What is the Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
What is the best time to go trek Uganda gorillas? Gorilla trekking in Uganda never limits visitors to certain periods. This is one unique adventure that is open all year round. But to experience the best of Uganda gorilla trekking, then it is better to consider traveling any time during the peak dry months. With this in mind, consider planning your next gorilla tour around June, July, August, to September, or any time from December, January, to February.
June-September and December-February mark the two phases of the dry season on the Ugandan travel calendar. Visiting Uganda gorillas around this period can be enjoyable thanks to the low or even no rains. During the peak dry months, visitors immerse themselves in the jungles with fewer worries of getting muddy or encountering slippery steep slopes.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda; month-by-month guide
December to February
The short dry season in Uganda including the main gorilla safari destinations starts from December to February. December marks the start of this short phase of dry spell just after the short rainy season in November. February is also a festive month. The Christmas season runs from December till the first months and it is important to book your gorilla safari in advance due to the high demand for gorilla permits and also accommodation.
June, July, August, to September
These mark the extended dry months of the year. Visiting Mgahinga or Bwindi for gorilla trekking during these months guarantees you an unforgettable gorilla encounter. But be aware that the majority of visitors flock into the parks around these months, a good reason to consider booking your gorilla tour in advance. Talk to your expert Native Africa Tours to plan and book your Uganda gorilla tour to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. During the peak dry months, temperatures can fluctuate from 29 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius. This is especially around February, also a preferred month to witness a clear variety of savanna wildlife.
March, April to May
The longest wet or rainy months of the year are marked by March, April, and May. Around these months, heavy rains are recorded from gorilla destinations. But being the off/low months, they are most preferred by budget visitors or trekkers who do not like crowds. Another phase of the short wet or rainy season starts from October to November. Overall, the wet or rainy season experiences heavy rains with the gorilla habitat characterized by an abundant food supply. Because of the available food, most of the gorillas usually keep within their range unlike the dry season when they tend to move further distances searching for what to feed on.
The wet or rainy months are known for their bad weather conditions. Not only are they characterized by long heavy rains but also fluctuating temperatures from 23 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius. But they are the best for visitors who desire budget gorilla safaris in Uganda. Most accommodation service providers tend to cut down on the cost of their accommodation rates as one way to attract more guests. With this, budget travelers can get the best of the available offers.
Why travel during the dry season?
Timing your gorilla expedition is generally essential for you to have a successful gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda. This is whether you plan to explore mountain gorillas in Mgahinga or Bwindi. There are multiple reasons why the peak dry months are the best or most preferred months for gorilla trekking in Uganda. First, during the dry season, the forest floor and trails generally become drier. This makes it easier to trek through the forest as you search for gorillas.
The vegetation is clear; unlike the wet months when there is dense vegetation growth, the peak dry months are characterized by low vegetation cover. As a result, the chances of viewing mountain gorillas are higher. You won’t encounter challenges removing some vegetation to get clear views of your primates.
What to consider when choosing the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda
Several factors determine when you can travel to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda. They include peak vs low seasons –each of these comes with its benefits. The weather –this also has the potential to ruin or make your gorilla trek successful. Your travel preferences –perhaps you are interested in gorilla treks with fewer crowds.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking expedition
Packing right is vital for any successful gorilla tour. Here are some of the items to include on your packing list; a tin of insect repellent, a waterproof day/backpack, a pair of binoculars, waterproof hiking boots, high energy giving snacks, a good camera, a first aid kit, a pair of socks, a sweater, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, long trousers, and toiletries. You also need antimalarial tablets, extra batteries for your camera, charger, adaptor, trekking poles, or walking sticks –to be got at the park offices or the lodge.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi & Mgahinga with expert
In Uganda, Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the two destinations where mountain gorillas can be encountered in the wild. They offer refuge to almost half of all the 1063 endangered mountain gorillas that are left on planet Earth today. In Bwindi, gorilla trekking is conducted each day starting from the park’s designated sectors. The sectors in Bwindi to find gorillas include the Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sectors. In Mgahinga, treks to explore mountain gorillas begin from the Ntebeko area.
Gorilla treks in Bwindi and Mgahinga take visitors on a guided walk through the natural rainforest or bamboo to explore mountain gorillas. The normal day trek lasts for 2-6 hours inclusive of an hour for up close and personal encounters with a family of these large apes. The most sensational part of this adventure is the magical hour when you also take pictures of them in their habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s parks is entirely flexible, whereby you can trek gorillas across the two destinations or double gorilla trek in the same gorilla family or different gorilla groups.
All treks with Bwindi or Mgahinga gorillas are conducted with the lead of an experienced park ranger guide. The park ranger guides are well-trained by the Uganda Wildlife Authority not only in guiding skills but also in ensuring visitor safety and security while they explore gorillas.
Beyond gorilla trekking, there is also an opportunity to embark on mountain gorilla habituation in Uganda. Gorilla habituation is only conducted in the Rushaga sector and involves following the unhabituated gorilla family. This is the initial stage in which gorillas are introduced to the presence of humans.
Valid gorilla permits
All Uganda gorilla permits can be booked at USD 800 per person –the cost that applies to foreign nonresidents. The foreign residents are USD 700 per visitor and UGX 300,000 per person for Ugandans (East African citizens). Gorilla habituation permits are also available for reservation and each costs USD 1500 per visitor for a single session. Booking a Uganda gorilla trekking permit is possible through Native Africa Tours. This should be done early at least 2 to 6 months before the actual visit to any park to engage in the guided gorilla trek.
Conclusively, every day can be the best time to do gorilla trekking in Uganda since it is is an open primate adventure. You can plan it around the peak dry months or during the off-season. But to enjoy a smooth trek with mountain gorillas in the wild, the dry season is always the most preferred. Need further guidance on planning and booking a gorilla tour in Uganda, then talk to Native Africa Tours.
