Best time to go safaris in Uganda

Best time to go safaris in Uganda : We are glad to inform you that Uganda is among the best safari destinations in Africa which is extremely fascinating all over the year. Tourism sites in the Pearl of Africa are open to all the travelers throughout the year though the best time to visit Uganda is going to be presented in the article below;

The dry season

In Uganda, the two dry seasons favor massive tourism and tourist activities like primate tracking, wildlife viewing, hiking safaris among others. The dry season happens in months of December to February which is a short dry season and from June to August also the long dry season.

When it comes to chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, it’s so easy, interesting and rewarding when you choose to experience in this season. This is because the routes that lead to all the primate sites are dry and comfortable to pass through which makes it easy to do the trekking. During the wet season, it is wet, muddy and slippery therefore it is difficult to navigate through and it is also time consuming.

In the dry season, wildlife gathers at permanent water bodies to take a bath and quench off their thirsty due the hot temperatures, the vegetation in the savannah reserves is so little thus It becomes so easy for the tourists to spot various wildlife while on a game drive during this wonderful season.

Still during this season, little or no showers are expected and besides the sky is very clear therefore interruptions are not many. On your safari feel free to take as many photos as you can because it is favorable.

The temperatures are high and it shines too much therefore bring with you light clothes, sunscreen, African hat all those to protect your skin from strong direct sun rays.

It is important to note that during this season tourism in Uganda is at its peak so you should expect hiked prices in almost all safari destinations. We advise all the travelers who would love to do gorilla and chimpanzee trekking while on their Uganda safari to book their permits before the time of their travel and this can be about 4 to 6 months before travel. This is because permits get sold out at a high rate because of a high demand in this time.

The wet season

The wet season can as well be a great time to do Uganda Safaris though it’s made up of heavy rains, slippery and muddy grounds in all the routes that lead to tourists’ destinations. The rainy season has two phases, that is during October to November and from march to June (the long-wet season). However, heavy showers are expected in this season, sometimes it does not rain or if does it takes half a day or for a few hours and shortly after a heavy shower it will shinning. This offers a great opportunity to the traveler to continue with their tours and some activities to carry out on that particular day.

In this season, most of the savannah reserves are very green due to a lot of rain. Here, you still get chance to sight a lot of impressive wildlife with the new born animals while on a game drive in a particular safari park.

It’s important to note that in the wet season most of the safari routes are muddy, slippery which makes most vehicles get stuck on the way. This makes the safari uncomfortable and frustrating.

Interestingly, during the wet season all the rates concerning tour operators, accommodation, safari packages and many more are discounted. This favors the budget travelers so much to also get an opportunity to enjoy the Pearl of Africa. Besides, all the national parks are free compared to the dry season when they are congested. This can be of great help to those travelers who hate congestion and meeting up with fellow tourists on safari. 

There is always plenty of food for both birds and animals due to a wide number of flowering plants during this season. For bird lovers, this is the best season to enjoy bird watching, you also get an opportunity to see the chimpanzee communities without struggling. This is not same when it comes to the dry season since the chimpanzees keep on moving, jumping from tree branch to another looking for food.

When it comes to parks like Mgahinga, Bwindi impenetrable forest and kibale forest, remember to carry strong gum boots to solve the problem of slippery grounds, strong water proof rain coats just in case it rains on your way.

On your Uganda safari during the wet season, we would advise you to rent a 4×4 wheel vehicle so that you reduce the chances of getting stuck on your way due the wet, muddy and slippery ground.

In short, Uganda can be visited any time however we recommend travelers to come in the dry season which is always the best time. Always don’t forget to hire a local tour operator if you want your Uganda safari to be superb. For more information, feel free to contact us call us directly on +256-775630809 or +256-701343598 to speak directly to our reservations team.