Overview
When to visit Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is enjoyable all year round, but December through to February is considered the best time to visit the park. June to September is another good period to visit.
Throughout these months, there’s little rainfall, which means the tracks leading you to wildlife during your game drives remain dry and accessible.
The dry season
This season attracts animals to water sources, so it’s easier to spot them while out on game drives.
The dry season falls between December to February, and then again from June to September. During this time, there’s plenty of sunshine and rarely any rain.
The park experiences a stable equatorial climate throughout the year . The temperature ranges between 25-32°C during the day and drops down to 18°C at night.
The temperature in January and February is hot, so be sure to wear light clothing and bring plenty of water and sun screen.
The wet season
The wet season falls between July and November, and again from March to May. During this time the landscape is at its most beauty.
Murchison Falls National Park lies in a very dry part of Uganda, so it’s rare for the rain to interrupt your safari. However, the surrounding roads could be hard to travel on during this period.
While you’re still likely to spot wildlife, they tend to hide away and shelter during the rainy season. If you’re interested in chimpanzee trekking, the ground may be wet and slippery, so sturdy boots are essential.
Higher rainfall is more likely in April, May, and August through to October.
The high season falls between June to September, as there’s little to no rain and lower temperatures. This tends to be the peak time for gorilla trekking, so there’s a lot of tourists in Uganda.
During June and July, there’s high competition for accommodation, so we recommend you book a lodge several months in advance of your trip.
The low season is March through to May, and October to November. Though you’re unlikely to experience heavy rainfall at Murchison, surrounding lodges may be closed due to bad weather.
The low season offers less competition for accommodation, meaning booking a lodge last minute is possible.
The best time to spot wildlife in the park
The best time to spot wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park is December through to February.
For chimpanzee trekking, October through to January are the best months, due to the grass being short and fruits starting to ripen.
If you’re interested in birdwatching, we recommend you visit during the wet season. March is the best month to spot some of the 451 species of birds.
Best Time, Seasons & Months To Go On Safari In Murchison Falls
Like the rest of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park experiences a relatively stable climate throughout the year. Being so close to the equator, the weather at Murchison Falls does not offer extreme conditions unlike some of the countries in the northern hemisphere, making it a perfect year-round destination. However, global warming has resulted in unpredictable weather patterns all over the world, and some guests may have to deal with some unexpected conditions during their travels in Uganda.
On average, maximum daytime temperatures range from 29ºC (84 F) to 34ºC (93 F) and drop to 18ºC (64 F) to 21ºC (70 F) during the evening and overnight period. Murchison Falls Park experiences a hot-dry season from January to March, and temperatures range higher — around 33ºC (91 F) to 34ºC (93 F) – during the peak of the day.
Different Monthly Seasons At Murchison Falls – Dry, Hot, Wet Rainy & Cool
The wet season For Murchison Falls National Park: In comparison to other parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the precipitation in millimeters is less in Murchison Falls National Park. This is primarily due to the hot-humid equatorial climate based on its geographical location in Western Uganda. Expect thunderstorms during the rainy season.
Dry Months, Best Time & High Season For Murchison Falls: December, January and February are the driest, most humid and hottest months but not the peak season of travel in Uganda. Expect few guests compared to the peak season.
Dry & Wet Rainy Months, Very Good Time & Mid-Peak Season For Murchison Falls: March, June, and July offer a mixture of dry and wet periods.
Wet Rainy Months, Good Time & Peak Season For Murchison Falls: August and September are both rainy and peak periods with high numbers of visitors into Murchison Falls.
Wet Rainy Season, Least Best Time & Low Season For Murchison Falls: April, May, October, and November. These months are also part of the lush green season.
Hot & Cool Months
There is only 1-4 Celsius degrees variation in temperature in between months at Murchison Falls. January and February are the hottest months with highs of 34 C (93 F) during the day and lows of 21 C (70 F) at night while July to October are the coolest months with highs of 29 C (84 F) during the day and lows of 18 C (64 F) at night. All other months have a range from 30 C (86 F) to 32 C (90 F) during the daytime while nighttime temperatures average from 19 C (66 F) to 20 C (68 F).
Best Time For Birdwatching Safaris In Murchison Falls: The best time for birding safaris in Murchison Falls Park is from January to March when it is the driest. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April. The peak rainy months of April and May and August to November brings abundance of food that leads to a lot of avian activity though trails can be slippery, and also roads and airstrips can be challenging to navigate.
Best Time, Seasons & Months To Go On Safari In Murchison Falls
Key Takeaways
Murchison Falls Park has a hotter and drier equatorial climate which is much drier and warmer than Bwindi or Queen Elizabeth Parks
Best time to visit is in the dry seasons of June and July and December through March
The peak wet and rainy season months are April, May, October and November
Maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 29ºC (84 F) to 34ºC (93 F) and minimum nighttime temperatures ranging from 18ºC (64 F) to 21ºC (70 F) with slightly higher temperatures from January to March
Enchantingly beautiful during the wet seasons because of an explosion of new plant life, economical safari vacationing in Uganda because of the lowered room prices
