When to go

Where to go in April

Conditions across all 46 destinations we cover, ranked for April. Wildlife viewing first, then weather, with the quieter option leading where two places are equally good.

Best in April

Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda
The gorillas are still here — the mud is the only difference, and permits are the same price.
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda
Wettest month — steep mud, but permits are the same price and the gorillas are the same gorillas.
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda
Long rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices.

Every destination in April

Ratings are out of five. Crowds invert: more bars means busier.

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in April
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	11–22 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	11–20 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	10–21 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	110 mm	18–33 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	15–26 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	200 mm	9–20 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	12–21 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	16–30 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	12–27 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	17–28 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	16–27 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	170 mm	12–27 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	170 mm	14–27 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	18–27 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	190 mm	24–32 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	170 mm	11–26 °C
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	150 mm	19–31 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	170 mm	14–25 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	17–28 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	190 mm	24–32 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	17–27 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	15–26 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	17–30 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	22–36 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	140 mm	21–34 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	16–28 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	21–34 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	150 mm	19–31 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	320 mm	23–31 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	320 mm	23–31 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	130 mm	19–32 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	320 mm	23–31 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	6–17 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	180 mm	18–27 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	200 mm	14–25 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	17–27 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	18–27 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	190 mm	25–33 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	190 mm	24–32 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	18–26 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	180 mm	12–23 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	230 mm	6–19 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	320 mm	22–31 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	320 mm	23–32 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 1 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	200 mm	16–26 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	200 mm	8–21 °C

Climate normals and typical patterns, not a forecast. East African rains have been arriving less predictably than these averages suggest — treat them as a guide to the shape of the year, not a promise about a given week.