Murchison Falls National Park Weather and Climate

Murchison Falls National Park Weather/Murchison Falls Park Climate is amazing as it favors most of the safari activities in the park. The weather and climate of this park are determined by its location and the atmosphere of the park.

Murchison Falls National Park is located in northwestern Uganda at the end of the Eastern Rift Valley. It has an altitude ranging from 619 m at the delta on Lake Albert to 1,292 m at Rabongo hill.

The Parks coordinates are 02°11′15″N 31°46′53″E making it near the equator and this is why it receives the kind of weather and climate it has. This park has lakes and rivers and it is surrounded by forest cover.

Generally, you are going to know more about the Murchison Falls National Park Weather/Climate in this article.

Murchison Falls National Park Weather

Murchison Falls National Park weather is uniform as this park mostly experiences hot weather. This is due to its low altitude of 619 to 1,292 m above sea level and it is situated near the equator line (latitude line at 2.145768 and longitude at 31.806906).

Mostly, in Murchison park, it is sunny, windy, and arid with clear skies. The average temperatures received during daytime are around 31°C/88°F though it cools down during night time coming to 18°C/64°F. The annual rainfall received in the park is about 1,085 mm raining in the wet months.

Normally, in the mornings it is breezy, a bit cold, and windy with the sun rising early though temperatures tend to rise in the afternoons being very hot. It is hot as you can even see the glare of the sun in front of you, especially on the tracks during game drives.

However, the temperatures reduce in the evenings living the atmosphere warm and windless in most cases with the bright sunset. Surely, Murchison Falls National Park weather is relatively good as it experiences 2 weather seasons in a year.

Basically, it has 2 dry seasons and 2 wet seasons. The dry seasons run from December to February and from June to August whereas the wet seasons are from March to May and from September to November.

Murchison Falls National Park weather cannot be predicted as it can change at any time of the day.

Elements Of Murchison Falls National Park Weather | Factors Affecting Murchison Falls National Park Weather

The weather of Murchison Falls National Park is recorded for a short time depending on the changing atmospheric conditions. However, Murchison Falls National Park weather is made up of various elements.

These weather elements include;

• Temperature
• Atmospheric pressure
• Wind
• Humidity
• Duration of Sunshine
• Clouds

1. Temperature

Murchison Falls National Park weather is mostly made up of the actual temperatures of the day. This temperature is determined by the amount of kinetic energy in the air.

The kinetic energy shows off itself through the experience of heat or cold. Murchison park tends to receive hot temperatures during the daytime though these cool down at the night. The average temperatures of the day time in the park are 31°C/88°F and for the night are 18°C/64°F.

This temperature is measured by a thermometer using the scales of Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin.

In general, temperatures in Murchison Falls National Park rise as air particles start to move fast and temperatures drop when they slow down.

2. Air Pressure

Air Pressure is another key element that makes the Murchison Falls National Park weather as it changes atmospheric conditions. This element of weather is made when the weight of the air in the earth’s atmosphere.

It is not visible as though you can feel and it has components making it have weight. It is made of many gases including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, etc.

Air pressure depends on the area’s altitude, as it is high in areas of low altitude and low in areas with a high altitude. Air Pressure is measured using a Barometer.

3. Wind

Murchison Falls National Park weather is mostly caused by the moving wind. The wind is in charge of the formation of cold and warm fronts, clouds, and thunderstorms

Also, wind movement depends on the landscape of an area as areas with many hills receive fewer winds than those on plain grounds. Heavy winds from Lake Albert make up the weather of Murchison Falls National Park.

Wind movement and direction are determined by a weather vane or an anemometer.

4. Humidity

Humidity influences Murchison Falls National Park weather but also has a much impact on human body comfort levels. Simply, humidity is water vapor in the atmosphere at a given time.

When the sun overhits water bodies or plants, they evaporate into vapor which is gas and it can form clouds and lead to rainfall.

It is measured by a hygrometer.

5. Duration Of The Sun

The quantity of sunshine Murchison Falls National Park receives impressively influences other weather elements of the park. And these are temperature, humidity, and air pressure which are the main causes of weather.

Sunshine duration has impacted much to solar radiation. It is also known as the sunlight hours of the day which are recorded in hours per day.

6. Clouds

Clouds in Murchison Falls National Park determine the current and future weather conditions. Actually, clouds are water droplets though they are of different states.

These clouds are formed by water vapor as when it rises it reaches a condensation level and cannot remain in gas form hence forming clouds. These influence weather in many ways as they can cover the sky making it cloudy.

Or it can be cloudless and also lead to rainy weather conditions when it rains.

How Is The Weather Like In Murchison Falls National Park During The Day?

Murchison Falls National Park weather is unpredictable and you cannot know what the next hour will be. However, in most cases, this park is sunny, windy, and arid with clear skies

Normally, mornings are breezy, a bit cold, and windy with the sun rising early though temperatures tend to rise in the afternoons being very hot. It is hot as you can even see the glare of the sun in front of you, especially on the tracks during game drives.

However, the temperatures reduce in the evenings living the atmosphere warm and windless in most cases with the bright sunset.

Morning Daylight

In this aspect, we take the morning daylight to run from when the sun rises to noon time. This time frame should be from around 6 am to around 11 am. Murchison Falls National Park weather during this time depends on the weather season and latitude.

During this time, the weather is cool as low temperatures from the night still prevail until sunrise. From around 6 am to 7 am, the sun rises when it is brightly reddish orange within the scattered clouds in the sky.

Sometimes it can be misty, breezy, and a little cold. However, the clouds start clearing in the skies leading to the rise of temperatures as the surface warms up.

Dew on the grasses dries up and a small hitching sound of the savannah grasslands is heard as they rub each when blown by the wind. Animals and birds are active during this as they start the day in search of new grounds and food.

In general, the winds are light and can be speedy though cool at the surface. However, by the time it goes to mid-morning, the wind keeps-up speed and temperatures rise and by noon it is really hot.

Afternoons

Afternoons run from noon to around 4 pm. As I have said before, the weather depends on the seasons but usually, afternoons are warm and hot.

During this time of the day, the skies are very clear and the sun is so high in the skies heating the surface. It’s so hot that you cannot look up at the skies unless you have polarized sunglasses.

This creates glaring on the roads and if you are on a road, you can see a glittering surface structure on the tracks. Many animals roam toward water areas to bathe and refresh and Hippos, cannot even leave the water!

At this time, if you have wet items, they dry up quickly if put under the sun.

Evenings

Evenings in Murchison Falls National Park are cozy and chilly though this depends on the season of the year. Many take evenings at different hour aspects but in this case, evenings are from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Temperatures at this time come down and the winds are light as their movement is not speedy. Generally, temperatures are gradually cool though low temperatures of the day are only during sunrise.

The sun starts setting during this time of the day and it is bright and windless. The sun comes down in the hills and becomes reddish-orange shining on the savannah grasslands making it a true African wilderness.

Night Time

Night time in Murchison Falls National is cold and it runs from 8 pm to 4 am. Temperatures at the night are cool as the wind speeds are lighter as there is less mixing of air.

Dew on the grass starts to come up. This is because the humidity increases and temperatures cool closer to the dew point. Also, many nocturnal creatures become more active.

Climate Of Murchison Falls National Park

The climate of Murchison Falls National Park is tropical and hot and typically humid being stable relatively throughout the entire year. The reason why the climate is tropical and hot is that this park is only a few degrees away from the equator.

Mostly, this park’s climate is determined by the daily weather conditions received and influenced by the air currents that run over Lake Albert. Not only the air currents but also, River Nile and the vegetation cover especially Budongo and Rabongo Forest impact the climate of the park.

As said, this national park has a tropical and hot climate making it receive hot temperatures. During the daytime, temperatures are at 31°C/88°F and cool at the night to around 18°C/64°F receiving annual rainfall of about 1,085 mm.

Since the climate of an area is received for a long time, this park experiences 2 weather climatic seasons in a year. These are the dry and wet seasons.

The Dry Season

Murchison Falls National Park has 2 dry seasons. During this time little or no rainfall is received as it is mostly dry and hot. And, the area is ever sunny with cloudless and clear skies.

The dry months are from December to February and from June to July. However, the driest months of the year are December, January, and February with average temperatures of 32°C/90°F during the afternoon though it cools in the night to about 18°C/64°F.

Surprisingly, from June to July, it is less hot as temperatures drop a few degrees and little rainfall can be expected. Daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F during these months.

The dry seasons of Murchison Falls National Park are the high or peak seasons for tourism as many tourists come into the park. The experience in this season is amazing as wildlife viewing is easy.

Advantages Of Visiting Murchison The Park In The Dry Season

• During the dry season, Uganda safaris in Murchison Falls National Park are excellent and successful. Tracks followed during safari game drives are dry and easy to access leading to the spotting of animals.

Animals are ever along the shores of water bodies bathing and refreshing.

• Also, during the dry season, the water levels of the River Nile are low and stable making the boat cruise navigate smoothly.
• Additionally, Chimpanzees trekking in Budongo Forest is experienced successful as the walking trails are dry and easy to access. However, the Chimpanzees may move deeper into the forest in search of food leading to long trekking.

Please note; during the dry season is the peak season and the park may be crowded and the prices of the activities and lodging are always high.

What To Wear During The Dry Season

• Tourists are advised to wear lightly during the dry season not to be inconvenienced. They should wear layers that are long-sleeved and not of shouting colors as these stress animals. Brown and khaki colors are recommended.
• Cap or hat; this is to protect your head and forehead from the hot sun.
• Sunglasses; reduce the glaze of the sun and protect your eyes from the direct sun rays.
• Sunscreen; this protects your skin from getting damaged by the strong sunlight.

The Wet Season

Murchison Falls National Park experiences 2 wet seasons in a year. Surprisingly, during the wet season, it does not rain that much in the park though occasional heavy storms can be expected.

The wet season runs from March to May and from August to November.

From March, April and May the rains are starting and daytime temperatures are at 31°C/88°F and drop at night to 20°C/68°F.

The wettest months are August, September, October, and November. During these months the rains are with torrential storms.

Usually, the wet season is the low season in tourism as a few guest visit the national park.

Advantages Of Visiting Murchison Falls Park In The Wet Season

• Those interested in the beautiful scenery of the park should come during the wet season as plants and grasses are growing again.
• If you are an economy traveler, this is the right time for you since prices on the activities and lodging are low and at times discounted.
• When going for Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest it is easy to spot the Chimps since they are near and you don’t need to go for long treks.

This is so because the fruits and flowers in the forest are abundant and there is no need for Chimpanzees to move deeper into the Forest.

Please note; during the wet season, the tracks in the park become muddy and slippery leading to delays in doing activities. In this case, guests going for safari game drives should use 4X4 safari vehicles since they are quite stable on slippery roads.

Also, the grasses may grow so tall making it difficult for you to see wildlife in the park.

Tourists should wear boots to keep them stable on slippery walking trails. Also, they should move with a rain jacket or poncho to keep them dry in case it rains.

Since it is raining during most days, insects especially mosquitoes tend to breed in most areas and that’s why you need to carry an insect repellent.

Factors That Influence The Climate Of Murchison Falls National Park

The climate of Murchison Falls National Park is influenced by many factors. These factors include;

1. Prevailing air currents from Lake Albert; usually bring rain to Murchison Falls National Park and dry weather to inland areas.
2. Altitude; is another factor influencing the weather and climate of the park as areas at a higher altitude experience lower temperatures than areas at a low altitude.

The altitude of Murchison Falls National Park ranges from 615m-1187m above sea level and temperatures drop by 6.5^oc for every 1000m rise in altitude.

1. Distance from the equator; influences the weather and climate of the park as places near the equator are hot and receive tropical climate. And, the areas far from the equator line are always cooler.

This has resulted from the park’s 2 weather seasons and they are the dry and wet seasons.

1. Human activities; have affected the climate and weather of Murchison Falls park as people cut down trees and this changes the weather seasons.
2. Water and land distribution; the landscape of the park and water bodies influence the park’s weather and climate as they lead to the formation of rainfall.

Murchison Falls National Park weather/Murchison Falls National Park climate is outstanding as it favors most safari activities. However, visitors should know that due to global warming, there are always climatic changes, especially in the change of seasons.

This implies that Murchison Falls National Park’s weather/climate is unpredictable. And, also visitors coming for a Uganda safari in Murchison park should come during the dry season so that rain does not inconvenience them.

Kindly Inquire

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Climate Of Murchison Falls National Park /Murchison Falls National Weather

1. What Is The Best Season Of The Year To Visit Murchison Falls Park?

Murchison Falls National Park is open to visitors all year round though the best time is in the dry season or dry months. The dry season is from December to February and from June to August.

During this time, little or no rainfall is expected making the tracks dry and accessible as they are not slippery. It is indeed the best time for wildlife safaris in Uganda as the grasses are low making it easy to see animals during game drives.

Also, the water levels of the Nile River are low making the boat cruise to navigate the waters smoothly.

However, if interested in the scenery of Murchison Falls National Park then the wet season should be ok with you. During this time the green vegetation is growing again. The wet season is from March to May and from August to November.

2. What Are The Driest Months Of Murchison Falls Park?

Murchison Falls National Park is near the equator making it hot and having a tropical climate (latitude line at 2.145768 and longitude at 31.806906). The driest months of the park are December, January, and February.

The months have average temperatures of 32°C/90°F during the afternoon though it cools in the night to about 18°C/64°F.

3. What Are The Wettest Months Of Murchison Falls Park?

The wettest months of Murchison falls National Park are August, September, October, and November. During these months the rains are having torrential storms.

4. What To Wear When Going To Murchison Falls Park?

Tourists going for a Murchison Falls safari should wear specific outfits for their comfort.

This is some of the wear they can put on;

1. Light long-sleeved shirts and trousers; protect you from small insects and itching plants that you may contact. They as well keep you warm during cold days.
2. Comfortable shoes; protect your feet from getting damaged by piercing materials and keep you stable on slippery trails.
3. Sunglasses; protect your eyes from the strong sunlight rays.
4. Hat or cap; this will cover your head entirely protecting you from the direct strong sunlight rays.
5. What To Pack When Going To Murchison Falls National Park?

There are essential items one needs to pack when going for a Murchison Falls safari and these are;

1. A good camera with extra batteries; is for capturing good memories and pictures on your Murchison Falls safari.
2. Binoculars; bring closer wildlife that is far from you giving you clear views.
3. Insect repellent; this protects you from bugs and other small insects as it is sprayed on your and chases them away.
4. Sunscreen; this protects your skin from getting damaged by the strong sunlight.
5. Backpack; this is an essential item and is used for carrying other small items like notebooks, repellents, sunscreen, and travel documents.
6. A poncho or rain jacket; is used for protecting yourself from getting wet when it rains.