Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda : Gorilla trekking is an exciting and adventurous activity and in Uganda it’s carried out in two destinations namely Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park. It is also carried out in other destinations in Africa such as Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking is an activity where visitors move into the tropical rain forest in search of the habituated gorilla families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year because it has conducive and favorable climate in that it’s crossed by the Equator. Uganda experiences the dry season in the months of June to August, December to February and the rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November. Bwindi impenetrable national park has a tropical climate with average temperatures that range from a minimum of 7- 20 degrees Celsius to a maximum of 20-27 degrees Celsius. The national park also receives rainfall of up to 2390mm each year.
Dry peak season
The dry season is a period in Uganda when there is less rainfall and this is in the months of June to August and December to February. During the dry season it can get hot during the day with temperatures of about 30 degrees Celsius which drops down to 9 degrees Celsius at night and during morning hours.
The dry season is the best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda in that due to less rainfall, the gorilla trekking trails in the gorilla destinations will be dry and passable therefore you will be able to hike deep into the forest until you find the mountain gorillas which make gorilla trekking successful.
Another reason why the dry season is the best time to go for gorilla trekking is that access roads to the gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park will be dry and passable compared to the rainy season when there is heavy rainfall which makes access roads to gorilla sectors like Ruhija and Buhoma wet, muddy and slippery.
During the dry season the bushes and shrubs in the gorilla destinations in Uganda will be short which enables clear viewing of the mountain gorillas and other wildlife species in the forest hence giving you an opportunity to take plenty of photos and record videos.
Though the dry season is considered the best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda it has some drawbacks which include
The gorilla trekking permits will be competitive due to high numbers of visitors who prefer traveling in the dry season, therefore visitors are advised to book a gorilla trekking permit 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date so as to avoid disappointments for last minute booking.
Also due to the fact that Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are tropical rainforests, it can also rain anytime of the day regardless of the season. During the dry season accommodation facilities in the dry will be expensive due to high numbers of travelers.
Rainy/ low season
The rainy season is also known as the low season, Uganda experiences two rainy seasons that is the longest rainy season in the months of March to May when the national parks receive heavy rainfall and the short rainy season in the months of October to November when the gorilla destinations receive light rainfall.
During the rainy season there are few travelers who travel for gorilla trekking due to heavy rainfall which make gorilla trekking difficult due to muddy and slippery gorilla trekking trails and access roads to the gorilla destinations.
Though the rainy season is characterized by heavy rainfall it has some advantages which include fewer crowds therefore you will have an opportunity of exploring the entire national park with great views of wildlife.
During the rainy season accommodation facilities provide discounts as a way of attracting visitors therefore accommodation will easily be booked without competition like in the dry season and offering discounts also favors budget travelers.
During the rainy/low season gorilla trekking permits are not on high demand just like in the dry season therefore last minute travelers can also get an opportunity of acquiring a gorilla trekking permit.
Due to the fact that the rainy season is the period when Uganda experiences heavy rainfall, visitors are advised to carry gorilla trekking essentials such as hiking boots which will help you when hiking in muddy and slippery grounds, long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm during morning and at night, garden gloves, warm sweater, waterproof rain jacket/poncho to keep you warm when trekking the mountain gorillas during the rainy season among others.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern Uganda. The national park is the best destination for gorilla trekking in Africa in that it harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world. Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors 19 habituated gorilla families which are available for trekking on a daily basis and the these gorilla families are found in four sectors which include Buhoma sector in the north with 4 Gorilla groups, Ruhija sector in the East with 4 Gorilla groups, Nkuringo sector in the south with 3 Gorilla groups and Rushaga sector in the southern part with 8 Gorilla groups.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is also done in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in southwestern Uganda in Kisoro district. The park harbors two habituated Gorilla groups namely Hirwa and Nyakagezi. Gorilla trekking in both destinations takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorillas and allows a maximum number of 8 individuals to trek each habituated gorilla family. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which is used to learn about their habits, behaviors, take photos and record videos.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done all year round therefore you can book gorilla trekking safaris like 3 days gorilla trekking safari, 4 days Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national park, 7 days gorillas and wildlife safari among others for incredible and unforgettable experiences.
