January is the hottest month of the year in Uganda, with sunny days and temperatures ranging from 24ºC to 32ºC. 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 with wildlife in cooler conditions. January is in the middle of Uganda’s shorter dry season, and while rain is still possible in the forests, you’re unlikely to experience regular downpours.
February is one of the top months to visit Uganda as it’s a prime time for gorilla trekking and one of the driest months of the year. Ordinarily, hiking in dense forests can be wet, muddy, humid, and occasionally uncomfortable, but the dry days of February provide optimal trekking conditions. With reduced rainfall and decreased vegetation, spotting game is easier than ever.
March marks the beginning of Uganda’s “long” rainy season, which lasts from March to May. During this time, long, heavy showers are expected every afternoon and evening, but a rainy-season visit can be enriching if you have proper gear. Bird enthusiasts can rejoice in March as heavy 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 colourful bird species.
April is the wettest month to visit Uganda, but travellers will see it as an opportunity to capitalise on affordable accommodation and crowd-free national parks.
For those up for an adventure, permits to trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will be easier to book this month, and fewer other travellers will compete with them. Although the trek will come with some weather-related challenges, the rainy days typically have gorillas congregating in the warmth of the lower altitudes, so while the routes are bound to be muddy, getting to the gorillas will take much less time.
May is at the tail end of the long rainy season, so days will be warm and wet, with showers tapering off toward the end of the month. Heavy downpours will frequently be in Bwindi, but the gorillas will still be visible at lower altitudes before returning to the more fabulous mountains in June.
Plus, wildlife permits are reduced this month as crowd sizes thin, so you could observe a family of gorillas with as few as two or three other trekkers.
The rains let up in June, leaving the landscape gorgeously green with blue skies and warm temps averaging around 27ºC. Toward the end of the month, vegetation starts to thin, increasing your chances of spotting four animals throughout the country’s parks.
Since June is the first month of Uganda’s peak season, lodges and activities will be open, and the area will be exciting.
July is peak season in Uganda, and with good reason: daytime temps sit at a pleasant 25ºC, occasionally dropping to 13ºC in Bwindi. The dry climate and comfortable conditions open the door for many outdoor activities, from gorilla trekking to safaris to boat cruises on the Nile. Game drives will have top-notch sightings as wildlife congregate around watering holes and are easy to spot. By July, gorillas had climbed back into the misty mountains, but the lack of rainfall made the longer treks much more manageable.
Uganda’s landscape is sparse in August, the driest month of the year. But while vegetation is at its lowest, visibility is at an all-time high. August is a prime month for game drives, and you’ll have a clear view of all the animals that may cross your path, from elephants and lions to zebras and buffalo! Pack layers as nights can get chilly in August, with temps that can get down to 14ºC.
While the end of September ushers in Uganda’s second rainy season of the year, 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 chimp trekking in the Kibale Forest. The forest is 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 is the start of Uganda’s “short” rainy season. Because of the unpredictability of the rains, October isn’t a very popular month to travel to Uganda, making it a great time to score a last-minute gorilla permit if you’re an undecided traveller. Accommodations often run 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 daily, and you’ll still have perfect pockets of sunshine and blue sky.
November is shoulder season in Uganda, and you’ll likely get a mix of rainy and dry days. It’s a good time to catch sight of the migratory birds returning, and photographers will be treated to dramatic skies and landscapes as late afternoon thunderstorms roll through the emerald-green countryside. November is the last month to take advantage of off-season prices on accommodation and tours before the second peak season arrives.
December brings another dry season, and weather becomes more predictable as rainfall tapers off. This makes it a great month to soak up the sunny days in Jinja. Sitting on the shores of Lake Victoria, the town of Jinja is home to the source of the Nile River. Often called the “adrenaline capital of East Africa,” it has plenty of water activities, from rafting and kayaking to tubing and sunset cruising.
