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Climate in Burundi


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Burundi

Map - Burundi

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In Burundi, a country located just south of the Equator, the climate is subtropical or tropical depending on the altitude, while in a given location the temperature is fairly uniform throughout the year.
Much of the country is in fact occupied by a plateau, at an altitude of around 1,500/1,800 meters (5,000/6,000 feet), but in the west, there is also a lower region, around 800 meters (2,600 feet), as well as a mountainous belt.
From June to August, i.e. the austral winter, is the dry season, during which cool breezes from the south-east blow, there is little rain, and the sun often shines.
By mid-August, the temperature begins to rise, and in September and October, the highest values of the year are recorded. At the same time, however, the rains begin, which occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms, and gradually lower the temperature, which returns to the values of the rest of the year, around 22/25 °C (72/77 °F) during the day on the plateau, and around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) in the western lowlands.

If we exclude the three dry months, moderate rains fall in the rest of the year. Rainfall tends to increase with altitude, and it typically amounts to around 1,200/1,400 millimeters (47/55 inches) per year on the plateau, while it drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) in the west, which is the warmest and least rainy area of the country.

The amount of sunshine in Burundi is good in the dry season, especially in June and July, while it becomes just acceptable from November to April. A bit of cloudiness can occur in all seasons, especially at higher altitudes.

The climate in detail


  • The lowlands - Bujumbura
  • Plateau - Gitega
  • High altitude - Rwegura
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The lowlands



In the western area, we find Lake Tanganyika, whose banks are located at 770 meters (2,500 feet) above sea level. The lake moderates the climate especially at night, keeping the temperature somewhat higher and causing a bit of sultriness, but it also brings beneficial breezes during the day.

Bujumbura

Climate chart - Bujumbura
The largest city and former capital, Bujumbura, is located along the shores of the lake. Here, it's hot throughout the year, but without excesses, in fact, the maximum temperature is around 29 °C (84 °F) all year round, except from mid-August to October, when it reaches 30/31 °C (86/88 °F).
In Bujumbura, 835 mm (33 in) of rain fall per year, with a peak in April and May, when rainfall reaches or exceeds 90 mm (3.5 in) per month, and a minimum from June to August, when the rains are rare and sporadic.

Bujumbura

In the west, the altitude goes below a thousand meters (3,300 feet) also along the border with Congo, where the Rusizi River flows, and where it can sometimes be very hot between September and March, with peaks around 35 °C (95 °F).

Plateau



Apart from Bujumbura, most of Burundi's cities are located on the plateau, and therefore have a cooler climate.

Gitega

Climate chart - Gitega
Gitega, the capital and second largest city of Burundi, is located in the center of the country, at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft). Daytime temperatures reach 27 °C (81 °F) in August and September, at the end of the dry season.
In Gitega, the rains are a little more abundant than in Bujumbura, according to the rule that the rains increase with increasing altitude.

High altitude



In western Burundi, east of the Rusizi River and Lake Tanganyka, there is also a mountainous area, where the altitude exceeds 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The northern part is occupied by the Kibira National Park, while more to the south, we find Mount Heha, which is the highest peak of the country with its 2,684 meters (8,806 feet).

Rwegura

Climate chart - Rwegura
In Rwegura, located in the north-west, at 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level, daytime temperatures fluctuate between 19 and 21 °C (66 and 70 °F) throughout the year.
In this mountainous area, rainfall reaches 1,700 mm (68 in) per year, and it's abundant from October to April, although there is a certain decrease in January and February.

When to go



The best time to visit Burundi runs from June to August, since it is clearly the driest and sunniest time of the year. Anyway, in this season, it can sometimes be cool or even cold at night, with temperatures around 12 °C (54 °F) in Bujumbura and even below on the plateau.

What to pack



In winter (June to August): in Bujumbura, Lake Tanganyika and the lowlands of the west, bring light clothes, a sweatshirt and a light jacket, and a light scarf for the breeze. On the plateau and in the mountains, bring spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a sweater and a warm jacket for the evening, a sun hat, and hiking shoes.

In the rest of the year: in Bujumbura, Lake Tanganyika and the lowlands of the west, bring light clothing, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella. On the plateau and in the mountains, bring spring/autumn clothes, being ready to remove the outer layer during the day, a jacket, and a raincoat for the evening; a sun hat, hiking shoes.

Climate data - Burundi


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Bujumbura (800 meters)
Bujumbura, location on the map
Bujumbura, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191919201918171719191919
Max temp.293029293030293031302929
Precip.100851201105510515356095100
Prec. days16191818102128151919
Humidity77%75%78%79%76%67%63%60%62%68%76%77%
Day length123122121120120119119120121122123123
Sun hours566678987655

Gitega (1.700 meters)
Gitega, location on the map
Gitega, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.141414141412101213131414
Max temp.252623252525262727262525
Precip.16014516517075551055100150145
Prec. days23192122142128172324

Musasa (1.285 meters)
Musasa, location on the map
Musasa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161616161613121315161616
Max temp.282628282728282931302828
Precip.1701401101958050103085190155
Prec. days18161819111115121820

Muyinga (1.750 meters)
Muyinga, location on the map
Muyinga, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.151515151514141415151414
Max temp.252525242426262727262525
Precip.120110155185801052560105135155
Prec. days161518211322310162119

Ngozi (1.840 meters)
Ngozi, location on the map
Ngozi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1212121211991012121212
Max temp.222222212121222324232221
Precip.1651752052051151051565125185175
Prec. days22192123163139172324

Nyanza-Lac (880 meters)
Nyanza-Lac, location on the map
Nyanza-Lac, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191919191918161718191919
Max temp.282828292929303031292828
Precip.1601201601651051051020105180190
Prec. days1613161792113121819

Rwegura (2.300 meters)
Rwegura, location on the map
Rwegura, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.121212121111111112121212
Max temp.202120201920202121212021
Precip.15515020524010025535125260195235
Prec. days201822241742413202322



See also the temperatures month by month

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