Bukavu's Climate
Bukavu lies in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on the southern shore of Lake Kivu at around 1,500 m elevation, near the equator but just south of it. Its altitude gives it a mild tropical highland climate that stays cool and pleasant year-round, with daytime highs usually 20–25°C and cooler nights, rarely turning hot. The year splits into a long rainy season (roughly September to May), with afternoon showers and thunderstorms, and a shorter dry season from June to August that is clear and largely rain-free. Lake Kivu and the surrounding hills bring cool, misty mornings.