Weather & when to go to Uganda

Uganda has a tropical climate tempered by altitude, which averages more than 1000m (3281ft). The hottest months are from December to, with temperatures rising up to 29°C (84°F) during the day. It is cooler in the mountains, however. From March to May and October to November, it’s the rainy season in the south, with the wettest month being April. In the north the wet season starts in April and last until October.

Don’t trek outside of the dry season.

Most popular time to visit:

Late Dec - Late Feb:  This time of the year is generally dry, yet hot.

Good time to visit:

June – Sept: This is a very dry period.

Worst time to visit:

During the rainy season of April until October.

Best things to do in Uganda

1. When in Uganda, white-river rafting on the Nile River is a must-have experience. So is visiting the chimps on Ngama Island.
2. Meet the rare mountain gorilla
3. Also visit the Murchison Falls National Park, the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on earth, and if you can, work on a community project.
4. If you fancy yourself a bird lover, you’d have to go and see the birds in the Queen Elizabeth 2 National Park. A quarter of Africa’s entire bird species can be found there - more than in any other park in Africa!

Areas of interest in Uganda

Jinja

Jinja has made quite a few headlines. Lying on the shores of Lake Victoria, this is one of the spots on which Mahatma Gandhi chose to have his ashes scattered. A statue in his honour has been erected at a nearby Hindu temple.

The town is filled with old Asian-style buildings, reflecting the days when it had a thriving Asian community, until Idi Amin brutally kicked them out of Uganda. Nowadays Jinja has seen the return of most of these Asians, and once again, the town is beginning to prosper.

The neighbouring town of Jinja is built over the opening from Lake Victoria, renowned as the source of the River Nile.

Entebbe & Ngamba Chimp Island

Entebbe Airport is probably the friendliest airport in Africa. It’s about 40 km south of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria. In the 19th century, Entebbe was the colonial centre of Uganda, and, until 1962, the capital city. This charming, sleepy place is characterised by botanical gardens and colonial buildings.

There’s quite a lot to do in this town, such as playing a round of golf, tennis, or going sailing or swimming. You can also visit the Entebbe Wildlife Centre.

If you hunger for some eccentric wildlife, hop on a traditional canoe or motor boat to Chimp Island, a special sanctuary for chimpanzees on a beautiful forested island. These chimpanzees were illegally removed from the wild, so authorities confiscated them and put them here. You can get a good close-up view on the raised platform, especially during feeding time. The tour takes about half a day, and you can overnight with your newfound friends at a simple mobile camp. All the entrance fees go towards looking after the chimpanzees.

Kampala

Kampala is situated on hills on the northern edge of Lake Victoria, and is the booming capital of Uganda. It’s a modern city, and since the damage it’s suffered from civil conflict in the past, its services are being improved every day. Not only has the tap water become drinkable and the damaged buildings habitable, but new structures have sprung up, with shops and markets being well stocked once again. There are even casinos, fancy restaurants and nightclubs. The biggest bonus is that it’s a safe city.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

One of the last remaining habitats of the mountain gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda's most recently created national parks. Almost half of the gorillas left in the world lives here, which is estimated to be only a shocking low number of 330 individual beasts.

Also known as the Impenetrable Forest, it covers 331km², and a lot of conservational effort has been put into this place so that the gorillas can survive. Enjoying this protection along with the gorillas, are all the other animals, birds, insects and plant-life that share the forest with them. This include 20 forest elephants, at least 10 species of primate (including Colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons), duikers, bushbucks, and the rare giant forest hog. Bwindi is one of the richest areas for flora and fauna in Africa.

A visit with the gorillas is truly an amazing experience, but the entire process is not for the weak, impatient traveller. Firstly, to actually arrange the experience, can be quite difficult, and secondly, the walking is not child’s play. Only 32 permits per day is allowed for Bwindi, and must be booked through the UWA office (041-346287) in Kampala. You’ll be making your way through a mountainous and heavily forested, and you could be walking for up to four hours before you get to see your first gorilla. If you fancy yourself to be quite the hardcore adventurer, get yourself some excellent walking shoes and a fast film, so that you can get good photos in the shady parts of the forest.

Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls is a showstopper, and arguably the most beautiful waterfall in all of Uganda. These days it’s much more accessible that it used to be via one of the best roads in the country.

Lying about 55km north of Mbale, in the foothills of Mt Elgon and not far from the town of Kapchorwe, you will be treated to extravagantly beautiful views of Mt Elgon and the wide plains of eastern and northern Uganda disappearing into the distance below. Sipi Falls consists of three levels, with the lowest one being the largest. We recommend you spend one or two nights in this dreamlike fairyland.

You can go on some of the excellent walks that are on a network of well-maintained local trails, with beautiful scenery beaming from every direction. You can choose between guided or unguided walks.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley, and is centred around Lake Edward and Lake George. During the launch trip along the Kazinga Channel, you’ll have a great chance of spotting hippo, buffalo, elephant and many different birds. When you’re around Ishasha, do yourself a favour and check out the famous tree-climbing lions which lie around casually on old fig trees. Nearby, in the gorgeous steeply forested Kyambura Gorge you can look for chimpanzees, the red-tailed monkey, the Colobus monkey and many kinds of bird species.

Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls is the biggest national park in all of Uganda. The River Nile runs through it, and many a wildlife specie has made this park its home. Hippos, crocs, elephants and birds (including the rare shoebill stork) laze in the sun on the Nile’s riverbanks. Nearby, in Budongo and Kanyiyo Pabidi, you can track chimpanzees.

Kabale

On your way to tracking gorillas at Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, you’ll overnight at either Kabale, a small rural town in south-western Uganda, or the Lake Bunyonyi nearby. Because of these places’ popularity, lots of accommodation is on offer.

At Kabale, the Kampala road from the north joins the road that goes to the borders of both Rwanda and the DRC. Thus, trucks, fuel stations and roadside mechanics line Kabale’s dusty streets, giving it a distinctive frontier-town feel.

When in Kabale, you have to experience its fresh-food market. The town’s the major trading centre for south-western Uganda, because the region is so heavily populated and extensively cultivated. The market’s narrow passages are lined with wooden stalls that are piled high with colourful fruit, vegetables, beans, grains and nuts. Here, traders bargain fiercely with their customers. Along the main road, the shops are always busy, as people from the farms come in to exchange their produce for all kinds of other things, such as brightly striped mattresses, plastic-ware, second-hand clothes, blankets and water containers.

Lake Bunyonyi

A few million years ago Lake Bunyonyi was a volcano. Today it’s the deepest crater lake in Uganda and one of the few lakes in the country that is Bilharzia-free. It’s around 1980m above sea level, and bird lovers would love this place. Over 200 species of birds can be spotted here, thanks to the alluring surrounding forests, farms and gardens. At night, you’ll be deafened by the enthusiastic chorus of frogs, and otters are frequently seen fishing in the lake. This is really a lovely scenic spot to just swim, canoe and relax.

Recent history of Uganda

Uganda is one of African’s fastest growing economies.

In 1994, 1996 and 2001, Museveni won the democratic 'no-party' elections. During those years, key economic reforms were introduced and, by the turn of the millennium, the economy was experiencing sustained growth, and even a small amount of prosperity.

Despite that, Museveni still faced a number of challenges during this period. In the north, various anti-government rebel factions joined with Sudan's Islamic government and the West Nile Bank Front, led by Idi Amin's former minister. At the same time, Uganda’s rate of HIV/AIDS became among the highest in the world.

In 2002, Museveni concluded a peace deal with the Ugandan National Rescue Front, and pulled out of the war in Congo the following year. This is also when a government committee recommended a transition to multiparty democracy.

But recently, Museveni has shifted his position on a return to multi-party politics. He’s also trying to get constitutional limits scrapped on presidential terms. He himself put in place the two-term limit, but then suddenly had a change of mind as the end of his term came into sight.

In 2006, he got re-elected, but not before he had his opponent Dr Kizza Besigye silenced and imprisoned on charges of treason and rape. Meanwhile, in the north, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continues to wreak havoc.

Looking back, one can say that the 'Idi Amin' days have long disappeared and Uganda in the late 1980's and early 90's are a place of improvement and regeneration. Roads and buildings are in the process of rebuilding, and the economy is slowly remaking a comeback. The tourist industry is still small, yet growing, and game parks are being restocked, while services in Kampala and around the country are being improved.

Highlights of Uganda

1. White-river rafting on the Nile River
2. Meet the rare mountain gorilla
3. Visiting the chimps on Ngama Island
4. See the Murchison Falls National Park, the most powerful natural flow of water
5. Work on a community project
6. Visit Queen Elizabeth 2 National Park to see quarter of Africa’s entire bird species

Quick facts of Uganda

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Medical matters

1. Yellow fever
2. HIV/AIDS
3. Typhoid
4. Hepatitis
5. Cholera
6. Malaria
7. Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis)

Getting there

You can go to Uganda in an overland truck.

If you prefer flying, flights into Kampala's international airport is actually in Entebbe, 35km (22mi) southwest of the capital.

Safety in Uganda

Although most of Uganda is generally safe, there are still some risky areas. Avoid the areas where the LRA is still active, such as as Lira and Gulu, and north of Murchison Falls National Park.

Also prone to violence and banditry, is the remote Karamoja region in the northeast. If you have to go into these areas, it’s crucial that you first make inquiries with knowledgeable local authorities.