Best Time to Visit Uganda
Planning a trip to Uganda? And wondering what time of the year is the best time to visit? Uganda is perfect to during the dry season months from June to September and December to February but can be easily visited throughout the year.
When to Go?
Best Time to Visit Uganda
Peak season occurs in Uganda from June to September due to the decreased chances of rain during those months. December also consistently proves to be busy with visitors on their Christmas holidays.
Yet typically “off-season” times retain their appeal in Uganda. The dry months of February – March result in a variety of wildlife along the rivers and pans of Uganda’s national parks. Even during the rainy season, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking stay on schedule. The only excessively rainy and thus unadvisable months to travel Uganda are April and May.
Seasons of Uganda
Broadly speaking, these are the seasons of Uganda:
- Dry Season: June to September / December to February
- Wet Season: March to May / October – November
Where to Go in Uganda – Month by Month
- December to February: Dry season, wonderful time to go on gorilla and chimp treks. The plain game in national parks like Queen Elizabeth NP are easier to spot since its drier. December may have some Christmas time rush. January – February will not be too crowded. Best time for birding is from November to April, when migrant species are also visible.
- March to May: Peak rainy season. While it is still possible to go on gorilla treks, prepare to be drenched (which adds to the fun). Enjoy the verdant greenery of Uganda and lower rates.
- June to September: Peak dry season. Lots of tourists combine a gorilla trek with the mgiration, so permits get sold out much in advance. Wildlife is easier to spot because of the dry season.
- October to November: Rainy season again. Lots of slippery tracks when going on gorilla treks. Roads can be slippery too. Lower rates.
Climate
Climate of Uganda
Uganda’s plateau topography blesses the country with a pleasant average temperature of 21.5℃ (71℉), which drops to about 12℃ (54℉) at nighttime. Due to its proximity to the equator, Uganda lacks distinct seasonal patterns apart from two rainy seasons: mid-March to May, followed by shorter rains from October – November.
Despite these periods, Uganda’s skies remain relatively clear throughout the year, with the sun emerging soon after the daily rains have ceased. Kidepo Valley and other northwestern regions are the only areas in Uganda that at times undergo droughts, depending on the year.
Still deciding where to go?
Knowing when to travel is half the decision; the other half is where. Our guide to African safari destinations puts every country we work in side by side — what each is best for, the best months to visit, how long to allow and what a trip starts at — so you can see how Uganda compares before you commit.
Best time to visit Uganda: common questions
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
June to August and December to February, which are Uganda’s two drier windows. The important thing to understand is that this is about ground conditions rather than animal concentration — the opposite of a classic savannah destination. Drier soil means shorter, safer, less punishing gorilla and chimpanzee treks, less mud and fewer leeches, and markedly better light on the forest floor in Bwindi. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls do behave conventionally, with game gathering on the Kazinga Channel and the Victoria Nile in the dry months.
Are gorilla permits cheaper in some months?
Yes — Uganda prices seasonally and Rwanda does not, which is one of the strongest reasons to choose Uganda. April, May and November are the low-season months for foreign non-resident permits. One caveat worth knowing before you book: low-season permits cannot be rescheduled, so a slipped flight is a real risk. The Uganda Wildlife Authority publishes current tariffs, and rates are due to change from January 2027 — we will confirm the exact figure for your dates when we quote.
Do I have to go in the dry season to trek gorillas?
No, and the half of that advice that is right is about you rather than the gorillas. Bwindi’s gorillas do not concentrate, migrate or become easier to see in June. A reasonably fit walker in good boots gets essentially the same encounter in April for substantially less. Trek duration is a function of where the group slept the night before, not of the month — a dry-season trek can be six hours uphill through nettles and a wet-season one can be forty minutes.
Which months should I avoid in Uganda?
April above all — the peak of the long rains in the south, the worst Bwindi trail conditions, and the highest chance of a washout on the Kampala–Bwindi road. September to November is wet but far more manageable. No Ugandan park closes seasonally, so nothing is off the table; it is a question of comfort and road time.
Does it still rain in Uganda’s dry season?
Yes, and setting that expectation upfront prevents the single most common Uganda complaint. Bwindi and Mgahinga sit between roughly 1,160 and 2,600 metres in Afromontane rainforest and get substantially more rain than the national average. Dry season there means less rain, not no rain. Pack for wet even in July.
When is Uganda best value?
April, May and November, unambiguously — the discounted permit months combined with low-season lodge rates and near-empty parks. The trade is mud and a real chance of an afternoon downpour. Early June is the quieter alternative, when the rains have usually broken but lodges have not yet moved to high-season rates.