Weather And Climate –Best Time to Visit Uganda

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Weather And Climate –Best Time to Visit Uganda: Guide to Uganda’s weather and climate –best time to visit, months by months, seasons of the year in Uganda, and more. Get to know the best time to visit Uganda based on the weather and climatic conditions, season, months and also places to explore on Uganda safaris. Knowing the weather and climate of Uganda makes it easier to plan a successful tour. Uganda enjoys a year-round destination due to the favorable weather and climatic conditions most of the regions experience.

Unlike most destinations, Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa that enjoys favorable tropical climatic conditions. The tropical climate conditions in Uganda vary depending on the altitude. Uganda is crossed by the Equator, with the majority of the regions experiencing tropical climatic conditions. Regions with a tropical climate are characterized by misty highlands, dense rainforests, and heavy rainfall.

If you are a wildlife enthusiastic on a Uganda tour, the dry season is usually optimal for game viewing, primate tracking experiences (gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and chimpanzee tracking), or mountaineering adventures. The longest dry season is experienced from the month of June –September, while the short months as per Uganda’s calendar begin from December, January, to February.

During the dry seasons/months, the characterized temperatures range of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. Heavy rains are normally recorded during the rainy/wet seasons, a period when most trails become hard to be accessed. The heavy rains make the trails and routes slippery/muddy, thus posing a challenge in navigating through destinations with such conditions.

The best time to visit Uganda gorillas in Bwindi/Mgahinga

The dry season is the best time of the year for tourists to experience less disrupted gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga. During the dry season, visitors can opt to travel to track gorillas from June to August/early September or December to February. The skies tend to clear with hiking paths becoming more accessible.

Access through the Bwindi or Mgahinga forests to encounter gorillas is easier than visiting during the wet or rainy months. Gorilla trekking involves spending hours in the jungles while walking in the high and low altitude as you look for gorillas. Less rain is recorded during the dry season and even if it rains, it may not take long then you can resume with the trek.

Weather and climate per month

January is considered to be the hottest month of the year. In January, temperatures can fluctuate between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius. January falls in the middle of the short dry season in Uganda, and expect some rain showers but not as regularly as in March or April.

The driest month happens to be February, the month that is also ideal for game viewing or gorilla tours. Temperatures range from 29 degrees Celsius in Kampala, while in Bwindi, they rise up to 25 degrees Celsius.

March is the first wet month and is part of the longest rainy season. The wet/rainy months stretch from March to May, and they come with heavy rainfall. The general vegetation cover turns greener around the wet season/month. The shortest rainy season falls in October, extending to November. The wet season is ideal for bird-watching –this is the best time to spot most of the migratory and resident birds while they breed.

An abundant food supply is available for chimpanzees, gorillas, golden monkeys, and savanna wildlife. Most wildlife also begin their breeding sessions during the wet or rainy season. If you are a more quiet vacation, then consider traveling to Uganda during the wet or off-months.

Places to visit

Discover Murchison Falls National Park

Located in the Northwestern Uganda, Murchison is one of Uganda’s leading savanna destinations and is the country’s largest Park. Murchison Falls National Park is sitting on an area of 3840 sq. km and has diverse habitats where abundant wildlife reside. At Murchison Falls National Park, expect to find savanna species such as leopards, lions, buffaloes, antelopes (Jackson’s hartebeest, oribis, Uganda Kobs), warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, and a total of 451 species of birds. The main experiences to enjoy in Murchison include game drives, whitewater rafting, nature walks, birding, boat cruise, hike to the top of the falls, chimpanzee tracking, and chimp habituation.

Kibale National Park

When it comes to primate watching, there is no better destination to explore like Kibale National Park. A total of about 70 mammal species call Kibale home, including 13 species of primates. Among the diverse primates to find in Kibale are chimpanzees, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and the colobus monkeys, etc. Kibale National Park is East Africa’s premier destination to experience the best of chimpanzee tracking, birding, chimpanzee habituation, and forest/nature walks.

Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

At Queen Elizabeth National Park, expect to explore a wide array of attractions, including the Big game –the African elephants, lions (inclusive of the rare tree-climbing lions), leopards, antelopes, birds, and more. Queen Elizabeth Park offers exceptional savanna game viewing experiences, birding, boat cruise experiences, and chimpanzee tracking.

Lake Mburo National for Game Park

Even if you are in Kampala, you can spare a day to witness Uganda’s wildlife in the wild. A visit to Lake Mburo National Park is what you should consider for day wildlife excursions from Kampala. The Park is just 4-5-hour’ drive from the heart of Kampala and holds a diversity of wild animals ranging from Uganda Kobs, oribis, topis, hartebeests, elands, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, and about 350 bird species. Lake Mburo National Park is also an excellent place to experience night game drives.

Kidepo valley national park

Think of genuine African wilderness experiences in Uganda, then think not beyond the spectacular Kidepo Valley National Park. Lying in the extreme Northeastern Uganda, Kidepo is the perfect place to explore a variety of savanna species, including cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, zebras, antelopes, and many birds. In the adjacent areas, you can have an unforgettable cultural experience in the IK and Karamojong communities; hike Morungole, etc.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Mgahinga

If you are interested in gorilla encounters, Bwindi & Mgahinga are the ideal places to travel to. These two rainforest dominated parks offer refuge to about half the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas that still survive in the jungle today. Gorilla trekking is the iconic safari highlight, whether you visit Bwindi or Mgahinga.

Overall, visitors have about 25 habituated groups open for tourism purposes and these are distributed in the five regions/sectors. To visit any of the gorilla groups in Bwindi or Mgahinga, you should have secured a permit in advance. But you don’t need to worry about the process, because our team is in a position to go through the essential steps to secure a permit for you while you sit back home.

Rwenzori Mountains & Mount Elgon National Park

If you enjoy mountaineering expeditions, then a visit to Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park should be a must. These are Uganda’s best destinations to visit for mountain climbing or hiking. Climbing the Rwenzori Mountain ranges can require between 8 and 10 days, plus or less. Elgon Mountain takes fewer days to hike, about 4-6 days.

How to pack for safari tours in Uganda

Considering the weather and climatic conditions, choosing the right gear for your tour is essential. Among the items we recommend for you to have for a successful tour in Uganda include waterproof hiking/walking boots, a safari hat, a first aid kit, a waterproof daypack, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen, visas, passports, a camera, a torch, snacks, a bottle of drinking water, and more.