
What is the Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
What is the Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park? Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the leading tourist destinations not only in Uganda but also in Africa and the whole world at large. This iconic savannah park is one of the most prestigious game parks in Uganda, famous for offering the ultimate safari experience into the wilderness with stunning activities such as game drives, especially the unique tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, birdwatching, boat cruises, and spectacular views along the Kazinga channel.
The geographical position of Queen Elizabeth National Park makes it a top destination for nature lovers who want to experience nature at its finest. The park’s diverse landscape, which includes swamps, water bodies, rolling savannas, thickets, and wooded lands, supports an array of wildlife, including big cats such as the Leopard, the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, and other wildlife species such as Buffaloes, Chimpanzees, Elephants and antelopes. This eventually calls for the best time to go on a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park receives two wet seasons and two dry seasons and due to variations in climate change, the weather patterns remain unpredictable not only in Uganda but in the whole of African Continent. Most times, temperatures are always warm throughout the year, ranging from 28 C to 30 C, while nighttime temperatures may hover between 16 C and 17 C.
Monthly variations and the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Throughout the year, Queen Elizabeth goes through several seasons. The dry months of June, July, and August are the ideal times to visit. Although it falls within the wet, rainy season, September is nonetheless a high month. Although they are part of the wet, rainy months and are regarded as the high season, the end of December, the beginning of January, and February are also excellent times to visit. Although it rains in both March and September, September is also a busy month of the year with lots of visitors. The season of lush green begins in these months. April through May is the Wet rainy season, which is considered a Low Season and Least favourable time for Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Tempuratures and the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
At Queen Elizabeth, the temperature varies by just 1-2 degrees Celsius between months. With daytime highs of 30ºC (86 F) and nighttime lows of 17ºC (62 F), January, February, and September are the warmest months, while June and July are the coolest, with daytime highs of 28ºC (82 F) and nighttime lows of 16ºC (60 F). The average daily temperature in the remaining months is between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius (86- and 62-degrees Fahrenheit), with an average nighttime temperature between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius (60- and 62-degrees Fahrenheit).
The maximum daily temperature is between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius, while the lowest overnight temperature is often between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius. The two dry seasons—the extended dry season, which runs from May to August, and the shorter dry season, which runs from mid-December to February—are the ideal times to go. Since there is less foliage and animals congregate around water sources to drink, dry seasons are ideal for seeing wildlife. Due to the amazing beauty of the area, an explosion of new vegetation, and lower hotel rates, wet seasons are also excellent for tours. Families can schedule vacations during the park’s winter months, which align with the northern hemisphere’s summer months when schools are off.
Dry season and the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth Park in western Uganda is during the extended dry season, which lasts from June to July and August. A great time to go is during the brief dry season, which runs from mid-December through January and ends in late February. The best times to go on a safari vacation in Queen Elizabeth are during these two dry seasons in Uganda. The weather will be mostly dry, with some brief showers. Because the animals must visit the water sources to drink, there is little vegetation, making it easy to locate wildlife. During the dry season, driving takes less time, and there are also fewer pests. February is the hottest month of the dry season, with highs of 30°C (86°F) during the day and lows of 17°C (62°F) at night.
Wet season and the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, the lengthy wet season lasts from the end of May to April, when it peaks. The rainy season starts in March. On the other side, the brief rains start in September and last until the middle of December. Parts of October and all of November see the peak. The reserve’s exceptional natural beauty is the reason why few discriminating safari tourists decide to visit during these green seasons. The lush new growth brought forth by the rains is quite amazing, but you might have to spend more time looking for wildlife within the foliage. Additionally, because water is easily accessible, animals will travel the lakes or the Kazinga Channel less frequently to drink because there will be an abundance of rainwater in the interior water falls.
In case you decide to go during the rainy season, be aware that the rain does not fall nonstop. There are moments when the sky is clear and the light is shining. It could also pour rain in certain spots while staying dry in others. In order to accommodate the weather, your guide may reschedule your boat excursions, wildlife drives, and nature hikes.
Other considerations
Despite studying the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, during the wet, rainy seasons, you could also notice that there are fewer visitors to the park. The majority of visitors choose to come during the extended dry season, which falls during the height of summer in North America and Europe, as well as the Great Wildebeest Migration across Tanzania and Kenya’s Masai Mara. Since summer is when schools are closed, it is a great opportunity to organise a trip that will teach kids about the value of conservation and the beauties of nature. In Uganda, the combination of the dry and rainy months occurs at the same time as the severe winters experienced by people in North America and Europe in December. Consequently, you might schedule your safari at this time and enjoy quality time with your family in the stunning surroundings.