When to visit Uganda

January is the driest month of the year, roads are clear and skies are blue. This is one of the best months to visit for trekking and any outdoor activities, and photographs promise to showcase the best that Uganda has to offer. Since Uganda sits on the equator, the risk of sudden downpours can't be avoided, but these will be exceptions rather than the norm. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in January. 

The dry season continues into February. Conditions are perfect for trekking, hiking, game drives and wildlife tracking.

Boat safaris are great throughout the dry season as the wildlife flock to the waterholes as downpours are less frequent.

Uganda is a wonderful birding destination year round, but the clear conditions make for better sightings and December through February brings a wealth of migratory birds. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in February. 

March is the start of the long rainy season in Uganda that runs until May. Downpours can be heavy and persistent, although often occur in late afternoons or overnight.

It's still perfectly possible to enjoy all that Uganda has to offer during this season, including tracking the gorillas and chimpanzees, but the roads become challenging, treks slippery, and the skies overcast with pockets of sunshine illuminating the wilderness throughout the day.

You'll want to bring waterproof clothing and good quality trekking boots. 

Gorillas often head to lower, warmer ground in the rainy season which can make sightings easier. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in March. 

April is the peak of the rainy season and sees the worst of the rains.

Travelling during this period often means cheaper accommodation. The forests come alive in luscious greens, birds flock, and you'll feel like you're in the beating heart of Uganda's wilderness.

Roads will be torn up by the rains, so expect a challenging drive!

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in April. 

The final month of the long rainy season. Conditions begin to let up towards the end of the month, but you should still expect heavy rains and tougher roads and treks. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in May. 

The start of peak season in Uganda. June is a fantastic month to visit the country. The rains have passed, but their impact can be clearly seen from the outstanding colour of the forests. Skies are blue and the trekking routes have dried.

Peak season of course means gorilla permits are likely to be booked up quickly. If you want to travel during these months, you need to book well in advance. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in June. 

The dry season continues and temperatures are cooler across the country. July is typically the driest month in Uganda, although you should be prepared for showers at any time. Another perfect month for exploring Uganda. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in July. 

The final month of the dry season, conditions across the country remain perfect. Rainfall is similar to that of early June as the country's short rainy season approaches. For now, skies are blue and access routes easy to traverse. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in August. 

The rains are a little more frequent than in the drier June to August, but nothing compared to the long rainy season earlier in the year. Roads are clear and trekking routes not too slippery. 

The rains aren't enough for the vegetation to blossom like it does during wetter months, and so animals head for the waterholes which makes sightings easier and more frequent. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in September. 

October marks the end of peak season in Uganda and rains begin to pick up, but it's still much drier than the long rainy season from March to May.

Accommodation often drops in price again, but other than that it's very much business as usual. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in October. 

November is the second rainy season in Uganda. The rains are less dramatic than those of March to April, but they are severe enough for roads to become tough to traverse and trekking routes a challenge. Some lodges will close in the worst affected regions.

You can still travel in November, just as you can during the long rainy season earlier in the year. You just have to be prepared for showers and greyer skies.

The forests are beautiful, savannah's turn from brown to green, and migratory birds flock to the country. It's wet, but still a wondrous time to visit this amazing country. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in November. 

As the seasons come back around, the rains calm and the dry season returns.

December is the start of the dry season that lasts until February (and comes back around again from June to September). Some of the short rains linger into December, but these are usually unremarkable and won't distract you from the gorillas and chimps.

The wildlife returns to the waterholes and access is great across the country. What's more, Christmas is a big celebration in Uganda, so the country is buzzing with festivities. 

Check out our full guide on visiting Uganda in December.