BEST TIME TO VISIT KIBALE FOR A UGANDA SAFARI

Best Time, Seasons & Months To Go On Safari In Kibale?

While you’re planning your chimpanzee safari vacation in beautiful Kibale National Park, our expert consultant at AfricanMecca Safaris will explain the weather variations that may affect your choice of season to visit. The truth is that you can plan your visit at any time, as the region has more or less constant moderate temperatures throughout the year; though, the rainy months can affect forest trails, chimpanzee viewing and photographing experiences. The maximum daytime temperatures vary between 25ºC (77 F) and 28ºC (83 F), whereas the lowest nighttime temperatures range from 13ºC (55 F) to 16ºC (61 F), making the nights cool but comfortable.

Different Monthly Seasons At Kibale - Dry, Hot, Wet Rainy & Cool

1. Dry Months, Best Time & Peak Season For Kibale: June, July, and August. Note September is peak season but is also part of the wet rainy season.
2. Dry Months, Very Good Time & High Season For Kibale: End of December, January, and February.
3. Wet Rainy Months, Good Time & Mid-Peak Season For Kibale: March and September are both rainy periods though September is also a peak period with high number of visitors into Kibale. These months are also the start of the lush green season.
4. Wet Rainy Season, Least Best Time & Low Season For Kibale: April, May, October, and November.
5. Hot & Cool Months: There is only 1-3 Celsius degrees variation in temperature in between months at Kibale. January, February and March are the hottest months with highs of 28 C (83 F) during the day and lows of 16 C (61 F) at night while June, July and August are the coolest months with highs of 25ºC (77 F) during the day and lows of 13 C (55 F) at night. All other months have a range from 26 C (79 F) to 27 C (81 F) during the daytime while nighttime temperatures average from 14 C (57 F) and 15 C (59 F).
6. Best Time For Birdwatching Safaris In Kibale: The best time for birding safaris in Kibale Park is at the start of the short rains in March, April and May, and after the dry season months and beginning of the long rainy months of September, October and November when food is plentiful and birds are breeding. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April though not abundant in the forest areas of the park. They can be seen in the more open southern areas of Kibale. The short and long rainy months bring abundance of food that leads to a lot of avian activity though trails can be slippery, and also roads and airstrips can be challenging to navigate.

Key Takeaways

• Maximum daytime temperatures varying between 25ºC (77 F) and 28ºC (83 F) and lowest nighttime temperatures ranging from 13ºC (55 F) to 16ºC (61 F)
• Best time to visit is in the primary dry season, which begins in June and continues through most parts of August; fewer bugs and sparse vegetation is ideal for chimp viewing
• Tracking down chimpanzees is not preferable in the wet season due to slippery and challenging trails
• Wet season is suitable for birdwatching excursions because of the breeding and fruiting season
• Lower tourist visits in the alternate best dry season months of January and February

Visiting Kibale During the Dry Seasons - Is It The Best Time To Go On Safari Based On Climate, Temperatures & Weather Conditions?

Given that the main purpose of your visit is probably viewing the chimpanzees of Kibale National Park, you will want to plan your primate tour in East Africa according to the best time to see them: the dry season, which begins in June and continues through to August. Like the rest of Africa, Uganda has two wet seasons and two dry seasons. The second dry season occurs in the months of December to February, which is also the best time to visit the park with the least number of guests. The long rains in Kibale National Park begin at the end of August - beginning of September and continue through to the middle and later parts of December. You can also expect to see short rains from the middle and end of March to end of May.

Even during the long rains, however, it does not rain continuously all day and there are times when the sky is clear and the sun is shining. Furthermore, certain areas of Kibale may see rain while other pockets remain dry. AfricanMecca recommends you schedule your chimpanzee-tracking excursions during the dry weather months for your travels in Uganda.

The dry and wet seasons each have their own advantages and offer distinct safari experiences in Kibale National Park. During the dry seasons, the vegetation is sparse and spotting the chimpanzees in the foliage of the trees overhead is easier. You will also note that the walking trails are less muddy and easier to traverse with fewer bugs, including mosquitos. Families on their safari holiday prefer the dry season as the best time to visit Africa since it is summer in the north and schools are typically closed. Families like to bring the older children to introduce them to the wonders of the natural world in Uganda, so you are likely to meet more visitors from North America and Europe during the dry seasons.

Wet Seasons In Kibale Park & How To Plan Activities During The Rainy Period?

But the wet seasons can also be a good time to visit Kibale (where to stay). That’s because the rains make the higher slopes of the hills of Kibale cooler and the primates keep to the lower slopes, where it’s warmer and there is better availability of food. The chimpanzees don’t need to forage as far to find edible fruits, leaves seeds, tree bark, flowers, insects and honey, though trekking on muddy trails can be a challenge and slippery adventure for some. Kibale also takes on a rare beauty during the rainy season, with a burst of fresh flora. Come prepared, though, as the rains could make photography a challenge with increased low light conditions of the forest and cloudy skies.

If viewing birds is a big part of your travel plans, the wet seasons are the perfect time to visit the reserve. This is the fruiting and breeding season, when many resident species can be more readily seen. Many migratory species also arrive in these seasons, though, not much in the woodland areas of the park. You might be able to spot more of them in the open southern areas of Kibale. You can also expect reduced prices on rooming, since it is the low season in Kibale National Park, making your trip more economical.

Other Considerations When Planning Your Safari Dates For Kibale Park

The last two weeks of December also constitute a good time to visit the park, when you can enjoy a magical holiday season with family and friends in the warmth of Uganda, far away from harsh northern winters. You may also note that Kibale National Park sees fewer tourists in the rainy wet months for obvious reasons. Most safari guests opt to visit during from July to September, which coincides with the summer months in North America and Europe and also Tanzania's wildebeest migration of the Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara.