What is the Best Time Of The Year To Do A Self Drive Safari?

The Best Time Of The Year To Do A Self Drive Safari

One of the greatest mistake tourists that attempt to self drive make is never being conscience of the best time of the year to do their safari. Short of a favorable time of the year, you might regret attempting to self drive. The time of the year determines the car hire rates, accommodation rates, fruit rates and the road conditions not only in the national parks but also around the country.

There are mainly four quarters in a year;

1. December to February
2. March to June
3. July to September
4. October to November

December to February

The busiest time of the year is between December 15^th to January 15^th; during this time of the year, it is very had to get a discount on accommodation and transport. The month of February is often busy but its end is the transition into the low season.

However the most important thing in all seasons are the weather conditions. Though we can ascertain the peak and low seasons, weather conditions in Uganda are relatively unpredictable. 15^th December to end of January were considered one of the driest times of the year however that seems not to be the same anymore! In 2019 Uganda experienced part of the highest levels rains ever recorded in the month of December.

So for now you can only be assured of January as the dry season. (Please note; dry season in Uganda does not mean no rain for 3 months rather no rain for a span of about 3 to 4 weeks or rain once in two weeks) So you should not be surprised if it rains during the so called dry season.

March to June

March and June are actually the best time to visit any park or any tourist attraction in Uganda. These seasons are a hybrid of a low season and what you would call an average season if there is such a thing.

April and May have the some of the low seasons in the year while March and June are average months. The only way to assure of the best rates, consider travelling in April and May. These two months are also the best time of the year to book gorilla permits for August.

July to September

July, and August are some of the busiest months of the year. The rates in most of the places will obviously be high thus most of the services will require prior bookings from at least three to four months in advance. Failure to book at least three to four months in advance might make it impossible for you to participate in certain activities such as gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking.

Though these months are very busy; they are also somewhat dry making them some of the ideal months to visit Uganda.

October to November

These two months are also recommended because they are not as busy as the other months of the year. However these two months are known for the drizzles that often happen on a regular basis in these two months. The roads will be muddy but not as bad as some weeks in December.

In these two months you can bargain for the best rates on car hire services, Tour guides, accommodation and camping gear.

Conclusion

Besides all the tourist related activities, there is one thing that often stands out; Uganda’s fresh fruits may not be available the whole year long. You might have to consider the months of December, June and July for the best fruits in Uganda.