Best Time to go on safari in Kidepo valley national park ? It may interest you to know, when planning a vacation in Kidepo Valley National Park, that the typical weather conditions here are different from the usual in Uganda. Kidepo national park is the park has just one long wet season with minimal rain and one dry season. During the day, you can expect average daytime temperatures to range from 30ºC to 34ºC in the dry-hot months of January, February, and March with some days ranging from 35ºC+ onwards. In the wet-cool months, daytime temperatures are likely to range between 25º degrees and 29ºC. However, nighttime temperatures may vary between 16ºC and 20ºC all through the year.
In comparison to other Uganda national parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Falls and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the precipitation in millimeters is very less in Kidepo National Park. This is primarily due to the hot semi-arid climate based on its geographical location in northern Uganda. Expect thunderstorms during the rainy season.
September, October, November, December, January and February are the driest, most humid and hottest months but not the peak season of travel in Uganda (except September). Expect few guests compared to the peak season.
July and August offer a mixture of dry and wet periods with high numbers of visitors into Kidepo.
March and June are both rainy and peak periods with fewer numbers of tourists into Kidepo.
April and May. These months are also part of the lush green season.
There is only about 1-4 Celsius degrees variation in temperature in between months at Kidepo. January and February are the hottest months with highs of 34 C (93 F) during the day and lows of 20 C (68 F) at night while June to August are the coolest months with highs of 29 C (84 F) during the day and lows of 16 C (61 F) at night. All other months have a range from 30 C (86 F) to 33 C (91 F) during the daytime while nighttime temperatures average from 17 C (62 F) to 19 C (66 F).
The best time for birding safaris in Kidepo Park is from March and April when the dry season transits to the wet season though the park offers excellent all-year round birding opportunities due to semi-arid ecology. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April. The rainy months of April to August bring an abundance of food that leads to a lot of avian activity though very few trails can be slippery due to its arid ecology, and few of the roads and its airstrip can sometimes be challenging to access during rainy peak days.
With its hot-warm climate, Kidepo Valley National Park is perfect for a safari holiday in Uganda at any time of the year. The wet season in the park begins at the end of March and continues through April to parts of August. Given that the park gets less rain in the months of September and October, these months are the best time to go. As the wet season nears the end, the weather is ideal for a visit, being neither too warm nor too wet. The dry season in Kidepo begins in September and lasts all through October to mid-March. You may want to plan your trip in these months, since the climate is dry, there are fewer bugs, and the risk of malaria is low. Vegetation in the park is sparser, and you can view the animals more easily as they congregate around the watering holes to drink.
However, depending on your itinerary schedule for Kidepo, you can also book a trip in the wet season. In fact, many guests prefer this time because hotels and accommodations offer discounted room rates for the off-season. In addition, during the rains, the landscape takes on a rich, green look with an abundance of vegetation, making it breathtakingly beautiful to see. You may also have the opportunity to see the rivers flowing in the wet season and enjoy their beauty. As your guide will warn you, however, spotting animals and birds may take more time and effort, because they are not likely to visit the watering holes as much.
Even during the wet season in Kidepo Valley National Park, tour activities continue as usual due to its semi-arid climate and ecology. We will work around to schedule your game drives and walking safaris to avoid the rains where possible. Once the showers stop, the sun comes out, and you can resume your activities as before. Just be prepared for muddier roads during the wet season, which make logistics somewhat time-consuming.
The peak season in Kidepo Valley National Park coincides with the summer months of the north hemisphere, and if you are thinking of getting your kids to Africa to introduce them to the wonders of wildlife, this would be the best time to go. During the harsh winters in Europe and North America, it is dry and warm in the park, again making it an excellent time to plan your travel. You could also consider spending the December festive holidays on safari with your family in Uganda.
Important notes
Daytime temperatures ranging from 30ºC to 34ºC during the dry season and 25ºC to 29ºC during the wet season. The nighttime temperatures ranges from 16ºC and 20ºC
Best time to visit is in the dry season that lasts from September and all through to March, vegetation is sparser, and sighting animals around watering holes is easier. July and August are the next best months to visit as the rainy period transits to the dry period.
Wet season months of April to June has an explosion of greenery and lush vegetation lending a gorgeous avatar to the park
Opportunity to spend harsh northern winters on vacation in the warmer climes of Kidepo
Touring during the wet season is more economical because of reduced room fares though accessing the park can be a challenge as flights to Kidepo are limited, and the road conditions are not suitable for the long 12-14 hour drives from Kampala or Entebbe
