Best Time to Visit Uganda

Uganda – the Pearl of Africa is one of the great places for safaris on the continent, the country is a true year-round destination for wildlife enthusiasts. However the best time to visit for optimal game viewing conditions is during one of the two dry seasons.

December to February and June to September are the best time to visit Uganda.

Temperatures remain steady month-to-month, typically sitting between 24°C to 30°C, but heavy showers can impact the accessibility of some routes and roads during the rainy periods.

When to visit

When is the Best Time to see the Mountain Gorillas?

The best time to visit Uganda for a face to face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas is between December and February or June to August. During these dry seasons, the skies are blue, days are clear, and hiking trails are relatively mud-free.

Although the fascinating mountain gorillas can be spotted year-round, conquering the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest during the rainy season can be slightly more challenging. Gorilla trekking adventure can involve several hours of walking up and down hills, and during the wet months, trails will be muddy and slippery and thick tropical foliage can present some roadblocks. The off-season does have its benefits, though, and with fewer crowds, you might find yourself meeting a family of gorillas with only a few of other trekkers.

Month by Month Guide to the Best Time to Visit Uganda

January – Best For Cooling Off in the Misty Mountains

With sunny days and temperatures ranging from 24ºC to 32ºC, January is the hottest month of the year in Uganda. This makes it a great time to escape the heat and head to the high altitudes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for hiking and trekking mountain gorillas with cooler conditions.

January is part of Uganda’s shorter dry season, and while rain is still possible in the rainforests of Bwindi, you are unlikely to experience regular downpours.

February – Best for The driest trekking conditions and spotting wildlife

February is a prime time for gorilla trekking and is one of the driest months of the year, thus being one of the best time to visit Uganda. Ordinarily, hiking in the dense forests can be wet, muddy, and humid and occasionally unforgettable, but the dry days of February make for optimal trekking conditions.

Plus, with reduced rainfall and thin vegetation cover, spotting game is easier than ever. Expect clear skies, sunshine and average temperatures of 29ºC in Kampala and 25ºC in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

March – Best for lush green landscapes and birdwatching

March marks the beginning of Uganda’s long rainy season, lasting from March to May. During this time, long, heavy showers are to be expected every afternoon and evening, but as long as you have proper gears, a rainy season visit can be totally rewarding. Although heavy rains can impact the trails and road, the vegetation will be lush, and flowers will bloom across Uganda.

For bird enthusiasts you are in for a show in March as the heavier rains prompt avian migration, so keep those binoculars handy. Queen Elizabeth National Park is an excellent place to spot a few of Uganda’s 1000 unique and colorful bird species, and the area will be noticeably quieter and crowd-free during the off- season. Migratory birds take flight in April and return to Uganda by early to mid-November.

April – Best for quieter parks and good deals on low-season accommodation

April is the wettest to visit Uganda, but novice travelers will see this time as an opportunity to capitalize on affordable accommodation and crowd-free national parks.

For travelers interested in adventure, gorilla permits trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will be easier to book in this month with fewer other travelers to compete with. Although the trekking will come with some weather-related challenges (proper rain gear is a necessity), the rainy days typically have gorillas congregating in the warmth of the lower altitudes, so while the trails are bound to be muddy, getting to the gorillas will take much less time.

May – Best for Fewer Crowds and more Intimate Wildlife Encounters

May is at the end of the long rainy season, the days will be warm and wet, with showers tapering off toward the end of the month. Heavy downpours will be frequent in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but the gorillas will still be visible at lower altitudes before they head back up into the cooler mountains in June.

Accommodation is readily available in May, and prices are usually significantly lower than during the peak season. Plus gorilla permits are available with less competition as the crowd size is thin, so you could find yourself observing a gorilla family with as few as 2 or 3 other trekkers.

June –Best for Peak Season Excitement

The rains let up in June, leaving the landscape gorgeously green with blue skies and warm temperatures averaging around 27ºC. Toward the end of the month, vegetation start to thin out, increasing your chances of spotting four of the Big Five throughout Uganda Wildlife parks and reserves including  Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

Since June is the first month of Uganda’s peak season, lodges and activities will be open and the area will be buzzing with excitement. It is advised to book your accommodation early and secure your gorilla permit as soon as possible, though, since they tend to see out quickly.

July – Ideal Weather Conditions for doing it all

July is peak season in Uganda and with good reason; day time temperatures sit at pleasant 25ºC, occasionally dropping to 13ºC in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. the dry climate and comfortable conditions open the door for a myriad of outdoor activities including gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris and boat cruises on the Nile.

Game drives will have top-notch sightings as wildlife congregate around watering hole and are easy to spot. By July, mountain gorillas have made the climb back up into the misty mountains, but the lack of rainfall makes the longer treks much more manageable.

August – Leopard sightings and wildlife photography

In August – the driest month of the year, Uganda’s landscape is sparse. While vegetation cover is at its lowest, visibility is at an all-time high. August is a prime month of game drives, and you will have a clear view of all the animals that you may cross your path, from elephants and lions to zebras and buffaloes.

With unobstructed paths, you may even get the chance to spot one of the most hard-to-find members of the animal kingdom – the leopard.

In August, nights can get chilly with temperatures getting down to14ºC so pack layers as

September – Best for Chimpanzee Tracking in the forests

The end of September ushers in Uganda’s second rainy season of the year, however the first half still makes for excellent game – spotting conditions. Typically, the rains won’t arrive in the highlands until later in the month, so early September is a popular time for chimpanzee trekking in the Kalinzu Forest – home to over 300 chimpanzees, and a hike to see them in their natural habitat is a popular dry-season activity, as trails will be in the best condition.

October – Best for last-minute travel deals

October marks the start of Uganda’s short rainy season. Although the rains aren’t as heavy as the long ones from March through May, they are more frequent, and you should be prepared for the occasional heavy shower throughout the day and muddy conditions.

Because of the unpredictability of the rains, October isn’t a very popular month to travel to Uganda, making it a great time to land a last minute gorilla permit and safari package if you are an undecided travel. Often accommodations offer specials for October, and prices will be more reasonable.

Don’t let the rains scare you off, though. It typically only rains for a few hours a day, and you will still have perfect pockets of sunshine and blue sky.

November – Best for should season quietness

November is shoulder season in Uganda, and you will likely get a mix of both rainy and dry days. It is a good time to catch sight of the migratory birds returning and photographers will be treated to dramatic skies and landscape as late afternoon thunderstorms roll through the emerald green countryside.

Temperatures can vary, with some days reaching 28ºC and others dropping to 18ºC, though less than half of the days in November are rainy. November is the last month to take advantage of the off-season prices on accommodation and tours before the second peak season arrives.

December – Adventure activities in Jinja and relaxing by the Nile

December brings another dry season, and weather becomes more predictable as rainfall tapers off, making it a great month to soak up the sunny days in Jinja. Sitting on the shores of Lake Victoria, the town of Jinja and home to the source of the Nile River.

Often called the “adrenaline capital of East Africa”, it has plenty of water activities, from white water rafting and kayaking to tubing and sunset cruising.

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