When to go · Western Uganda, UG
When to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
March through July is the sweet spot for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Days run 20-30°C with under 100mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
30°
19mm
Feb
31°
20mm
Mar
30°
100mm
Apr
28°
167mm
May
28°
143mm
Jun
29°
50mm
Jul
29°
27mm
Aug
29°
67mm
Sep
29°
108mm
Oct
29°
137mm
Nov
28°
129mm
Dec
29°
65mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Excellent
- June, July
- Good
- January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December
- Busy
- June, July, August
- Quiet
- October, November
Peak demand in Queen Elizabeth National Park starts in January. Lock flights and the room you actually want by September, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Closure · Mar-May
Long rains
April is the wettest month. Murchison Falls roads turn to mud and some camps close for maintenance.
Wildlife · Jun-Aug
Gorilla trekking dry season
Bwindi permits sell out four months ahead in dry season. Book before February for August trekking.
Shoulder · Oct-Nov
Short rains
Afternoon storms, mornings often clear. Gorilla permits easier to grab and lodge rates drop fifteen to thirty percent.
Wildlife · Dec-Feb
Short dry season
December to February tracks are firm and gorilla sightings reliable. Christmas week books out earliest.
Month by month
January
30°C, 19mm rain. Warm but workable.
February
31°C, 20mm rain. Warm but workable.
March
30°C, 100mm rain. Warm but workable. April is the wettest month. Murchison Falls roads turn to mud and some camps close for maintenance.
April
28°C, 167mm rain. Warm but workable. April is the wettest month. Murchison Falls roads turn to mud and some camps close for maintenance.
May
28°C, 143mm rain. Warm but workable. April is the wettest month. Murchison Falls roads turn to mud and some camps close for maintenance.
June
29°C and 50mm rain. Bwindi permits sell out four months ahead in dry season. Book before February for August trekking.
July
29°C and 27mm rain. Bwindi permits sell out four months ahead in dry season. Book before February for August trekking.
August
29°C, 67mm rain. Warm but workable. Bwindi permits sell out four months ahead in dry season. Book before February for August trekking.
September
29°C, 108mm rain. Warm but workable.
October
29°C, 137mm rain. Warm but workable. Afternoon storms, mornings often clear. Gorilla permits easier to grab and lodge rates drop fifteen to thirty percent.
November
28°C, 129mm rain. Pack a shell. Afternoon storms, mornings often clear. Gorilla permits easier to grab and lodge rates drop fifteen to thirty percent.
December
29°C, 65mm rain. Warm but workable.
Pack for the window
Lightweight layers and a packable shell. Reef-safe SPF if you're near water. High-SPF, even when it's cool.
Ready to put it on the calendar?