Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda; Gorilla trekking is an adventurous and highly recommended activity in Uganda that involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks that is Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in southwestern region in Kisoro district and Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern region in Kanungu district and harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas which are found in four sectors namely Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma and Nkuringo.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year regardless of the season, Uganda experiences two seasons that is the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, February and the wet/ rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda during the dry/ peak season

The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is less or little rainfall in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park therefore vegetation in the forests will be thin which helps you to view the mountain gorillas clearly. During the dry season access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make gorilla trekking easy.

Though the dry season is the best period to go for gorilla trekking, it has some drawbacks like difficulty in acquiring gorilla trekking permits as the permits will be competitive and get sold out quickly hence gorilla trekking permits should be booked in advance during the dry season.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda during the wet/ rainy season

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can also be done in the wet/ rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November, though the wet season is characterized by heavy rainfall which makes gorilla trekking trails and access road muddy and slippery, there are some advantages of visiting the mountain gorillas in the wet season. During the wet season there will be few visitors in the national parks therefore tourists will be able to explore the parks with less crowds, gorilla trekking permits will be on low demand which means that last minute travelers will be able to acquire gorilla trekking permits and some accommodations give discounts as a way of attracting clients which favors the last minute travelers.

Gorilla trekking experience

Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with different gorilla trekking trails. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the 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 other primate species, mammals, view different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda

A gorilla trekking permit is 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.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris by contacting us with the dates when you wish the trek the mountain gorillas and the destination you wish to visit. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits on your desired dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda depends on the client’s choice as gorilla trekking can be done all year round and for more information or gorilla trekking safari packages, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website.