Best Time to Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safaris : Uganda is one of Africa’s top tourist attractions, attracting visitors from all over the world for a wide range of vacation activities. Most people visit Uganda to view mountain gorillas, animals, chimps, birds, mountains, and other natural wonders.
While Uganda’s tropical climate makes it a year-round destination, the ideal time to come is during the dry season. The dry season lasts from January to February, then again in June, July, August, and December.
During the dry season, the likelihood of rain is substantially reduced, making it easier to locate wild creatures near water sources and journey through dense forests in search of chimps or gorillas.
The average temperature in Uganda is 21°C (70°F) to 25°C (77°F), with high altitude locations being colder than the rest of the nation. Uganda is warm and sunny all year, and practically all tourist activities are available throughout both the dry and wet seasons.
To better understand why certain times are more popular than others, we have explained what the optimum times are for the most popular tourist activities in Uganda, as well as provided highly particular insight – so that you can obtain all of the information in one location.
Best Time to Visit Uganda For Gorilla Trekking Safaris.
The greatest time to see Uganda’s mountain gorillas in the wild is between June and August, and from December to February. It is less likely to rain excessively at this time, and you can more easily cross the steep terrain of the dense jungle where the gorillas dwell.
While the dry season months are excellent for gorilla trekking, the high altitude rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks get rain at any time of year with little notice.
Gorilla trekking is a trip through dense woods and hilly terrain in search of gorillas. Although gorilla tracking does not demand high athleticism, it is a difficult exercise that can take anything from 30 minutes to 5 hours. While the journey is pleasant and well worth the money and physical effort, heavy jungle showers on a lengthy climb are not.
This is why the dry season is suggested as the ideal time to visit. It is crucial to remember that the paths will not be simple or fully dry because it rains even during the dry season.
Best Time to Visit Uganda For Wildlife Safaris.
The dry season months of January, February, June, July, August, and December are ideal for wildlife watching in Uganda. The dry season facilitates wildlife observation in the dry savannah since most animals concentrate around permanent water sources.
Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National park areas are Uganda’s most prominent wildlife areas, where elephants, lions, buffalos, hippos, leopards, and various antelope species may be found. Many herds of giraffes may be seen near Murchison Falls, while large herds of zebras can be found in Lake Mburo.
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in the north, is relatively remote and separated from other attractions, making it ideal for an experience with little to no tourists.
Best Time to Visit Uganda For Chimpanzee Trekking Tours.
The dry season is the greatest time to visit Uganda to go monkey tracking. Chimpanzees, like gorillas, dwell in deep jungles that are difficult to navigate.
The dry season allows you to move fast across the jungle while tracking the chimpanzees. Uganda’s wild chimps may be found in a variety of locations, but Kibale National Park is the ideal spot to visit. Kibale is not just the finest chimp monitoring location in Uganda, but also the best in the world.
Best Time for Birdwatching Tours in Uganda.
Birding is possible all year in Uganda, with little to no change between the rainy and dry seasons. Uganda is home to over 1000 distinct bird species due to its abundance of fresh water sources and mild temperature.
Birding is wonderful all year round in places like Bunyonyi, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Mabamba, and Rwenzori, which contain some very unique species. Birding in Uganda is best done early in the morning, when birds are most active, and Ugandan mornings are certain to have a spectacular sunrise and a gradual warm-up as the day passes.
Some birders may favor rainy season because of the ‘extended dawn’ that comes with overcast days and fewer visitors. This is an excellent choice for photography.
Other Activities That Visitors can do When Visiting Uganda.
Mountain Climbing.
The dry season is the optimum time to climb Uganda’s mountains. The trails and walkways are simpler to travel at this time, and the panoramic vistas are more enjoyable. Mountains feature unique microclimates that can get rain many times each day during the wet season due to their high height. For most individuals, this may be rather difficult.
Mountains like Rwenzori (5109 m) and Elgon (4321 m) reach such great heights that conventional seasons are irrelevant since they contain many climatic zones, including perpetual snow at Mount Rwenzori’s top.
Mountains like Moroto, Mgahinga, and Sabyinyo are more doable for many individuals and may be completed more easily during the dry season. If you want to climb any of Uganda’s mountains, let us know and we’ll add it to your schedule so you can cross it off your bucket list.
Cultural Tours in Uganda.
Uganda’s culture may be explored at any time of year, with the exception of certain special festivals. Because the temperature is typically mild all year, meeting people and learning about many elements of history and contemporary life is simple everywhere across the nation.
Visiting roadside markets, historical and cultural sites, and learning about local culture may all be done at any time of year. The dry season makes it simpler to travel, while the rainy season brings advantages such as less sun and higher temperatures.
Whitewater Rafting in Uganda.
While white water rafting on the Nile in Uganda is possible all year, the ideal time to go is during the dry season months. This has nothing to do with water levels; the activity is more fun when the sun is out and you can enjoy it alongside the cold rushing water of the river.
Because rafting is sometimes part of a longer journey, you are not having to precisely stick to the seasons. If your Uganda safari is scheduled to happen during the wet season, you may always float in the morning when it is clear and bright. Because of the significant impact of evaporation, most rains in Uganda fall in the afternoon.
Finally, we hope you now have a better grasp of the best times to visit Uganda, particularly for the type of vacation you desire. And it all makes sense when we say Uganda is a year-round destination and then promote dry months.
In our year of arranging and executing safaris all around Uganda in all months of the year, we have learned that a better grasp of the climate is not something to assume or take for granted because it influences what to expect during the trip.
