Best Time to Visit Uganda
The best time to visit Uganda throughout the 365 days of the year is during any season, even the rainy season, since most of the time our rain comes during early morning hours and at night. Occasionally it comes during the day but on rare instances. The temperature at the parks is usually between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius. The rains normally come in October to November (the shorter rainy season) and long rains from March to May (the longest rainy season).
So what is the best time for visiting Uganda?
The best months people usually choose are the months of June through September or December to February. One must book in advance, especially in the month of December (the last week of the month), which is the busiest in the park and all the lodges in the park are full.
One shouldn’t worry about the rainy season because in reality the Uganda Rains come and go. Even during the rainy season, it will rain and later the soil dries up and life moves on.
The rainy season doesn’t always mean there will be no visitation. A four-wheel safari vehicle is needed. The park doesn’t close during rainy season; all seasons are open. There is also no guarantee that it will rain during your safari in Uganda. Nature is very funny and unpredictable. You can travel for 7 days without seeing a single drop of rainfall in the rainy season.
If unlucky, it can even rain for a whole day so that the nights turn out to be cold. Gorilla trekking tourists can find it hardhiking the trails, though they still manage to get to the gorilla location. You have to plan well in advance, especially regarding your packing list. What you pack for the dry season is not what you pack for the wet season. We usually advise our clients in advance regarding their packing list in correspondence to the season their safaris are scheduled in.
All in all, the best time to visit Uganda is from June to September and December to February. Scheduling your Uganda safari tours for these months will reduce the chances of your trip getting ruined.
Safari activities to do in Uganda
Gorilla trekking
This involves the search for gentle giants in the wild. After meeting them, spend an hour with them. therefore when you’re planning a trip to Uganda, don’t miss out on the chance to go Gorilla trekking. The gorilla trekking adventure takes place in two national parks in Uganda, including Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. In case you want more time, you can choose to book a gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga sector, allowing you to stay with the gorillas for up to 4 hours.
Birdwatching
This is an incredible experience, since Uganda boasts over 1,050 different bird species. This makes Uganda one of the best birding destinations in Africa, with about 10% of the world’s bird species here. During your Uganda birding safaris, you can spot bird such as Common Ostrich, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Knob-billed Duck, African Pygmy-Goose, Western Crested Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Handsome Spurfowl, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Four-banded Sandgrouse, White-bellied Bustard, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Montane Nightjar, and Great Cormorant among others.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is another highlight and popular activity offered in Uganda. This remarkable activity takes place in the tropical rain forests of Uganda, such as Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura gorge. while on your chimpanzee tracking, you can spend an entire hour observing these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat and how they feed, care for each other, and breastfeed, among other things. The cost of permits for chimpanzee tracking can differ based on the specific location you choose to visit in Uganda.
Game drives
This is also one of the popular activities for tourists on Uganda safaris, as they offer the chance to see a variety of wildlife in stunning savannah national parks. Many tourists choose to embark on these drives in the morning, evening and night game drives. Uganda is home to the “big five” animals, such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, and rhinos. If you are looking for unforgettable game drives, consider exploring Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Mburo national park. Each of these parks has its own unique landscapes and wildlife, promising an adventure you won’t forget.
