Uganda Climate Seasons
Uganda’s climate is basically 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.
The rest of Uganda lies within humid equatorial climate zones, and the topography, prevailing winds, and lakes and rivers cause large differences in rainfall patterns across the country. It’s location in the tropics and across the equator results in the country’s weather and seasonal being determined by the large-scale Indian Monsoon, Congo air mass, Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) systems. Uganda also experiences the El Nin Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena, which are principal driving forces of intra-annual to inter annual rainfall variability. Overall, Uganda experiences moderate temperatures throughout the year, around 22.8°C, with monthly temperatures ranging between 21.7°C (July) and 23.9°C (February). During this period, total annual average precipitation is 1,197 mm, and mean monthly precipitation of the country varies from 39.6 mm in January to 152.7 mm in April.
Activities to do when you visit Uganda
Although Uganda has varying seasons, this doesn’t hinder any tourist activity to take place at any time a traveler want to travel. Uganda is rich in attractions that range from Gorilla tour, chimpanzee tour, mountain hiking, wildlife safaris, water rafting, waterfalls and people cultures.
Gorilla tracking:
Uganda has 2 sections for gorilla safaris namely, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In total there are 18 Gorilla groups or families and you can only track only one group a day.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has 17 gorilla group making it the best place or park where you can see the gorillas in the wild. Bwindi tours gives you access to 90 mammal species, 11 primates including the black and white colobus monkey.
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Groups
Ruhija Trek: with gorilla families, Mukiza, Oruzogo, Bitukura and Kyaguliro
Buhoma Trek: Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura
Nkuringo Trek: Christmas, Nkuringo, Bushaho
Rushaga Trek: Kutu, Bikingi, Mishaya, Bushigye, Kahungye, Rwigi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi
Mgahinga Gorilla Family
In Mgahinga Park, you can track the Nyakagezi group which is surrounded by the Slopes of Virunga Volcanoes, Mt. Muhavura(4,127m) Mt Gahinga (3474m) Mt. Sabinyo(3645m).
Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari
The most luxurious gorilla tours are done in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. While a gorilla permit costs $ 1,500 per person, a 9 day luxury Rwanda safari costs over $ 15,000 when you sleep in luxury lodges like Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda. In Uganda, Clouds Lodge, Mahogany Springs and Gorilla Forest Camp take the crown.
Budget Gorilla Tours in Africa
The cheapest gorilla permit costs $450 in Congo and $ 700 in Uganda. Budget accommodation in Bwindi National Park for Uganda gorilla tours costs from $100 per night. Choose between Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge and Buhoma Community Rest Camp. In Rwanda, hotel Muhabura is the most affordable.