Rwanda experiences a temperate highland climate influenced by its hilly relief and altitude, resulting in variations in temperature and rainfall across different regions. Human activities, such as deforestation and poor agricultural practices, further affect the climate, particularly leading to semi-arid conditions in some areas. The country's climate features two main seasons—wet and dry—along with intricate interactions between natural and anthropogenic factors that shape local weather patterns.

1. Unit 6:
Climate in
Rwanda
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2. Introduction
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Climate refers to the average weather conditions of
an area measured and recorded for a long period of
time, usually over 35 years.
Rwanda is said to have
temperate of highland
climate. For this climate,
the annual mean
temperature is around
20⁰c and average annual
total of rainfall for all the
country is 1200 mm.

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Rwanda has varying climatic
conditions. Basing on her latitudinal
location, Rwanda should have an
equatorial climate. However, its
climate is not truly equatorial

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Rwanda is a few miles away
from the equator, yet her
climate is not truly equatorial.
Why?

5. The relief of Rwanda is dominantly
hilly, mountains and with plateaus.
These features have had a
direct influence on the
temperatures and amount of
rainfall received in the country.
The nature of the country’s
relief is responsible for the
temperate type of climate. A
good example is the areas in
the northern and western parts
of the country.
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7. The prevailing winds that blow towards the country carry
little or no moisture
This mostly affects parts of
the Eastern Province. The
south-east trade winds carry
a lot of moisture from the
Indian Ocean. The moisture
is then dropped in the
southern highland areas of
Tanzania. By the time the
winds reach the Eastern
region of Rwanda, they are
completely dry hence the
semi-arid conditions in the
area.
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8. Rwanda has inadequate forests
The absence of dense
vegetation in some areas
such as in Bugesera has
disrupted the hydrological
cycle leading to the
creation of semi-arid
climatic conditions in the
area thus receiving
unreliable rainfall.
However, the
government’s intervention
of preserving and planting
more trees has assisted in
reversing this trend. The
efforts are still work in
progress.
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9. Human activities are also directly responsible for the
absence of a true equatorial type of climate in Rwanda.
• These activities
include poor farming
methods,
deforestation, mining
and construction and
the establishment of
settlements due to
the increasing
population. This has
caused great pressure
on the land leading to
the destruction of
vegetation.
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10. Rwanda has few wetlands and large water bodies which
would be supportive to the occurrence of an equatorial
type of climate through the hydrological cycle.
The absence of such
water bodies has
limited the humid
conditions that are
associated with the
equatorial climate.
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11. Climate regions of Rwanda
Due to the differences in altitude, the country
can be divided into various climatic regions.
They are as follows;
1. Lowlands of Eastern Province
2. Central plateau
3. Highlands of Gicumbi
4. Congo Nile crest and Virunga regions
5. The plains of Bugarama
6. The Lake Kivu surroundings
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13. Lowlands of the Eastern
plateau
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• The Eastern lowland area is
one of the hottest areas in
Rwanda.
• It has a mean annual
temperature that ranges
between 22 - 24°C.
• The precipitation received in
this area ranges between 800-
1000mm
The high temperatures are
mainly due to the absence of
dense vegetation due to
unreliable rainfall and dry winds

14. Central plateau
• This climatic region
receives rainfall that
ranges between 1000
and 1400mm.
• The mean annual
temperature is
between 19°C and
20°C.
This region receives
steady and moderate
rainfall which has
supported the human
activities that take
place within the area
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15. Plains of Bugarama
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• This climatic region
receives rainfall
amounts that are below
900mm. However, the
region averagely has an
annual rainfall of about
1079mm.
• In this region, the
average annual
temperature is about
24°C

16. The Congo Nile crest and the volcanoes
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• The Congo Nile crest, the
volcanoes and highland
areas of Gicumbi, are the
coldest areas in Rwanda.
• The mean annual
temperatures here range
between 15°C and 18°C.
• The rainfall received here
is mainly orographic
rainfall (1200 - 1600 mm).
It is in this area where the
highest rainfall is received
- 2200mm mostly around
the volcanic areas.

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23. Factors that influence the climate of
Rwanda
1. Altitude: Most of Rwanda is of a high altitude. The altitude of the
country ranges from between 1000-4500m above sea level and
this influence greatly the climate of Rwanda.
2. Latitude: The apparent movement of the sun over the equator
comes along with heavy rainfall in favour of Rwanda. When the
sun’s position is overhead the Tropic of Cancer, Rwanda gets little
or no rainfall.
3. Vegetation: In areas where there are dense forests such as
Nyungwe, Gishwati and Birunga, more rainfall is experienced than
in the savanna grassland areas of the Eastern plateau.
4. Presence of water bodies: Rwanda has very few water bodies that
have very little influence on the climate of the country because of
their sizes and nature. This scenario limits the supply of humidity
into the atmosphere.
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24. 5. Influence of global winds: The global winds (dry south- east
trade winds) reach the eastern parts of the country when they
dry winds and have played a great role in the creation of dry
conditions in areas such as Bugesera, Kirehe, Ngoma, and
Gisagara.
6. Influence of local winds: Local winds that blow in Rwanda are
Breezes. There are land and lake breezes, mountain or hill and
valley breezes. They contribute to modify temperature and
increase rainfall in Rwanda.
7. Human activities: Activities such as afforestation, reforestation
and agroforestry that aim at conserving and protecting forests,
the environment and wetlands influence the climate of the
country. On the other hand, reclamation of wetlands and other
marshy areas in favour of rice growing and a wide range of
agricultural projects, has affected the climate of the country
leading to dry conditions.
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25. Seasons of Rwanda
The climate of Rwanda is made up of two kinds of seasons: wet or
rainy season and dry season. Each season is also divided into 2
seasons:
Wet season: Short wet or rainy season and main or long rainy
season
Dry season: short dry season and long or main dry season
• The short rainy season (Umuhindo): Lasts from October to December
and records around 30% of annual rainfall.
• The short dry season (Urugaryi): From the end of December to mid
February.
• The main rainy season (Itumba): From mid February to May with 60%
of annual rainfall.
• The main dry season (Iki or Impeshyi): From June to September and
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26. 1. Human activities such as agriculture depend on a good climate. Crops
need reliable and well distributed rainfall and ideal temperatures. This is
the reason why in places where rainfall is low, farming as a human
activity is challenging. On the other hand, poor farming methods such as
monoculture and overgrazing that affect the environment also affect the
climate of an area.
2. An activity like fishing is directly influenced by climate. The continued
existence of wetlands and other water bodies is supported by the
availability of rainfall. The presence of rainfall in a region is also
supported by the presence of water bodies in the area. Aquatic animals
also need conducive temperatures for their existence.
3. Favorable climates have led to the occurrence and presence of many
features such as forests, grasslands, wetlands and water bodies. These
features form tourist attraction sites.
4. A good climate with reliable rainfall supports mining especially of alluvial
mineral deposits. These deposits occur in alluvial soils which come into
existence due to the presence of rivers and lakes.
5. Settlements of all kinds both in rural and urban areas are influenced by
climate. Many people prefer staying in areas with favorable climates.
6. Industrialisation as a human activity is affected by climate and also
influences it. Some industries such as Agro-industries and water bottling
industries depend on a good climate with reliable rainfall.
Describe the relationship between climate and human activities in Rwanda

27. 1. To what extent has climate of Rwanda been influenced by
altitude?
2. Explain the differences existing between the climatic
characteristics of the Congo Nile crest and the low plateau
regions of Rwanda.
3. Describe the impact of climatic characteristics of the Northern
Province of Rwanda on the people that live there.
4. Rwanda is a few miles away from the equator, yet her climate
is not truly equatorial. Discuss.
5. Giving specific examples, examine the causes of the semi-arid
conditions in some parts of Rwanda.
6. Imagine you are appointed to be the Minister for Environment
in Rwanda. Explain what you would do to make the climate and
environment of Rwanda better than they are today.
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Revision questions

28. To what extent has climate of Rwanda been influenced by
altitude?
Most of Rwanda is of a high altitude. The altitude of the country ranges
from between 1000-4500m above sea level. This high altitude is caused
by the mountainous terrain of the country. The high altitudes of the
mountains and hills of the country greatly influence the climate of the
country. They are responsible for the temperate climate adopted by the
country. The country largely experiences relief rainfall in areas such as
the Congo Nile crest, north-west and Birunga regions. These areas are
on the windward side that receives heavy rainfall throughout the year.
The amount of rainfall reduces with decrease in altitude and vice versa
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29. Explain the differences existing between the climatic
characteristics of the Congo Nile crest and the low
plateau regions of Rwanda
• The Congo-Nile Crest, the volcanoes and highland areas of Gicumbi, are the
coldest areas in Rwanda. The mean annual temperatures here range between
15°C and 18°C. In the north-west areas where the Birunga Mountains are found,
the mean annual temperature falls to 12°C.
• The Eastern lowland area is one of the hottest areas in Rwanda. It has a mean
annual temperature that ranges between 21°C and 24°C. The precipitation
received in this area ranges between 800-1000mm. However, in some seasons,
some parts of this region receive rainfall that is below 800 mm. The high
temperatures are mainly due to the absence of dense vegetation due to unreliable
rainfall and dry winds.
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30. Describe the impact of climatic
characteristics of the Northern Province
of Rwanda on the people that live there
The climate has influenced farming activities due to the
adequate and reliable rainfall as well as the good fertile
soils. This encourages the growth of vegetation such as
forests that encourage tourism in the area.
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