The Ideal Season for Visiting Kibale National Park
The months when it is most convenient for a traveler to embark on a Kibale Safari are the Best Times to Visit Kibale National Park. Like any other protected region in Uganda, Kibale National Park is open year-round, and you may schedule your safari there at any time of year. Nevertheless, there is a peak season for chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, nature walks, crater lake safaris, community tours, and chimpanzee habituation, among other activities, in Kibale National Park. The kind of activity you choose can also influence when is the best time to visit Kibale National Park.
The dry season is the ideal time of year for a lot of Kibale Park activities.
There are usually two dry seasons in Uganda, and although they are not as distinct as the seasons in Europe, you should still expect a significant variation in the weather at any time of day. The dry season is also the busiest time of year for tourists. December, January, and February are the dry season months. From June to July, the dry season returns. The greatest time to visit Kibale National Park is during the dry season, when all of the park’s routes are dry and accessible, making chimpanzee trekking more enjoyable and manageable. During the dry season, it is also easier to see many primates playing in the trees because the jungle is clearer.
Known as the “high season for tourism,” June through September is when visitors to Kibale National Park and other Ugandan national parks actually surge. Uganda is a popular destination for primate trekking during this time of year, but mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main draw. However, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking go hand in hand, so Kibale, the best place in East Africa for chimpanzee trekking, also sees a lot of visitors in June and September.
The dry season also offers the greatest weather, particularly from June to July and December to January to February. The fact that it is a dry season does not guarantee extremely high temperatures. The year-round temperatures in Kibale National Park are nearly exceptional, with an average of roughly 27°C. It should be noted that during the dry season, there may be occasional rainfall, particularly light showers lasting ten to fifteen minutes. Additionally, afternoon drizzles may cause disruptions to certain activities, such as hiking and the Bigodi swamp walk. But this is Africa, where rain is constantly predicted regardless of the time of year.
In Kibale National Park, the months of March through April through May and October through November are considered the wet season. In Uganda and other places with an equatorial climate, these are the two rainfall peaks that are experienced. The worst months to visit Kibale National Park are May and November, when there is a lot of rainfall. In Kibale National Park, excessive rainfall renders the forest’s trails impassable and extremely slick. Additionally, because Kibale National Park consistently receives few visitors, some lodges close during the rainy season.
However, the greatest time of year to go birdwatching in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is during the rainy season in Kibale National Park. You may be able to see the migratory birds in Kibale National Park around November. Additionally, because there aren’t as many people to the park during the wet season, it’s easier to do study on chimpanzee habituation. Other lodges that remain open during the wet season prefer to lower their room rates in an effort to draw visitors, even though Kibale National Park is deserted during this time. You may easily plan a low-cost safari to Kibale National Park and other Ugandan national parks during the rainy season. The fees for activities in national parks, like as Kibale National Park, are frequently reduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Regardless of the time of year, this is done to increase the number of tourists entering the nation.
For numerous activities in Kibale National Park, such as chimpanzee trekking, hiking, Crater Lake safaris, nature walks, and camping, the dry season is the ideal time of year. It finds Kibale National Park free for chimpanzee habituation and a more personal encounter with the chimpanzees for scientific purposes, although the wet season is lovely and special in its own way. Although Kibale National Park is open all year round and ready to welcome you at any time, it is up to you to decide when to visit.