Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda
Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda: gorilla trekking is the most popular activity that attracts big numbers of tourists and it involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated gorilla families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks which are Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park while in Rwanda gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes national park. Apart from Uganda and Rwanda, gorilla trekking is also done in Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done anytime throughout the year regardless of the season.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda during the dry season
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is best done during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February.
During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the gorilla destinations therefore access roads to the park and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking easy compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
Another advantage of trekking the mountain gorillas during the dry season is that vegetation in the national parks will be thin which helps you to have clear views of the mountain gorillas and take beautiful pictures.
Though the dry season is considered the best time to go for gorilla trekking, there is no guarantee that it will not rain because mountain gorillas live in tropical rainforests therefore it can rain anytime of the day regardless of the season. The dry season has some disadvantages like competition of gorilla trekking permits which means that they usually get sold out quickly hence travelers are advised to book 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date.
Another disadvantage of trekking gorillas during the dry season is that the mountain gorillas will move deep into the forest in search of food therefore visitors will trek for longer hours compared to the low season where you will be able to view the mountain gorillas easily.
Gorilla trekking during the low season
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can also be done during the wet/ low season in the months of March to May and October to November because during this period there is plenty of food in the forest for the mountain gorillas which therefore you will not move deep into the jungle in search of the gorillas. During the low season there will be few people in the gorilla destinations hence you will be able to enjoy the jungle with less crowds.
During the low season there is no competition for gorilla trekking permits which means that you can book the gorilla permits at any time which favors last minute travelers. Some lodges offer discounts during the low season as a way to attract visitors which favors budget travelers.
Gorilla trekking experience
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and volcanoes national park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be sub-divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view different bird species, plant species, other primate species among others and once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, habits, lifestyle, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda are documents or cards that are issued to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit habituated gorilla families and spend one hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat. A gorilla trekking permit in volcanoes national park costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities while a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda depends on your preference because we organize gorilla trekking safaris all year round whether in the dry season or in the low season and you are advised to carry the right trekking gears or essentials for trekking to make your safari successful. For more information, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various gorilla trekking and wildlife safari packages.