Rwanda

Rwanda Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Rwanda in May.

Planning a trip to Rwanda this May? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Rwanda in May

Rwanda offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In May, one might encounter temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from pleasant in Ruhengeri at 22°C (72°F) to warm in Rwamagana at 27°C (81°F). At night it cools down to 18°C (64°F) in Rwamagana and 13°C (55°F) in Ruhengeri.

For specific regional insights in Rwanda, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Rwamagana with an average of 73 mm (2.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Kinigi with 236 mm (9.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Kigali receives about 165 hours of sunlight in May, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore Rwanda by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Rwanda - and find the best time to visit. (based on Kigali)

Best Places to Visit in Rwanda in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Rwanda.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Rwanda

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Rwanda?

Temperature range in Rwanda (May)

Precipitation variation in Rwanda (May)

Kigali

In May Kigali generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
150 hours
165 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
149 mm (5.9 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
17 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Ruhengeri

In May Ruhengeri generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
129 hours
115 hours
171 hours
Monthly rainfall
343 mm (14 in)
220 mm (8.7 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
19 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Gisenyi

In May Gisenyi generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly rainfall
316 mm (12 in)
196 mm (7.7 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
17 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Kacyiru

In May Kacyiru generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
150 hours
165 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
154 mm (6.1 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
17 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Kanombe

In May Kanombe generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
150 hours
165 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
146 mm (5.7 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
17 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Rwanda.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Rwanda in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kigali 26°C (79°F) 16°C (61°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Ruhengeri 22°C (72°F) 13°C (55°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Gisenyi 22°C (72°F) 17°C (63°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Kanombe 26°C (79°F) 17°C (63°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Rwamagana 27°C (81°F) 18°C (64°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Kacyiru 26°C (79°F) 16°C (61°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)

Rwanda weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Rwanda in May?

Expect excellent weather across Rwanda in May. The popular destination of Kigali averages 26°C (79°F) by day and 16°C (61°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Rwanda in May?

Average temperatures in Rwanda during May range from a nighttime low near 16°C (61°F) to a daytime high around 26°C (79°F) in Kigali.

Does Rwanda get a lot of rain in May?

Not particularly. Kigali averages just 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Rwanda.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Rwanda?

We believe that May is one of the best times to visit Rwanda with overall excellent weather in Kigali. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit Rwanda is in January, February, May, June, July, August and September with generally excellent weather in Kigali.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Rwanda.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Rwanda? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Rwanda.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.