Uganda, month by month
Best time to visit Uganda
The drier months, June to September and December to February, are the easiest for forest trails. The wettest are March to May, October and November. Safaris and treks run all year, so the best time is also about which park you are going to.
The short answer
Dry months and wet months
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June to September and December to February
The drier months. Forest trails are easier underfoot. June to September is the busiest time at Bwindi, so permits go early.
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March to May, October and November
The wettest months. Treks still run but the forest paths are slick, and some lodges and camps close.
Treks run all year and rain can fall in any month. Birdwatchers sometimes prefer the wet months, when some species are more active.
Mountain gorillas
The best time for gorilla trekking
Gorilla treks run all year. The drier months are the easiest, because the trails are less slick and your chances of finding the gorillas are best. June to September is also the busiest time at Bwindi, so permits go early.
Read how a gorilla trek works for the fitness you need and what to bring, or the Bwindi gorilla trekking guide for the four sectors. Every gorilla trekking safari is request to book, so tell us your dates and we say what is possible.
Park by park
What the seasons mean at each park
These notes come from our park guides. Where a guide gives no best month, we say nothing rather than guess.
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Bwindi
The drier months, June to September and December to February, are the easiest for gorilla trekking: trails are less slick. Bwindi can be trekked all year, and rain can come in any month.
June to September is the busiest stretch, so permits go early. March to May, October and November are the wettest months, when some lodges and camps close and the forest paths are hard going. Birdwatchers sometimes prefer the wet months, when some species are more active.
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Kibale
Forest trails are easier in the drier months, June to September and December to February. Chimpanzee treks run all year, and rain is possible in any month.
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Queen Elizabeth
Morning and sunset game drives are the best for seeing animals active. Sightings change with the season and the day, and our guides use recent sightings to choose where to go.
We do not have a separate best month for Queen Elizabeth: the drier months of June to September and December to February make savanna roads easier, and the lions of Ishasha are a day-by-day matter.
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Murchison Falls
Game drives start at dawn or dusk whatever the season, and the Nile cruise runs in the afternoon.
Uganda’s drier months are June to September and December to February. March to May, October and November are the wettest. Tell us your dates and we will say what that means on the ground.
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Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo works as a quiet last stop before Entebbe, in any season.
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Jinja
Rafting runs as the operator briefs it on the day, and the boat to the source suits an afternoon.
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Sipi Falls
The Sipi trek is on foot, so a dry day is kinder to the paths.
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Kidepo
Kidepo is planned around the road. It is a long way from Entebbe, and the trips are built with comfort stops and an overnight in Gulu rather than one punishing day.
Park entry and the guided activities in Kidepo are included in our Kidepo safaris.
Combining countries
If your trip goes beyond Uganda
Rwanda: June to September and December to February are the drier months, and treks run year round, with rain possible in nyungwe.
Zambia: June to September and December to February. Often lower river levels and cooler mornings for paddling. The trail still runs, with adjusted start times and camp choices.
Our Rwanda primate safari and Zambezi canoe safaris follow the same pattern.
Good to know
Questions about when to go
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
June to September and December to February are the drier months, and forest trails are easier underfoot. March to May, October and November are the wettest. Treks run all year and rain can fall in any month.
When is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla treks run all year. The drier months, June to September and December to February, are the easiest: trails are less slick, and your chances of finding the gorillas are best. June to September is also the busiest time at Bwindi, so permits go early.
Can I trek gorillas in the wet months?
Yes, treks still run in March to May, October and November, but the forest paths are slick and harder going, and some lodges and camps close. Birdwatchers sometimes prefer the wet months, when some species are more active.
Does the best time change for Rwanda or Zambia?
Not by much. Our Rwanda and Zambia guides give the same drier months, June to September and December to February, and both say the trips still run in the wetter months.
Next
Choose the trip, then the month
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What a Uganda safari costs
Every Uganda trip priced, and what the price covers.
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Short Uganda safaris
Trips of 3 to 6 days if you have a week or less.
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The Uganda guide
Every park, with the trips that go there.
Ready when you are
Tell us when you want to go
Send your dates, or the months you are thinking about. We reply with what is possible.