When is the best time to visit Rwanda and Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari? One of the most well-liked tourist activities is gorilla trekking, which entails walking through the tropical rainforest in search of habituated gorilla families and spending an hour in the natural habitat with them once they are located.
In Uganda, gorilla trekking takes place in two national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking takes place at Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking is also possible in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the Virunga and Kahuzi Biega national parks, in addition to Uganda and Rwanda.
The ideal time to visit Rwanda and Uganda for a gorilla trekking expedition.
No matter the season, gorilla trekking is possible all year round in Rwanda and Uganda.
Trekking with gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda during the dry season
The greatest time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, which is also referred to as the dry season or peak season.
In contrast to the wet season, when the routes are muddy and slippery and make trekking challenging, the dry season has less or no rainfall in the gorilla destinations, making access roads to the park and gorilla trekking trails dry and passable.
The low vegetation in the national parks during the dry season offers another benefit of walking with the mountain gorillas: it makes it easier to see the gorillas and snap stunning photos.
Although the dry season is said to be the ideal time to go gorilla trekking, there is no assurance that it won’t rain because gorillas are found in tropical rainforests, where rain can fall at any time of the year. Travelers are advised to make reservations three to six months in advance of the trekking date due to the drawbacks of the dry season, such as the competition for gorilla trekking permits, which typically results in their rapid sale.
Going on a gorilla trek during the dry season has additional drawbacks. Since the mountain gorillas will be moving deeper into the forest in search of food, tourists will have to journey for longer periods of time than during the low season, when it would be easier to see the gorillas.
Trekking with gorillas in the off-season
Because there is plenty of food in the forest during these months for the mountain gorillas, you won’t have to venture too far into the jungle in search of them when gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda takes place during the wet/low season, which runs from March to May and October to November. You may experience the forest with fewer crowds during the low season because there won’t be as many people visiting the gorilla sites.
Since there is less competition for gorilla trekking permits during the low season, last-minute trekkers benefit from the ability to reserve permits at any time. In order to draw guests during the off-peak months, several lodges provide discounts, which cater to those on a tight budget.
The price of permits for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
In Rwanda and Uganda, tourists above the age of 15 are granted gorilla trekking permits, which are cards or credentials that allow them to visit habituated gorilla families and spend an hour with the gorillas in their natural environment. Whereas a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens, a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities.
The ideal time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda depends on your preferences, as we offer gorilla trekking safaris throughout the year, whether it be during the dry season or the low season. To ensure the success of your safari, we advise you to bring the necessary trekking equipment. You can reach us at All In Africa Safaris for any information, or you can visit our website to browse our selection of gorilla trekking and wildlife safari programs.
