Best Time to Visit The Mountain Gorillas & Uganda.
For any traveler who is considering a trip, Uganda is regarded as a comprehensive tourism destination. Its climate and proximity to the equator are the causes of this. Lake Victoria and its distinct weather patterns are another element that contributes to Uganda’s year-round appeal as a tourism destination. The two primary rainy seasons in Uganda are the long rainy season, which lasts from mid-March to the end of May, and the short season, which lasts from October to November.
As a result, June, July, August, and September are the ideal months to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. January and February should be comparatively fine if that is not feasible.
Uganda has average temperatures of 21.5 C and 71 F, which decrease to about 54 F at night and have an impact on altitude. Uganda receives 1000–2000 mm of rain annually. However, the majority of safari trips are supported by Uganda’s bright skies throughout the year. Because of the altered weather patterns brought about by these climatic changes, it is now more difficult to forecast the travel seasons.
Since there is less rain and more sunshine in most places throughout these months, many travelers decide that May through September through February are the ideal times of year to visit Uganda. In most national parks, December is one of the busiest months of the year, so it’s best to reserve your lodging in advance to prevent disappointment. The majority of Uganda safari visitors schedule their trips to national parks over the Christmas season, so December is usually a busy time of year.
Despite the fact that it is rainy season, many visitors find it acceptable to go during the off-peak months since lodging is inexpensive. You will also be able to appreciate the forest with comparatively few people if you visit during this time of year. According to some, February and September are ideal months for a safari trip in Uganda since less people travel during these months and the lodges are not as packed as they are during the busiest times of the year.
The Rainy Season
In Uganda, the rainy season has an impact on people’s travel plans, but it doesn’t mean they stop altogether because it combines rain and sunshine. This implies that most safari activities may be conducted without any problems and that the sun comes out as soon as it has recently rained. Even during the rainy season, when the national parks are open, trekking for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees continues.
Since even gorilla permits are lowered to draw more tourists to Uganda, most lodges lower their costs during the off-peak months of March through May and October through November in an effort to entice more travelers to make reservations.
Furthermore, Uganda’s climate is cool due to its elevated terrain; however, if you intend to go on a gorilla trek, it’s crucial to note that, even though the gorilla trekking rates are low during the low season, the best times to go are from June to September and during the two dry seasons of January and February.
The best time to see game in all of Uganda’s national parks is during the dry season, which runs from February to March, September to early October. This is mostly due to the fact that those parks’ water features are home to a large number of animal species. Although it may be done all year round, bird viewing is most enjoyable from November to April when the migratory birds are in the nation. However, in order to enjoy their holiday in Uganda, tourists are advised to avoid going during the months of April and May when there is a lot of rain.
A GUIDE TO THE TOURISM SEASONS IN UGANDA
MONTHS OF HIGH SEASON: JUNE TO SEPTEMBER
December to February
MONTHS OF THE LOW SEASON: March through May
From October until November
When is the ideal time of year to go gorilla tracking in Rwanda or Uganda?
Most visitors choose to visit between June and September, as well as between December and February, even though monitoring mountain gorillas may be done year-round in these two nations since the national parks where the gorillas reside have fairly rainy seasons.
This is also true in Uganda, even though the rainy season there lasts from March to May. Trekking the sheer terrain is difficult due to the rains, even if they are not very heavy. On around three days of the week, the rain only lasts for one to two hours during that period, and the sun is out for the remainder. However, Bwindi has a few light rains even during Uganda’s arid months.
The trackers’ seasonality might also be attributed to the general weather in their respective nations. For example, in Europe, the number of people going on gorilla safari treks is high in the summer and significantly falls in the winter. Additionally, some hikers take advantage of the periodic gorilla tracking permit concessions.
The cost of the gorilla excursion permit is $800. Gorilla trekking in Uganda should be covered in a three-day Bwindi gorilla trip. Discounts will be available during these months at several lodging establishments in the gorilla habitats.
Since it is muddy and somewhat wet when following the mountain gorillas, most people avoid visiting Rwanda during the first rainy season, which occurs around the end of February, March, April, and May. However, because it is raining during these months, the gorillas have enough of food on the lower slopes, and the temperatures there are also cooler.
As a result, the gorillas remain on the lower slopes since food is more readily available and temperatures are higher. As a result, if you decide to track during these months, your journey won’t be that lengthy. In fact, most trackers spot the gorillas after only two hours of trekking, which means they return to their lodge by 2:00 pm.
Whatever your justification, experience shows that gorilla trekking is possible throughout the year and will undoubtedly be a fantastic experience.