When is the best time to visit Uganda for Safari
When is the best time to visit Uganda for Safari
When is the best time to visit Uganda for Safari : Uganda is one of the finest travel destinations on the African continent and it can be visited all year round, depending on the safari activities you plan on doing on your safari.
Uganda the pearl of Africa has conducive climatic conditions which why this beautiful country can be visited at any time, however some periods of the year have better weather conditions than the others that is why you have to be keen about the month you are visiting.
Best Time to Visit Uganda in General
Uganda lies on the equator with a warm subtropical climate, day time temperatures average between 25 and 29℃ (77 and 84℉). Night Temperatures normally drop below 20℃ (68℉) offering a nice break from hot days.
Humidity is always high.
Uganda has warm and tropical climate which makes it an ideal destination for African safari, the weather patterns in this beautiful country are mainly controlled by the Equator the cross through the country. The Eastern and Western Rift Valleys found across the country and the magnificent montane forests, mountains in the west, swamps, rivers, falls and lakes such as Lake Victoria influence the weather and climate in the country
The Best Season to Visit Uganda
According to the general consensus, the best time to visit Uganda for a safari is during the dry season, Uganda experiences two dry seasons with a short season from December to February or early March and ling dry season from June to September.
Uganda experiences subtropical climate and is situated close to the equator, because of this is more accurate to state the drier seasons of Uganda that is December to February and June to August. These are good months to visit Uganda to avoid the rains, December to February is very hot and June to September has dry weather and cooler day which makes it the best time to visit Uganda. (There is a little rain and days are cooler)
Weather Seasons in Uganda
Unlike European and American Countries, Uganda has two weather seasons that is rainy season and the dry season.
The Rainy Season (Wet season)- March to May and September to November
The rainy season in Uganda is characterized by heavy pours/ long rains in some months and others light rains (short rains), the long rains are received from March to May and short rains from September to November.
Because it is a rainy season, it doesn’t mean that it rains throughout the day to disrupt the safari activity, heavy down pours may last for an average of 3 hours and the rest of the day will be winter – like. But during the short rains, the sun may show up and heat up.
Note: the weather is ever changing in the wet season, also once the season starts, the downpour can stick to a regular pattern such as raining late in the night or particular hours of the day throughout the season.
March, April and May which are the long rain season months are not the best tip to visit Uganda for a safari, in these months some of the parks are inaccessible as roads are washed and some are flood.
Gorilla trekking is very hard in these months because of the impassable dump forest floors and drenching misty rain which doesn’t allow you to see beyond your surroundings.
Also some lodges and camps close, others cut down their rates which play as an advantage to budget travellers. For nature lovers this is the best time for you to visit as plants have sprouted, leaves are green and there are plenty of fruits for the forest creatures and birds to feed on. Also migratory birds arrive in Uganda thus making it a good time for birding.
Gorilla trekking is at its excellent as time spent to find the gorillas is less as they do not more far deep into the follow. They try to avoid shallow temperatures by staying in lower altitudes.
The short rains season that is from October to November is also the best time for a safari in the savannah plains in Uganda, in this period the grass is green, short and nutritious which attracts animals which are seen dotted all over he plains.
The Dry Season – June – August and December – February (The Best time to visit Uganda for the safari)
The dry season is the best time to travel to Uganda for a safari, the season has plenty of sunshine thus being considered the best time for wildlife viewing in Uganda. There is little to no downpour during these months most especially in the northern region of Uganda in the parks such as Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
In the gorilla parks that is Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park found in the Southwestern Uganda, the trails are relatively dry and not slippery making it the most preferred time of the year for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking experience.
In the dry season, wildlife is easier to spot and they gather in huge numbers around water holes and also there is little undergrowth for animals to hide.
Some would say that the ideal time to travel to Uganda for a safari is between late May and September when there is less rain and abundant food for the animals in the park.
From November to April, migratory birds arrive in the country joining the resident species thus being the best time for birding in Uganda. Birds are easier to spot.
Peak Season in Uganda
Uganda’s tourism peak season is between June to September, in this period the prices and cost of a Uganda safari are usually higher and this is because of the high demand for accommodation and activities by a huge number of tourists visiting the country.
Most travelers prefer to visit Uganda in this period because it is cooler and the less rain received will not bother their activities.
Note: Parks tend to be overcrowded during this time of the year.
