BEST TIME FOR UGANDA SAFARI & GORILLA TREK

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Uganda For A Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Trekking Vacation?

Located on the equator, Uganda is a lovely country to visit most times of the year. That’s because there isn’t much variation in temperatures year-round. But, like the rest of Africa, it’s important to keep in mind that the country has two dry seasons and two wet seasons. Each of these seasons has its own charm and offers visitors a unique aspect of the natural beauty of the country. Another factor in planning your vacation is the particular tours and safari activities you wish to participate in. To do it all, you’ll want to come more than once to the Pearl of Africa!

As the expert consultant at AfricanMecca Safaris will tell you, the incredible diversity of Uganda’s natural treasures and its people make it impossible to cover in a single one-week safari holiday. You would need at least two weeks to maximize your stays at different wildlife parks, towns, and the urban metropolis in Uganda.

Different Monthly Seasons In Uganda - Dry, Hot, Wet Rainy & Cool

Note On Wet Rainy Season in Uganda: The precipitation in millimeters is less in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley compared to other parks. This is primarily due to the hot-humid equatorial climate based on its geographical location in Uganda. Expect thunderstorms during the rainy season. There are also seasonal variations in different parks. We recommend you review the best times for each park too.

1. Dry Months, Best Time For Uganda: January, February, June and July.
2. Dry & Wet Rainy Months, Very Good Time For Uganda: August and December.
3. Wet Rainy Months, Good Time For Uganda: March and September are both rainy periods though September is also a peak period with high number of visitors into Uganda. These months are also the start of the lush green season.
4. Wet Rainy Season, Least Best Time For Uganda: April, May, October, and November.
5. Hot & Cool Months: There is only 1-4 Celsius degrees variation in temperature in between months in Uganda.
6. Best Time For Birdwatching Safaris In Uganda: The best time for birding safaris in Uganda is from end of May to September; though, this also varies for each park. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April.

Key Takeaways

• The country does not have much variations in year-round temperatures, making it ideal for visiting at most times of the year
• Guests desiring to go mountain gorilla tracking, savannah and riverine wildlife game viewing should opt to visit in the dry seasons
• Birdwatching enthusiasts may want to trip out from November to April when many migratory birds arrive and depart in Uganda
• Families with kids may schedule their tours when the schools are closed for summers from June to August or during the last two weeks of December
• Vacationers advised planning 10-14 days tour to explore most that the country has to offer

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1. Coordinating Safari Activities With The Weather & Climatic Patterns In Uganda

2. Altitude & Temperatures In Uganda Have A Correlation & Difference

3. Budgetary Timing Of Your Visit To Uganda

4. Best Time For Vacationing With Children In Uganda

5. When Is The Best Time For Different Parks & Destinations

1. Coordinating Safari Activities With The Weather & Climatic Patterns In Uganda

Key Takeaways

• Mountain gorillas tend to be on lower elevations during the wet season since they don’t have to travel far to find food while during the dry season, they traverse higher elevations in search of food.
• Traveling to parks like Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls is best done in the dry seasons when vegetation is sparse and spotting wildlife is easy i.e. January and February or the longer best dry season of June, July, and August
• Kidepo Valley only has one long dry season (July to February) and one wet season (March to June), and has distinct climatic patterns compared to other parks in Uganda

The consultant at AfricanMecca will help you plan your safari vacation according to the primary activities you want to pursue on your visit. For instance, if you wish to go trekking to see the famed mountain gorillas of Uganda’s highlands while saving on rooming costs and being with fewer tourists trekkers, it’s not a bad idea to plan your trip during the lesser periods of the wet seasons to benefit from frugality and some elements of exclusivity. That’s because temperatures tend to drop during the rainy periods and the primates prefer to remain on the lower slopes, where the temperatures are warmer.

Finding food is easier for the gorillas during the wet season. For this reason, you may find that you don’t have to hike so far, or for so long, to locate them. This is also something to consider if you want to visit chimpanzees or the elusive golden monkeys. Having said that, it is extremely important to note that trekking conditions of the ascending and descending trails can be very challenging during the wet period. You will need to be extra fit and also have hiking experience in wet conditions.

Additionally, if you are thinking about visiting other Uganda parks and reserves, for example, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, you might want to choose the shorter dry season of January and February or the longer best dry season of June, July, and August. The vegetation in these parks is sparser at this time of the year, so locating the wildlife is easier. Logistics are more efficient because the roads are less muddy and travel simply takes less time. On the other hand, if you’re planning to visit urban locales in Kampala and Entebbe, you’ll probably find the weather has minimal effect on your city tour activities and you can continue with your excursions at most times of the year.

In contrast to the rest of Uganda, the Kidepo Valley has one long dry season (July to February) and one wet season (March to June). Each of these seasons offers a unique aspect of the superb beauty of this region. For instance, in the dry season, most of the wildlife congregates near the watering holes in the Narus River valley system, so you may find it easy to locate the animals you want to see on your game drives.

You can also drive to the Kanangorok Hot Springs to see the waters gushing up from the valley ground. During the wet season, the valley takes on a cover of lush greenery that is marvelous to see and also the best time to see birds as the rains bring an abundance of food that leads to a lot of avian activity. You may also have the opportunity to spot the seasonal Kidepo River actually flowing before it seems to disappear during the dry season.

If you are visiting Uganda with the hope of sighting some of its incredible diversity of avian life, know that most birds like to breed during the wet season, when there is more food available. However, the denser vegetation might mean it takes longer to spot them. You might also be able to glimpse more of the migratory birds arriving from the colder northern hemisphere in the months of November, December, January, and February, and return back from March and April onwards..

2. Altitude & Temperatures In Uganda Have A Correlation & Difference

Key Takeaways

• Temperature variations across the country depending on locations and altitudes
• Highland temperatures tend to be lower all through the year, with nighttime weather getting even cooler
• Kidepo Valley experiencing year-round warm temperatures with dry, arid conditions

You may note that temperatures vary by a few degrees depending on the altitude of the location you intend to visit in Uganda. For instance, the highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park have daytime temperatures ranging from 22 C (72 F) to 25 C (77 F). During the night, the temperature drops to a minimum of 11 C (52 F) to 12 C (54 F). Kibale National Park’s altitude is lower than Bwindi thus the temperatures ranges from lows of 14-16 C (57-61 F) at night to the highs of 25-28 C (77-83 F) during the day depending on the climatic month of the year.

Given that Kidepo is a valley and is located at much lower altitudes, you can expect the weather here to be much warmer than in the rest of the country and its weather is different from the rest of the parks. During the dry months of January, February, and March, temperatures can range from 34 C (93 F) during the day and lows of 20 C (68 F). However, during the cooler months of June, July, and August, you will experience temperatures ranging from highs of 29 C (84 F) during the day and lows of 16 C (61 F) at night. Nighttime temperatures at Kidepo are more or less the same for the other months of the year and vary from 17 C (62 F) to 19 C (66 F).

3. Budgetary Timing Of Your Visit To Uganda

Key Takeaways

• Vacationing in the wet seasons is typically more economical than during the dry peak or high seasons
• Tourist footfall and pricing is higher in the months from June to September to coincide with the summer season in North America and Europe
• You may be able to time your safari at the start or end of the rainy season while benefiting from lower rooming costs and fewer visitors in the parks

If you prefer to economize on your vacation, you may decide to choose the wet season months of April, May, October, and November. That’s when tourist traffic is low and many hotels, camps, and lodges in Uganda offer discounted lower season rates on rooms. This can help you cut back some costs of the trip. Even though you can expect to see more rainfall, it does not rain continuously all through the day and night. There are times when the rain stops and the weather is dry with the sun shining for a few hours. It may rain only in certain sections of the destination in Uganda, leaving other areas dry. Your guide where possible may be able to adjust your excursions around the rainy spell.

4. Best Time For Vacationing With Children In Uganda

Key Takeaways

• Family vacations typically planned when the schools are closed for summer, and it is the dry season in Uganda
• Lower incidence of malaria and other illnesses in the dry seasons when there fewer mosquitos and other bugs
• Safaris planned in the last two weeks in December is also an ideal time for families to visit Uganda. End your stay at the beach on Lake Victoria

Most families looking to visit Uganda like to plan their safari during the northern summer months of July through August, which coincides with the months when schools typically are closed. You could also plan to bring your kids during the Christmas and New Years’ week for a sunny-weather safari getaway when it is cold in North America and Europe. Winter in the northern hemisphere countries is a warmer summer-like climate in Uganda, and the weather is warm and dry, making it perfect for a family holiday. You could even choose a week on safari combined with a few days on Lake Victoria beach during the last two weeks of December for a memorable vacation. An added advantage of visiting during the dry seasons is that there is a lower count of mosquitoes and other bugs, which means there is a lesser risk of contracting malaria.

When organizing your safari in Uganda, AfricanMecca can give you a good overview of the kind of weather to expect. However, it’s important to remember that it’s always possible to encounter some unexpected conditions. With no thanks to our global climate change, weather patterns in Uganda and across Africa have become less predictable, and you may experience more rain or sunshine than you expected. Whatever the weather, you can look forward to an unforgettable wilderness experience and a wonderful introduction to the natural wonders of Uganda.

5. When Is The Best Time For Different Parks & Destinations

Uganda has diverse regions as noted below. Select your preferred area to view individual details on the best time to travel.

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Best Time To Go

2. Murchison Falls National Park - Best Time To Go

3. Kibale National Park - Best Time To Go

4. Kidepo Valley National Park - Best Time To Go

5. Queen Elizabeth National Park - Best Time To Go

6. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - Best Time To Go

7. Semliki Wildlife Reserve - Best Time To Go

8. Lake Mburo National Park - Best Time To Go

9. Lake Victoria - Best Time To Go

10. Jinja - Nile River - Best Time To Go

11. Entebbe - Best Time To Go

12. Kampala - Best Time To Go