Kigali — time and weather
Kigali is a city in Rwanda, in the Africa/Kigali time zone. This page shows the current local time in Kigali and the current weather: temperature, precipitation and wind speed.
About the time in Kigali
Local time in Kigali is based on the Africa/Kigali time zone. Daylight saving time, where it applies in this region, is handled automatically. The current offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is shown next to the clock. The time on this page updates every second and is synced with your device clock.
About the country and city
Rwanda, the 'land of a thousand hills' in East Africa, is known for mountain gorillas, cleanliness and its post-tragedy recovery.
More about the country: Rwanda →What to see in Kigali
Sights and historical places
- The Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, resting place of more than 250,000 victims and home to a powerful museum.
- The Nyamirambo hill, the capital's most colourful Muslim quarter with its bazaar and women's centre.
- The King's Palace museum at Nyanza and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum near the city.
- The modern Kigali Convention Centre with its illuminated dome, a symbol of the capital's new face.
Museums
- The Gisozi Genocide Memorial, with a detailed exhibition on the events of 1994 and their background.
- The Campaign Against Genocide Museum in the Mount Rebero bunker, devoted to the ending of the genocide.
- The Inema Arts Centre and Ivuka Arts galleries, showcasing Rwanda's contemporary art.
Where to spend time
- Walks across Kigali's clean green hills with panoramic views over the 'city of a thousand hills'.
- Third-wave coffee shops and the local Kimironko market with fruit, fabrics and crafts.
- Trips out to Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park as a natural extension of a city stay.
Local cuisine
Try goat brochettes and Lake Kivu tilapia, a buffet 'mélange' of rice, plantain and beans, and the famous Rwandan coffee and tea in the capital's cafés.
Climate in Kigali: month by month
The warmest month in Kigali is September, with average daytime highs of 27.7 °C; the coolest is April, around 25.1 °C by day and 15.1 °C at night. Rainfall peaks in November (~125 mm) and is lowest in July (~4 mm).
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain, mm | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26 | 15 | 95 | 13 |
| February | 27 | 15 | 80 | 13 |
| March | 27 | 15 | 106 | 18 |
| April | 25 | 15 | 113 | 22 |
| May | 25 | 15 | 75 | 15 |
| June | 26 | 14 | 14 | 3 |
| July | 27 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| August | 28 | 15 | 36 | 6 |
| September | 28 | 15 | 57 | 11 |
| October | 27 | 15 | 88 | 15 |
| November | 26 | 15 | 125 | 21 |
| December | 26 | 15 | 123 | 20 |
Averages computed from daily observations 2021–2025 (Open-Meteo archive). Useful for trip planning, not a forecast for a specific date.
Good to know: sun, seasons and time differences
Based on 2021–2025 climate normals, the most comfortable months to visit Kigali are January–March, May–October: pleasant daytime temperatures and less rain than in the wettest months of the year.
Sun today in Kigali: Sunrise 06:01 · Sunset 18:05 · Day length 12:03
Time difference from Kigali right now:
| New York | +6 h |
| London | +1 h |
| Dubai | −2 h |
| Tokyo | −7 h |
| Paris | same time |
| Sydney | −8 h |