The best time to visit Uganda and the mountain gorillas

The Ideal Season to Visit Uganda and Go Gorilla Trekking

Anyone looking for a unique vacation getaway might try Uganda. This is due to its climate and proximity to the equator. Uganda’s year-round popularity as a vacation destination is aided by Lake Victoria, gorilla trekking, and its unusual weather patterns.

Uganda has two rainy seasons: the short season, which starts in October or November, and the long season, which starts in mid-March and lasts until the end of May.

Therefore, June, July, August, and September are the best months to visit Uganda to go gorilla trekking. Unless that is feasible, January and February are also fine.

Therefore, June, July, August, and September are the best months to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. If that isn’t possible, January and February should be fairly bearable. The altitude in Uganda is affected by the country’s average temperatures, which are 21.5 C and 71 F during the day and 54 F at night.

In Uganda, there is between 1000 and 2000mm of annual precipitation. The majority of safari vacations are supported by Uganda’s clear skies throughout the year. The seasons of the tourism year are now harder to predict as a result of these climate changes’ impact on weather patterns.

Arid or Dry seasons

While May through September and February are the best months to travel to Uganda due to the reduced amount of rain and sunny skies during these months, the dry seasons are also the best times to visit. In most national parks, December is one of the busiest months of the year, so it’s best to reserve lodging early to avoid disappointment.

December is always a busy month because the majority of Uganda safari travelers plan to visit national parks over the Christmas holiday. Since lodging is inexpensive, many tourists feel comfortable traveling during the off-peak season, even though it’s rainy.

A further benefit of traveling during this time is that there will be fewer people in the jungle to enjoy it with. Additionally, it is said that the months of February and September are ideal for a safari vacation in Uganda because there are fewer visitors and the lodges are not as fully booked as they are during the peak travel season.

The Wet or Rainy Season

Although the rainy season in Uganda has an impact on people’s travels, since it also features sunny days, this doesn’t mean that people don’t travel at all. Because of this, the majority of safari activities can be completed without interruption as soon as it stops raining. Mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking continue to be popular activities.

During the rainy season, all national parks are fully in operation and you can visit.

During the low season of March to May and October to November, most of the lodges reduce their rates to attract more tourists to book with them and this is an added advantage.

Furthermore, Uganda has an elevated terrain, which means that its climate is cool; nonetheless, if you are going to come for a gorilla trek, it is critical to note that the optimum time to come for gorilla trekking is during the two dry months of June to September, as well as the months of January and February.

The dry season, which lasts from February and March to the end of September and the beginning of October, is the greatest time to visit Uganda’s national parks.

This is mostly owing to the abundance of wildlife species near water features in those parks. The greatest time to go bird watching is from November to April, when migrating birds arrive, although you can go bird watching at any time of year. Travelers to Uganda are advised to avoid the country’s harsh rainy seasons in April and May in order to enjoy their vacations.

A GUIDE TO THE TOURIST SEASONS IN UGANDA

MONTHS OF HIGH SEASON: JUNE – SEPTEMBER & DECEMBER – FEBRUARY
LOW SEASON MONTHS: MARCH-MAY, OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER,

Best time of year to go gorilla tracking in Rwanda or Uganda

Despite the fact that tracking mountain gorillas is possible all year in these two countries because to the slightly wet seasons experienced by the national parks where these gorillas inhabit, most people choose to travel between June and September, as well as December and February.

Although the rains in Uganda begin in March and linger until May, this remains true. Although not heavy, the rains make hiking through the rocky terrain challenging. During such a period, the rain only falls for one to two hours, and three (3) days a week, the sun shines.

You should note that Bwindi does occasionally experience brief showers, even during Uganda’s dry season. The general weather conditions in the trackers’ home countries can also be blamed for their seasonality. For instance, gorilla safari trekkers are more prevalent during the summer in Europe than they are during the winter.

The gorilla tour permit will cost $700 throughout the year for all non-residents, $250 for residents, and ugx 250,000/= Uganda shillings for Ugandans.

In these months, a number of lodging establishments in the gorilla habitat will also provide discounts.

Rwanda experiences its first rains at the end of February, March, April, and May. The bulk of tourists avoid Rwanda during those months since it is muddy and damp while hunting mountain gorillas.

However, because it rains during these months, the gorillas have enough of food on the lower slopes, and the temperatures are also lower.

The gorillas remain on the lower slopes as a result because food is nearby and it is warmer there. As a result, if you decide to go gorilla tracking during these months, you won’t have a very long trek.

In fact, most gorilla trackers find the gorillas after just two hours of trekking, which means they are back at their lodge by 2:00 pm. For those that love short treks, this is the best time to visit and enjoy the gorillas.

Regardless of your justification, experience shows that gorilla trekking can be enjoyed all year long, and you will undoubtedly have a wonderful time.