Uganda’s Climate is largely tropical with two rainy seasons per year, March to May and September to December. The northern region, which forms one-quarter of the country lies outside the tropical belt and hence experiences only one rainy season, March to October.

Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Uganda.

Dry Season – June To August & December To February

Average temperatures hover around 27°C/81°F in the afternoon and 16°C/61°F in the morning. It will be colder at altitudes above 1300m/4265ft, including the gorilla parks.

June, July & August – June and July are the driest months in the south, but it can still rain. Unlike the south, these months are part of the Wet season in the north. The far north, including Kidepo Valley, is semi-arid and can experience droughts for some years.

December, January & February – Most of the south has less rainfall, but still more when compared to June and July. The north has a clear Dry season with little rain.

Wet Season – March To May & September To November

Daytime temperatures average around 28°C/82°F and morning temperatures around 16°C/61°F. It will be colder in the gorilla parks at high altitudes and warmer in the north.

March, April & May – There is more rainfall throughout the country during these months, with a clear peak in April in the south. Most days have some sunshine as well. The rain can make travel more difficult.

September, October & November – These months are comparable to March, April and May but, on average, there is a bit less rain.

Uganda Climate Zones

The Climate Of Uganda is rather equatorial with semi-dry savannahs in the northeast and deciduous to semi-humid forests in the South-west, with rainfall increasing from North to South. Kampala has an average of about 1,400mm of rainfall per year, with peaks in April and November, while there are no periods without any rainfall at all. This makes Southern Uganda rather humid and particularly Western Uganda has quite a few forests, while large parts of the country look green during most of the year. As these are averages, annual fluctuations are considerable and may well fluctuate between 1,100mm and 1,900mm per year.

For the best Uganda Safari Experience, Saso Uganda Safaris is the best tour operator in Uganda organizing affordable Uganda Safari Tours in different destinations. Our Uganda Travel Tips that we provide are well articulated and you won’t miss any necessary things or equipment on your trip.

The Best Time To Visit Uganda is pretty much all year round. The country straddles the equator so there are no particular seasons, even though March to May and October to November are wetter – which can be less pleasant for gorilla tracking. Wildlife can be seen in Uganda National Parks throughout the year, while gorilla permits are often heavily discounted in the rainier months.

Although it’s regarded as a year-round activity, the Best Time To Visit Uganda for gorilla trekking is during the country’s two dry seasons: January and February and from June to September.

Game viewing in Uganda’s savannah parks is best at the end of the dry seasons – February and March and September/early October – when wildlife is concentrated around water sources. Birding Safaris Uganda is fantastic all year round but is at its peak between November and April when migrant species are present. We’d recommend avoiding Uganda Safaris entirely during the heavy rains of April and May.

The average Temperatures of Uganda are 21.5 C and 71 F, these also drop at night time to around 54 F which affects the altitude. Rainfall in Uganda ranges between 1000-2000mm every year. Be that as it may, during the time the skies in Uganda are clear which underpins most safari excursions. These climate changes have brought about changes in climate patterns hence making it harder to predict the seasons of the tourism year.

The Rainy Season

March, April & May and September, October & November

There are two rainy seasons in Uganda—March through May is the long rains with heavy downpours that are no fun for a Safari In Uganda. The months of September, October & November see short rains that show off the emerald plains dotted with the most impressive wildlife.

The rainy season does not mean that it rains throughout the day hampering human activity. A heavy downpour or thunderstorm may last for an average of 3 hours and the rest of the day remain winter-like but during the short rains, the sun may show up and heat the moment in just a few minutes changing every living thing’s mood. And you should note that a downpour can stick to a regular pattern once the season starts, for example, stick to rain late in the night or during particular hours of the day throughout the season.

The Dry Season (Best time)

June, July & August and December, January & February

There’s plentiful sunshine in drier months from June to August and December to February and these are considered the best time for viewing wildlife in Uganda. During these months there’s little or no downpour, especially in the northern region of Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks.

In the south where the gorilla trekking activity takes place, trails are dry and not slippery therefore making this the most preferred time for a gorilla trek or chimpanzee tracking experience. Wildlife is easier to spot as animals gather around water points and there is also little undergrowth for the animals to hide. You will also have enough time for bird-watching.

Guide To Uganda’s Tourism Seasons

1. High Season Months: June – September, December – February
2. Low Season Months: March-May, October to November

Our African safari consultants have this information and would love to guide you through planning your Safari Trip to Uganda. Talk to one of the experts to help you consider what is the Best Time To Visit Uganda and also give you important information about where to stay and how to get to your Uganda National Parks. Here we shortlisted Tours to Uganda are great examples that can be tailored to your exact style to give you maximum experience.

For the best Uganda Safari Experience, Saso Uganda Safaris is the best tour operator in Uganda organizing affordable Uganda Safari Tours in different destinations. Our Uganda Travel Tips that we provide are well articulated and you won’t miss any necessary things or equipment on your trip.