct24°17°9.2 mm
Fri23 Oct24°16°2.8 mm
Sat24 Oct26°16°6.1 mm
Sun25 Oct24°15°8.2 mm
Mon26 Oct25°17°0.9 mm
Tue27 Oct25°16°4.4 mm
Wed28 Oct23°16°7.3 mm
Thu29 Oct21°17°9.3 mm
Fri30 Oct26°16°16.6 mm
Sat31 Oct20°17°8.4 mm
When to go to Kigali
Each month's weather score (warmth, sun, dry days) with its temperatures and rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 59 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 62 | 80 | 84 | 63 | 59 | 57 | 57 | 60 |
| High | 25° | 26° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 25° |
| Low | 15° | 15° | 15° | 15° | 15° | 15° | 15° | 16° | 15° | 15° | 14° | 14° |
| Rain (mm) | 82 | 94 | 122 | 166 | 110 | 20 | 12 | 34 | 75 | 132 | 149 | 81 |
| Wet days | 17 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 20 |
What's on in Kigali
Concerts, football matches, the public holidays ahead and the town's festivals through the year.
Monuments and museums in Kigali
Outdoors around Kigali
Hiking routes from the town, and what there is to do within 15 km: huts, viewpoints, climbing, camping, ski areas and dive sites.
TRCompanion I B&BCamp sites
0.8 kmKigali zoo for MoussaZoos
0.9 kmKigali Golf ClubGolf courses
0.9 kmMount KigaliMountain huts
1.2 kmTR CompanionCamp sites
1.7 kmNature around Kigali
Wildlife in October
The birds and mammals of Rwanda seen most this month, compared with the rest of their year.
The sky over Kigali
Earthquakes around Kigali
The last 30 days within 300 km, and the record since 1950.
Last 30 days0magnitude 2.5+ within 300 kmSince 195017magnitude 5+ within 150 kmSignificant earthquakes on record14within 300 km
Strongest nearby since 1950
6.2Goma 34 km ↙2002 · 117 km
5.9Cyangugu 21 km ↑2008 · 134 km
5.8Kirambo 33 km ↖2015 · 131 km
5.5Kirambo 33 km ↖2015 · 124 km
Universities and research institutes
Adventist University of Central AfricaUniversity or college · founded 1978
Mahatma Gandhi UniversityUniversity or college · founded 1983
Kigali Independent UniversityUniversity or college · founded 1996
College of Science and Technology - University of RwandaUniversity or college · founded 1997
University of Lay Adventists of KigaliUniversity or college · founded 1997
Mount Kigali UniversityUniversity or college · founded 2010
Carnegie Mellon University AfricaUniversity or college · founded 2011
University of KigaliUniversity or college · founded 2013
African Leadership UniversityUniversity or college · founded 2015
African Institute for Mathematical SciencesUniversity or college · founded 2016
Rwanda PolytechnicUniversity or college · founded 2017
AIMS Research and Innovation CentreUniversity or college · founded 2023
Africa Health Sciences UniversityUniversity or college · founded 2024
North Gate UniversityUniversity or college
University of Medical Sciences and Technology RwandaUniversity or college
East Africa Institute for Fundamental Research, ICTP - East Africa Institute for Fundamental ResearchResearch institute
Towns and villages around Kigali
Each with its own page: weather, climate and the best time to visit.
Katabaro1.2 kmKamuhoza1.7 kmKabusunzu1.8 kmKimisagara2.1 kmMunanira2.2 kmNyakabanda2.8 kmKiruhura2.9 kmNyamweru3.6 kmGatare3.8 kmKivugiza4.1 kmRuharabuge4.1 kmAgatare4.3 kmRutagara4.4 kmGisenga4.4 kmGakomeye4.4 kmMunini4.6 kmAkabeza4.7 kmKarama4.8 kmNzove4.9 kmAkumunigo5.1 kmNyabugogo5.1 kmKanyabami5.4 kmMuhanda5.5 kmRuzirabatutsi5.7 kmRuhengeri5.7 kmRuliba5.8 kmRugarama5.9 kmRubete6.2 kmMataba6.2 kmRuyenzi6.2 kmMpanga6.2 kmMwendo6.3 kmMusimba6.3 kmKarambo6.7 kmBirambo6.9 kmKanyinya7 kmKabahima7 kmRwesero7 kmBwiza7.1 kmGasharu7.4 kmNyarufunzo7.5 kmKagasa7.5 kmRweza7.6 kmMubuga7.7 kmVuganyana7.8 kmGitaka7.9 kmNyabihu8.1 kmGahombo8.2 kmRugendabali8.4 kmMaya8.7 kmBibungo9.1 kmButamwa9.2 kmBurema9.8 kmKankuba9.8 kmMataba9.8 kmGikuyu9.9 kmRwakivumu10 kmMubura10 kmNyarurenzi11 kmNyabirondo11 kmBuye11 kmKagaramira11 kmRushubi11 kmGisunzu11 kmMageregere11 kmUwurugenge12 kmNyarubande13 kmRunzenze13 kmRubungo13 kmMpanga13 kmNyarubande14 kmNtungamo14 km
Kigali from above
Around Kigali17 places to see, do and reach nearby
Nyabugogo RiverNature6.7 kmNyarutarama Golf LakeNature4.3 kmAkanyaru RiverNature15 kmMount JaliMountain5.2 kmMount KigaliMountain0.9 kmKigali Genocide MemorialMonument2.1 kmNyanza-Kicukiro Genocide MemorialMonument6.9 kmKandt House MuseumMuseum0.7 kmRwanda Art MuseumMuseum13 kmCampaign Against Genocide MuseumMuseum4.5 kmMuseum IngaboMuseum6.2 kmKinyinyaPlace7.4 kmKimironkoPlace8.4 kmGisoziPlace3.5 kmNderaPlace12 kmKimisagaraPlace2.1 kmRemeraPlace6.4 km
Getting to Kigali
Kigali International AirportKGL
9.2 kmGoma International AirportGOM
97 kmKamembe AirportKME
140 kmPlaces near Kigali
Places with a climate like Kigali
Matched month by month on temperature, rain and sunshine.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kigali?
Based on 30-year climate normals, June, July and August offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and sunshine in Kigali.
What is the hottest month in Kigali?
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C.
What is the coldest month in Kigali?
May is the coldest month, with average highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C.
What is the rainiest month in Kigali?
April is the wettest month with about 166 mm of precipitation on 25 wet days.