Kibale National Park Weather
Kibale National Park weather is quite volatile given that it is a tropical rainforest. In a rainforested area, rains can fall at any time of the day, even during the dry season. Kibale National Park weather is greatly affected by major climate factor of location, as well as the nature of the park and its elevation. Kibale National Park is located in the western Albertine Rift Valley area, in the south western part of Uganda. Kibale National Park is near the Equator with coordinates 00’30”N and 30’24”E, a factor that largely contributes to the weather patterns of the park.
Kibale National Park is one of the richly lush rainforests in Uganda that inhabit up to 13 primates including chimpanzees that travellers from the world over come to encounter on a chimpanzee tracking experience. Kibale National Park covers about 766 square kilometres and is at an altitude that ranges from 1100-1600 meters above sea level.
For the fact that the park is a rain forest and is near the Equator, Kibale National Park weather is variant and so is the climatic condition of the park. Kibale National Park usually has temperate and moist conditions in most parts of the park. Uganda in general has two seasons, the dry season which is the time when there is an influx in the tourism numbers, and the wet season where there are less people visiting.
Kibale National Park weather during the dry season
During the dry season, Kibale National Park weather during the day has temperatures always above 27 degrees Celsius. In the nights however, Kibale National Park during the dry season has temperatures always cool to as low as 15 degrees Celsius. The southern part of Kibale National Park lies in the lower altitude of the Rift Valley floor, therefore experiencing warmer temperatures as compared to other parts of Kibale National Park.
The dry season falls in the months of December through February, as well as June and July. Though these months fall in the dry season, travellers should know that there is no definite dry season in Kibale National Park for a drizzle could still fall even on a sunny day. Sometimes, it could even be very sunny in the mornings for only it to rain in the afternoon, and then be sunny yet again, all in the same day.
It is during the dry season that chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park is best done. During the dry season, the paths and roads in and to the park are more passable, and the trails are also perfect for hiking and nature walks.
Kibale National Park weather during the wet season
Kibale National Park experiences two wet seasons, which are in March through May which are by far the wettest months in the park and August through November with October receiving the most rainfall during this second wet season. During the rainy season, the temperatures in Kibale National Park are warm and sometimes colder in the night. For this reason, travellers are advised to carry warm clothing lest they literally froze in the cold.
During the rainy or wet season in Kibale National Park, the roads to the park are quite impassable and require a 4Wheel drive car to make it to the park. Inside the park, the paths and trails are muddy and very hard to use thus making activities in the park like nature trails and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park very challenging. For this reason, there are less people in the park. There are some travellers who however do welcome the challenging bit and thus prefer visiting the park then.
The rainy season in Kibale National Park is a low season in Kibale National Park, and therefore has a number of pros to it despite the challenging hikes and treks. During the low season that falls in the wet season has the prices of accommodation reduced, as well as other items considered say car hire. There are also no crowds during the wet season in Kibale National Park, therefore giving travellers some time to explore the park extensively without much commotion.
Kibale National Park is a great place to visit while on a Uganda safari, irrespective of the weather. Kibale National Park weather is variant mostly because it is a rain forest. This means that even in the dry season, rains can fall and the reverse is true during the wet season. Travellers are therefore encouraged to visit Kibale National Park any time of the year they find fit for themselves, but should pack appropriately to prepare for each weather conditions of the time. Your tour operator is sure to advise you appropriately once you book a Kibale National Park safari. Get in touch with us for memorable experiences in a Uganda safari tour.
