This guide was written by Edoardo, travel guide and owner of Albrieux Africa Tours
One of the first questions I am asked when a person approaches organizing a trip to Uganda is to advise them on the best period.
Fortunately Uganda is located at the height of the equator and enjoys a climate that allows us to organize trips in any month of the year. The variable to take into consideration the most is the rain: although it will not affect the success of the activities, my advice is to plan the trip in the driest months.
In order to save on the cost of flight and accommodation, I also recommend avoiding the high season months.
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1. High season in Uganda: January-February, July-August
In recent months the request for permits to visit the Mountain Gorillas is very high. My advice is to move at least 6 months in advance, especially to have more freedom of choice on dates.
In any case, we buy many gorilla permits in advance during the high season, so do not hesitate to ask us for availability; if you are lucky we may give you an immediate solution or an option by making a few days change to your original plan.
2. The best time to travel to Uganda
If I had the freedom to travel in every month of the year and I had to give you advice on the best period considering the climate, prices (flights and lodges) and presences inside the national parks, I tend to recommend February, March, June and September.
In these periods the climate is drier and with a more limited percentage of rainfall; the same cannot be said in forest areas, where a downpour can surprise you 365 days a year.
Some of the itineraries most chosen by our customers
10 days Uganda with Primates and “The Big Five” – from $2850
Explore the country’s best destinations in 10 days, through savannah and river cruises at Murchison Falls NP and Queen Elizabeth NP combined with a search for Primates.
14 days Uganda: “Lions climbing” special – from $3500
14 days where we will focus on discovering the Primates and the climbing lions that inhabit the area with a one night stay in Ishasha. Before returning to Entebbe, we will complete the trip with the great lakes of the South, including Lake Mburo: “home of the fish eagles”.
3. Recommended periods for ethnic-cultural itineraries
If your tour should be more of an ethnic and cultural nature, I advise against travelling between July and the end of October; unlike the naturalistic part to the west of Uganda, the north and east area is more subject to rains and unforeseen logistical events also due to almost non-existent infrastructure.
Suggested itineraries from November to June
10 days Uganda: north-eastern ethnic circuit – from $1315
Discover the wildest and least explored places in north-eastern Uganda, the uncontaminated savannah of the Kidepo valley and the vast Karamoja area to live a primordial experience with the Tepes Ik and Karamojon herders.
13 days Uganda: Great adventure in Kidepo – from 3950 $
Your adventure will begin at Kidepo, East Africa’s wildest Park; from the north east we will descend to the great Parks, Murchison NP and Queen Elizabeth NP. We will end our trip with a visit to the Primates under the peaks of Mgahinga NP.
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