Best time to visit Uganda

February, much like January, presents an excellent opportunity for an unforgettable gorilla trekking safari. However, it’s important to note that conditions may not favour a photographic safari, as the environment can often appear hazy.

While the chances of encountering larger mammals may be lower during this time, keen observers might spot buffalo and, on rare occasions, the elusive elephants and leopards.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, visitors can encounter a diverse range of wildlife, including bushbuck, the side-striped jackal, the giant forest hog, and bushpig.

Additionally, this park is renowned for its population of mountain gorillas and the unique golden monkey, making it a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts.

Weather in February

The wet season is well underway as rainfall increases in February. Temperatures are generally still warm, and gorillas can still be tracked at this time of year.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Since rain is common in February, time spent outside can be limited. But gorilla trekking is still possible at this time of year. While there is wildlife in Uganda, not much occurs in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park except for the buffalo, which you see on an occasional basis.

Activities to do in February

• Gorilla trekking
• Spa treatments
• Birding
• Yoga classes

March is a scenic time to visit Uganda. The scenery is green and lush, and the birding season is in full swing.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wonderful place to explore during this season. However, you can also enjoy great wildlife viewing all year round, making it a perfect getaway for nature lovers!

This is your chance to encounter a variety of wildlife, including elephants, hippos, buffalo, lions, and, on occasion, leopards.

Birdwatchers can observe a variety of common bird species in this area. Notable among them are the black-headed gonolek, great white pelican, grey-crowned crane, long-crested eagle, and yellow-throated longclaw. These birds offer a rich experience for both novice and seasoned birders.

Weather in March

Rainfall is present in March, and although this is the case, some parks have decent wildlife viewing all year round. Temperatures are still high, and the weather remains warm this month.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Migratory birds are present in March, and if you’re a birding enthusiast, the park boasts 610 bird species, which makes it an absolutely fantastic birding in Uganda. The park also hosts three Big Five, namely the buffalo, the lion, and the elephant. You will see them roaming around even through the wet season.

Activities to do in March

• Game drives
• Spa treatments
• Chimpanzee trekking

April is not considered an ideal month for general wildlife viewing; however, it offers excellent birding opportunities. During this time, the landscape is lush and green, providing a vibrant backdrop as many newborn animals are present.

While the rainy season has commenced, it can still enhance wildlife viewing experiences, with chances of sighting various species.

Uganda is notable for its biodiversity, home to over a thousand wildlife species, making it a premier safari destination. Additionally, the country boasts more than 150 bird species, making birding highly rewarding during the wet season.

Rainfall doesn’t have to be all bad though. You can still make the most of your stay through experiences such as birding and taking up some time for yoga or spa treatments.

Weather in April

Rainfall is at its peak in April, averaging more than March. Although rain is present, temperatures are still quite high and the weather can improve in the afternoons.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Kibale National Park

Visiting Kibale National Park in April is for the bird enthusiast and if that’s you, you have the opportunity to see over 370 species of birds! The views here are especially spectacular when the clouds lift and since rains are present, activity may be limited here.

Activities to do in April

• Spa treatments
• Yoga classes
• Birding

May is still a wet season, and forest trails can be slippery and challenging.

Gorilla trekking this month isn’t possible, but newborn animals are often abundant.

The landscape is lush and scenic at this time of year, making it the perfect time for a photographic safari to capture fantastic imagery compared to the drier season.

A great park to visit at this time of year is Murchison Falls National Park. Four Big Five is housed here with no rhino present, so if you want to check the Big Five off your list, this is the perfect place.

The coolest part about this park is that it can be visited any time of year, so wildlife viewing is good all year round.

Weather in May

Rainfall begins to decrease in May, but it’s still very prominent. Gorilla trekking isn’t ideal at this time of year since forest trails can be quite challenging in the wet season.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison lies in the dry part of Uganda so rains rarely interfere with experiences in the wet season. When visiting, you have a good chance of having wildlife viewing experiences and seeing four of the Big Five during your stay.

Activities to do in May

• Spa treatments
• Game drives
• Birding
• Yoga classes

June onward is the best time for gorilla trekking as the dry season begins at this time of year.

Half of the world’s most endangered mountain gorillas are housed here, and it is a great place to see the silverback gorilla and many other species.

In June, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a fantastic place to visit. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site, which means it has special cultural and physical significance.

Bwindi currently houses 460 mountain gorillas. You can see many during the dry season.

Some species you can look forward to seeing are olive baboons, black and white colobus, mountain gorillas, red-tailed monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

Elephants can also be seen here, although they are rare to spot.

Weather in June

Rainfall is less this time of year and marks one of the best times for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Tracks are more straightforward, and sunny days are more common.

Highlight Park to Visit in June

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Although chimpanzee trekking is possible here, it is rare to see them at Bwindi. Gorilla trekking is more common here, and it is particularly popular during this time of year.

Other wildlife aren’t present here except for elephants, but it is often rare to see them around.

Activities to do in June

• Gorilla trekking
• Birding
• Yoga classes
• Spa treatments

July marks one of the best times for gorilla trekking. Tracks are easier to navigate, and gorillas are easier to spot.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a fantastic park with incredible scenery, including volcanic peaks and distant lakes.

While mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are the star animals, other animals reside here. These include buffalo, seen occasionally, while elephants and leopards are rare in the park, so make sure you tick off your list if you do happen to see them!

Other animals you can prepare to see are bushbuck, side-striped jackal, giant forest hog, and bushpig.

Since heavy rain isn’t expected around this time, a photography safari is excellent in July.

Weather in July

The skies are clear, and more sunshine is present. Gorilla trekking is excellent, as trails are now easier to navigate.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

July is the perfect time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park since it is one of the best months for gorilla trekking. Time spent with gorillas is more pleasant this time around since sunny weather is more common.

Activities to do in July

• Gorilla trekking
• Spa treatments
• Yoga classes

August marks the last dry month before the arrival of the rainy season in September. During this time, Queen Elizabeth National Park emerges as an exciting destination for visitors.

The park is renowned for its game drives, which can be particularly rewarding as it is home to four of the Big Five: elephants, lions, leopards, and buffalo. In addition to these iconic species, visitors may also encounter hippos and chimpanzees.

This period is ideal for wildlife viewing, as animals tend to gather near rivers, making them easier to spot.

For bird enthusiasts, Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts an impressive diversity of wildlife, with over 610 recorded bird species. Notable among them are the black-headed gonolek, the great white pelican, the grey-crowned crane, the long-crested eagle, and the yellow-throated longclaw.

Weather in August

The dry season is well underway by August, and many more sunny days are expected at this time of year.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park experiences the wet season, and although this is the case, there’s still much to do that will take up your time. The scenery is lush and green, and birding is at its prime this time of year.

Activities to do in August

• Birding
• Spa treatments
• Yoga treatments

Wildlife is less prominent in September than in the previous month, but lush green scenery and newborn animals take centre stage this month.

Birding is an excellent activity this time, and you can see and photograph over 370 species of birds. These include the African grey parrot, the black-and-white casqued hornbill, the red-headed bluebill, the great blue turaco, and the red-billed paradise flycatcher.

The significant part about his month is that photographic safaris are excellent this time.

On the other hand, forest trails have been quite challenging since September, so gorilla trekking is not a great activity this month. Still, you can take advantage of other activities such as spa treatments and yoga classes.

Weather in September

The wet season is common in September, and activities are limited this time around. However, birding is excellent at this time of year.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee is more common here than gorilla trekking. However, with the wet season underway, it is difficult to walk on forest trails, and this activity is unavailable. On the other hand, birding is at its prime as migratory birds are present and newborn animals are common at this time of year.

Activities to do in September

• Birding
• Spa treatments
• Yoga classes

Gorilla trekking is not advisable during the wet season. Rain can interfere with photography, making forest trails significantly more challenging. Thus, your experience will be unproductive.

Newborn animals are much more common during the wet season, and it can be an especially special experience to see them with their young.

Murchison Falls National Park is a great park to visit. Although the wet season is prevalent, wildlife viewing is great all year round.

This park, in particular, lies in the dry part of the country and rain rarely impacts a safari if you’re visiting Uganda in October.

Four of the Big Five are present here: elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards. Giraffes, hippos, and zebras are also present.

Weather in October

The weather is warm in October, but since rain is present, chimpanzee trekking isn’t possible. Other activities, such as birding, are great options.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is a fantastic park to visit all year round and is labelled one of the great parks in Uganda. Wildlife viewing is good all year round here, so be prepared to see four of the Big Five and other big game life.

Activities to do in October

• Game drives
• Spa treatments
• Birding
• Yoga classes

Lush green scenery is still prominent in November and birding remains a prime activity to do.

Just like October, the rains won’t interfere much with wildlife viewing if you visit Murchison Falls National Park.

Expect to see four of the Big Five here as well as 450 species of birds, which include the Abyssinian ground hornbill, the black-headed lapwing, the red-throated bee-eater, the rock pratincole, and the shoebill.

November is the last month to hold out for a productive gorilla trekking experience, so if this is what you’re keen on, December is the best chance to go.

Regarding birding, don’t forget to pack your binoculars to see migratory birds up close.

Weather in November

November is in the heart of the wet season. Birding is popular this time of year; although rain is present, wildlife viewing is still possible.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Since the park falls in the dry part of Uganda, wildlife viewing is still great at this time of year. Birding is also a great activity to do, and you have the opportunity to see over 450 species of birds.

Activities to do in November

• Birding
• Game drives
• Spa treatments
• Yoga classes

Gorilla trekking is excellent this month since the dry season is back in action.

Sunshine is much more common this month, and wildlife viewing improves this time around.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a good park to visit this month to see wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, lions, and leopards. Leopards occur occasionally in the park.

Migratory birds are common at Queen Elizabeth National Park from November to April, making for an excellent birding safari and a fantastic game drive experience.

The wet season occurs here in December, so you can expect the scenery to be lush and green. With an environment like this, a photographic safari is a fantastic experience.

Weather in December

December is a dry month and a better month than November in terms of weather. The sun is out, and you get to experience much more than in the wet season.

Highlight Park to Visit in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The wet season is underway at this time of year and it’s one of the parks you can visit, if you’re a birding enthusiast. Parks such as Murchison Falls has excellent wildlife viewing this time of year and is a great alternative to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

However, if you’re considering this park, you can look forward to a great birding safari and seeing 610 species of birds.

Activities to do in December

• Birding
• Yoga classes
• Game drives
• Spa treatments