Weather in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Weather in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a description of how the forests’ climate trends occur and the common temperatures highlighting of the best time to visit the park. Bwindi impenetrable national park is the richest ecological system in Africa located in the tropics of south western Uganda in kanungu district with kabale town (29 kilometers away by car drive) as the nearest town to the park. Bwindi impenetrable national park is covered with tropical rain forests and it’s an important place for water catchment.
Due to the geographical location of Bwindi impenetrable national park on the edges of western rift valley in the highest parts of Kigezi highlands and near the equator, this makes temperatures closely constant throughout the year. Bwindi impenetrable national park has altitude which varies from 1160m to 2607m with minimal temperature averages of 7-20°c and maximum average temperatures of 20°c to 27°c. Its weather is always cold in the morning and nights as temperatures drop to as low as 9°c which calls for the need of warm clothes on your stay. Sometimes the weather gets really hot during day with temperatures of 30°c and as you go to high altitudes temperatures continue to drop for every 1000m climbed. It’s coldest during the months of June and July.
Bwindi impenetrable forest is the most diverse forest in Africa consisting of a 327 sq.km of jungle forests containing montane and low land forests tree species, with more than 1000 flowering plants and 104 species of ferns which cause high amounts of evaporation. High precipitation has resulted into heavy rainfall of average 2390mm each year.
Bwindi impenetrable national park has mild and wet climate thanks to its closeness to the equator and its weather is characterized with two rain seasons that is:
Short rains in March–May: This is a mild wet rain season with peak rain in April and during this time trails in the forest become muddier, slippery and less navigable making hiking difficult. In this season temperatures are 12°c in the morning and over 23°c in day time.
Long/heavy rain in September to November. In this season rain is expected every minute of the day and sometimes it drizzles through the day. November is the wetter in this season with day temperatures of 23°c. This season is the best time for bird watching as many bird species migrate to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bwindi impenetrable national park also experiences dry seasons but it is not as dry when compared to other areas because it can rain any time. June, July and august are the drier months with average temperatures of 11°c in in the morning and 23°c in the afternoon. This season is the best time for mountain gorilla trekking and trail nature walks as it is less challenging to walk through the rugged terrain of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
If you are planning on visiting Bwindi impenetrable national park it is high recommendable to carry water proof clothes (jackets, trousers) and strong trekking boot shoes i.e. gorilla trekking essentials since rain is expected every hour of the day and trails get uncontrollably slippery.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is most famous for mountain gorillas and other numerous flora and fauna species for example:
- 120 mammal species, 10 primate species which include chimpanzees, black and white monkeys, baboons, l’hoest’s, red tailed and blue monkeys.
- 350 bird species, butterflies and reptiles
