Best time to travel to Uganda

Best time to travel to Uganda: when it is best to visit this special country

Uganda has a warm tropical climate all year round, but the amount of rain and drought varies greatly per season. For a tour, cycling adventure, or safari, it is wise to plan around the dry periods, when the roads are more accessible and nature experiences are optimal. Yet, every period has its unique charm: from green landscapes to crowd-free days. Below you can read what to expect per season and what the best travel time is for your Uganda trip.

Uganda’s climate: always summer

Uganda is situated on the equator, which means the temperature is fairly constant and pleasant all year round. During the day, the mercury usually fluctuates between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. In the evening and early morning, it cools down nicely to around 16 degrees. In higher altitude areas, such as the Rwenzori Mountains or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, it can even feel chilly.

The weather in Uganda is primarily determined by rainfall. Instead of summer and winter, we speak of dry seasons and rainy seasons here. This is important to know for your planning, especially if you want to actively cycle or hike. Rain often falls in short, heavy downpours, after which the sun breaks through again. It rarely rains continuously for days on end, meaning you can actually travel all year round.

Uganda’s dry seasons: December to February & June to August

Most travellers choose the dry periods. There are two main dry seasons in Uganda: from December to February and from June to August. In these months, the least rain falls, the sky is often clear blue, and the conditions for outdoor activities are ideal.

Perfect for cyclists and hikers

For a cycling holiday, these are the best months. The unpaved roads (gravel roads) are dry and hard, making cycling easier. You have less chance of mud pools and slippery paths. However, it can be dusty on the roads during this period, which results in the famous ‘African tan’ on your legs at the end of the day. The dry ground is also pleasant for hikers, especially during steep climbs.

Spotting wildlife

In the dry season, the grass on the savannah is shorter and small water holes dry up. As a result, animals migrate en masse to the larger rivers and lakes to drink. This makes spotting wildlife during a safari a lot easier. You often see large groups of elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes gathered together by the water.

Uganda’s rainy seasons: March to May & October to November

The rainy seasons in Uganda roughly fall into two periods. The ‘long’ rainy season runs from March to May, with April often being the wettest month. The ‘short’ rainy season falls in October and November. Do not let this put you off immediately: the landscape is at its most beautiful during this time.

The green season

Rain brings life. In these months, Uganda turns bright green. Nature is in bloom, the air is crystal clear (after a downpour), and there is less dust in the air. This is a wonderful time for photographers. Moreover, it is often quieter with tourists during these periods, meaning you sometimes have the parks and lodges almost to yourself.

Challenges on the road

If you travel in the rainy season, you need to be flexible. Unpaved roads can turn into mud paths, which makes cycling heavier and more adventurous. Sometimes you have to take shelter from a shower for a moment or adjust a route. For the true adventurer who is not afraid to get dirty, this actually adds an extra dimension to the trip.

Best time to travel for a cycling holiday in Uganda

At CvA Travel, we organise cycling trips in almost all months of the year, because every period has its charm. Nevertheless, we recommend the dry months (January, February, June, July, August) for most cyclists. The roads are highly accessible then, and you can cycle on comfortably.

If you opt for a trip in the transition months (such as September or December), you often have the ‘best of both worlds’: less dust than in the high season and less mud than in the rainy season. The Tour of Karamoja, our special tour in the northeast, takes place in October/November. Although nationally this falls in the short rainy season, the north of Uganda (Karamoja) is often drier than the south, making this period suitable for this specific adventure.

Best time to travel for Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking

A visit to the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest is high on the list for many. Because you trek on foot through dense rainforest, often via steep slopes, the terrain is important.

The best time for a trek is during the dry seasons (January-February and June-August). The paths are less slippery then, and the vegetation is sometimes slightly less dense, which makes walking easier. In the rainy seasons (March-May and October-November), the paths can be very slippery and muddy. There is one advantage, however: because more food grows lower on the mountain, you sometimes do not have to walk as far to find the gorillas.