Queen Elizabeth National Park Weather | Climate of Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park Weather/Climate of Queen Elizabeth Park is generally warm throughout the year.

Weather means the state of the atmosphere in the park at a specific time in regards to it being sunny, rainy, cloudy, or windy. Climate, on the other hand, is the weather conditions in Queen Elizabeth National Park prevailing for a long period.

Queen Elizabeth National Park climate does not have an actual dry season, hence rainfall is always expected. January and February have little rain, but June and July have the least rainfall, yet they are the dry seasons in the park.

The wet seasons in Queen Elizabeth National Park run from March to April and August to December, with the highest rain usually in November.

This, therefore, makes Queen Elizabeth National Park rainy throughout the whole year, though it rains on a few days in the dry season.

Various factors affect or lead to the current weather in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Among some are altitude and the location of the park.

So, let us dive into the weather and climate of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Weather

Queen Elizabeth National Park is generally hot during the day and cold at night.

The daytime temperatures in the park usually increase to over 29°C/84°F and they slowly drop to about 17°C/63°F at night.

Elements of Weather in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Temperature

The temperature in Queen Elizabeth National Park is constant throughout the year which is between 17 °C and 29°C. During the day, it is around 29°C in the day and it slowly drops to 17 °C at night and in the early morning. Hence making the days warmer and the night and early morning hours very cold.

Sunshine duration

An average day in Queen Elizabeth National Park has about 12.1 hours of sunshine. The sun rises at around 6:30 to 7:00 am and sets at around 6:30 to 7: 00 pm depending on the season or the month.

Rainfall

The highest amount of rainfall that Queen Elizabeth National Park receives is about 1250mm per year, and this falls in the Maramagambo region. The rainfall is however maximum in April and November.

On the other hand, about 750mm of rainfall falls in the Kazinga Chanel region per year.

Humidity

Queen Elizabeth National Park is highly humid with the highest humidity in May which is an average relative humidity of 85%. April also has a high humidity with a relative average humidity of 84%. The lowest humidity on the other hand occurs in January with an average humidity of 63%.

The Weather The Park At Different Times Of The Day

The Weather Of  The Park In The Morning

The park’s weather is cold and chilly from the early morning up to around 9:00 am. Therefore in case you are going for a safari activity before 9:00 am, carry extra warm cloth with you.

Weather Of  The Park In The Afternoon

The afternoons in the park are warm because the temperatures are high (29°C), especially in the dry season. However, as the day passes it becomes colder when evening approaches.

The Weather In The Night

Unlike the day, night hours on the other hand are cold since temperatures drop to about 17 °C.

Climate of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park has both dry and wet seasons every year. The dry season is from mid-December to February and then from June to July.

In contrast, the wet season is from March to May and from August to mid-December.

Dry Seasons in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The driest seasons in Queen Elizabeth National Park are January to February and June to July.

In the dry season, it is normally hot during the day, but very cold in the early mornings. Even though this is the dry season, it still normally rains for a few days.

The dry season is the best time to do most of the safari activities as you safari Uganda.

The Uganda wildlife safaris most especially, thrive in this dry season because this is when animals are more active. Also, viewing them is easy because the vegetation goes low and thin.

January And February

This is the short dry season in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Even though these are dry months, rainfall should be expected in general. Sometimes, it can even rain for days at a time.

June And July

These are the driest months in Queen Elizabeth National Park. However, you can expect very little rain with July having the least rainfall since it is the driest.

During the day, the temperatures are normally 29°C/84°F, but at night, temperatures normally drop to 16°C/61°F.

Advantages of Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in the Dry Season

1. The dry season is the peak season in Queen Elizabeth National Park where it is easy to spot wild animals because the vegetation becomes thin.
2. On the other hand, Chimp trekking is easy due to the dry tracks.
3. The weather is favorable as there are many sunny days.
4. Wild animals are more active and you can see them on the shores of the Kazinga Channel bathing.
5. This is also the best season to do Uganda birding safaris as the best birding season is from late May to September.

Disadvantages of Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park inn the Dry Season

1. The dry season is a peak tourism season in Queen Elizabeth National Park, therefore the place is overcrowded with tourists.
2. Sometimes, there are no good views since the air is hazy in the dry season.

What to Wear When Visiting the Park in the Dry Season

1. Light layers of long-sleeved shirts or blouses and long trousers. Ensure that the colors of your attire are not shouting so as not to stress the animals.
2. A hat or a Cap. Either of these will cover your head and face from direct sunlight.
3. Polarized sunglasses. This will help to reduce the sun glaze so that it does not affect you.
4. It will protect your skin from the sunburn of the tropical heat at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
5. Sturdy shoes. Even though it is a dry season, you need good sturdy shoes for movement on the various landscapes in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
6. You can also pack a rain jacket or Poncho because you can expect rain on some days of the dry season.

Wet Seasons in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The wet seasons in Queen Elizabeth National Park are from March to May and August to December.

The heaviest rains are in April, October, and November with November having the heaviest rain. Nonetheless, the day temperatures during this time are favorable and they rise to over 28°C/82°F in the late afternoon and drop to 16°C/61°F from night to morning.

However, this season is hard on those doing some safari adventures because the trails are usually slippery and hard to pass.

March, April, And May

The heaviest rain falls in April. Even so, the temperatures are very pleasant, with about 29°C/84°F in the late afternoon, and cooler, that is, about 17°C/63°F in the morning.

August, September, October, November, And December

This time of the year is comparable to March to the whole of May, with rain climaxing in November.

Advantages of Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in the Wet Season

In the wet season, Queen Elizabeth National Park relays a more beautiful scenery since the landscape is green.

The wet season is also a favorable time to see Uganda’s wildlife.

For visitors going for Chimpanzee trekking, it is likewise easy to find the Chimpanzees. This is because the wet season easily provides food for them through the fruiting trees. Therefore, they will not need to move too far distances in search of food for themselves.

The park is rich with migratory birds from November to April and so the wet season will be favorable for birders.

Disadvantages of Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in the Wet Season

In the wet season, the tracks in the park are wet and are difficult to pass. For example, the trails in forest destinations like Maramagambo and Kyambura become slippery.

In the wet season, it may also drizzle for many days at a time and tourists should also expect afternoon thunderstorms.

What to Wear When Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in the Wet Season

1. A rain jacket or a poncho. Either of these will help to guard you against the rain or drizzles of the day as you enjoy your safari activity.
2. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. This will help to guard your skin against the chills of the day.
3. Comfortable sturdy shoes or light boots. This will give you stable movements on the slippery road.
4. Insect repellant. The rainy season comes with many insects like mosquitoes breeding in the waters, therefore, an insect repellant will prevent them from biting you.

Factors That Determine And Affect The Weather & Climate of Queen Elizabeth Park

Two major factors affect the weather and climate of Queen Elizabeth National Park and they include the following,

• Location
• Altitude

Location of  The Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies at the equator area, meaning that it receives direct sunshine and it is warmer than places that are far from the equator. The park lies in Latitude: 0° 11′ 60.00″ N Longitude: 30° 00′ 0.00″ E.

This is why one of the areas around the park was named “Kikorongo” which means “too much sunshine” in the Rukonjo language. It is to denote the abundant sunshine that the region receives throughout the year.

The Altitude of Queen the Park

The park’s highest altitude is in the Katwe region (1,350m) while its lowest altitude is at the Lake Edward area (910).

This park is surrounded by mountainous national parks, but the altitude slopes toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

With higher altitudes, the temperature becomes cooler and as it slopes, an area becomes drier and warmer. This explains why Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the warmest parks in Western Uganda, even though the mornings are very cold.

Biodiversity in the Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park has a wide-ranging biodiversity of different flora and fauna. The many plant life affects its weather by helping in rainfall formation hence contributing to the rainfall.

Other factors that affect the weather and climate of Queen Elizabeth National Park

1. Human activities.
2. Topography

Queen Elizabeth National Park weather affects Uganda tours and safaris in the region. Therefore, choosing the best time to visit the park will contribute greatly to how you enjoy your experiences. Book your Uganda tour package today for an exquisite experience in the best season!