Weather and Climate of Bwindi

August 06, 2025 | Bujo Safaris

Weather and Climate of Bwindi 

What is the weather and climate of Bwindi? One of the frequently asked questions about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is for tourists or visitors planning to visit or already visiting the park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most well-known UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world, and it is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned for its high number of mountain gorillas, hence the name Sanctuary of the Endangered Mountain Gorillas. This is all thanks to the unique ecosystem and lush vegetation, which is largely influenced by the weather and climate of Bwindi. Speaking about the weather and climate of Bwindi, let's go back to the main reason for writing this article and give you some answers. 

What is the weather and climate of Bwindi?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park experiences or has a tropical climate due to the fact that it is a tropical rainforest, and the climate is tempered by the altitude of the area, which ranges from approximately 1160 meters to 2607 meters above sea level. Also, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is close to the equator, making it hard for it to have a dry season since even during the months that are considered to be dry, short rains are received in Bwindi. 

How are the temperatures in Bwindi during the day and at night?

Under normal circumstances, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park mornings are always cold, with temperatures dropping to approximately 7 degrees Celsius, moderate during midday, and cold during the nighttime, with approximately 20 degrees Celsius. This type of weather or temperature is experienced during June and July, and September and November. 

Does Bwindi experience or have dry seasons?

Yes! Bwindi has and experiences dry season from June to August and from December to February, regardless of the fact that it is dry season during these months, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park still receives short rains during this time of the year. 

Why is Bwindi referred to as impenetrable?

Bwindi is referred to as impenetrable because Bwindi is a tropical rain forest; it happens to have a lot of undergrowth, vines, and other vegetation, which make it almost accessible or impenetrable. Due to this fact, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is more adventurous, mysterious in an amazing way, and filled with challenges, but after overcoming them all, you are rewarded with the amazing sight of the gentle giants, hence making all the trouble worth it. 

Is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safe?

Yes! Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is very safe for all types of visitors because the government of Uganda went ahead and partnered up with other organizations to provide security to both the mountain gorillas, the forest, and the visitors through the trained game rangers and tour operators. 

What is the main attraction of Bwindi National Park?

The main tourist attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the mountain gorillas (gentle giants). Bwindi Impenetrable National Park happens to have approximately 400-459 mountain gorillas, which makes it have about half of the total population of the remaining population in the world. The chances of finding or seeing mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are very high due to the fact that many of them are found there, making it the best destination for seeing mountain gorillas. 

What are the threats to mountain gorillas in Bwindi?

The greatest threat to mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is human beings who tend to take part in or grab part of their home or habitat, turning it into villages and farmlands. On top of that, human beings are also responsible for poaching mountain gorillas for various reasons. Also, because mountain gorillas are highly related to human beings, just like the chimpanzees, with approximately 98% DNA similarity, they tend to easily catch diseases from human beings, which puts their lives in danger. This is why the Uganda Wildlife Authority has gone ahead and put up strict rules to protect the mountain gorillas from human diseases.

What are the rules or guidelines of Bwindi National Park?

Just like any other tourist destination, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has rules and regulations that ensure the safety of both the mountain gorillas and the human beings (visitors or tourists). These safety guidelines were put up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are being enforced by the game rangers and tour operators at the park. Some of these guidelines include, 

• Standing approximately 7 meters away from the mountain gorillas
• Visitors or tourists with contagious diseases like the flu or, cough are not allowed to either trek or do mountain gorilla habituation.
• Only a group of 8 people, visitors or tourists, is allowed to trek a given mountain gorilla family.
• The age limit for mountain gorilla trekking is 15 years of age.
• No flash photography is allowed since flashes tend to scare away or disturb mountain gorillas, which may trigger them to attack sometimes.
• Tourists or visitors are not allowed to make noise, point, or stare directly in the eyes of the mountain gorillas for a long time because this may mean you are challenging it, hence the trigger to attack.
• No littering. For sustainable tourism and the fact of keeping the environment green at all times, tourists are required to not litter the park and properly dispose of their waste.
• No feeding the mountain gorillas or eating and drinking while near the mountain gorillas.
• Before doing anything during the mountain gorilla trekking or habituation, you are supposed to always ask for permission from either your game ranger or the tour guide.
• While with mountain gorillas, you are supposed to always maintain the line and stay in groups when you find a mountain gorilla group.
• Respect and follow the guidelines of the tour guides and game rangers.
• You should consider packing clothes with neutral colours to avoid any attention from the mountain gorillas, which may trigger an attack. To mention but a few.

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable is the ideal destination for mountain gorilla enthusiasts because it offers many exciting challenges, making the experience adventurous and rewarding when you meet a mountain gorilla group.