Best month for gorilla trekking in Africa – When to see mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda – Best time of the year to book your gorilla trekking permits – Best time to book your gorilla habituation experience permits in Africa
Best month for gorilla trekking in Africa – Want to know the best month for gorilla trekking? Well, read on – Mountain gorillas are found in only three countries in the world – The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. They live in four national parks – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park for low land gorillas. Many Travelers go to these national parks every year for the sole purpose of encountering these majestic primates.
Gorilla trekking is considered one of the most popular wildlife activities while visiting Africa. When combined with a standard safari in the Masai Mara or a tour of the Victoria Falls, you can have a truly memorable experience. Gorilla trekking is a more expensive activity than the normal wildlife safari. A Gorilla permit in Congo costs $400, in Uganda $800 while Rwanda charges $1500. The Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda costs $1500. This special experience can only be offered in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and allows visitors four hours with the primates. This is different from standard Gorilla trekking where visitors only get one hour with the primates. One question that comes to the mind of most tourists planning on gorilla trekking in is about when to visit. When is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda? What is the best time to visit gorillas in Rwanda or Congo?
Climate, seasons and best months to visit
The climate, gorilla trekking conditions, and tourism seasons are more or less the same in both Rwanda and Uganda. Gorilla-trekking is a year-round activity, but I find there are some important considerations when timing your trip.
In my experience, the overall best weather is during the two dry seasons, which run from June-September, and December-February. You can still expect some rain during these periods, but conditions are generally more comfortable and the trails less muddy.
Of the two, I find June-September are the driest; with light showers during December-February.
The rainy seasons, from March-May and September-November, can be very soggy. March-May brings the heaviest rains, and the going can be tough – especially in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is generally steeper, muddier and denser than in Rwanda.
That being said, gorilla tourism remains open year-round. It will be much quieter during the rainy/off season and you might find some good deals.
My biggest tip is to time your visit for the “shoulder” period either side of the rainy season, when prices are lower, crowds are lighter and the rains might be easing off.
Best month for gorilla trek in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo
It is important to note that Mountain gorillas can be tracked at any time of the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons. Even though we will be discussing the pros and cons of visiting in a particular time of the year, tourists shouldn’t be too selective on which month to go trekking. In our experience, the perfect time to track gorillas is just after the rainy season has ended and the countryside is still looking green and fertile. Getting this time right is not easy considering that global warming has affected weather patterns a lot in African making it difficult to predict the beginning and end of the wet and dry seasons. At the end of the day, the final decision of the best month for gorilla trekking in Africa remains with the traveler. Our part is to help identify the advantages and disadvantages of visiting in each of the seasons.
Best month for gorilla trekking in Africa Uganda Like most counties lying along the equator zone, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have two dry and wet seasons. The dry season falls in the months between December to February and again between June to September. Gorilla trekking during the dry season has its advantages. It is also the best time for wildlife safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti and the various national parks in Uganda. Visitors can easily combine gorilla trekking with a safari to see the wildebeest migration and safaris in Uganda’s Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the best time to take good and clear photos of the countryside, physical features and the mountain gorillas because there are no obstructions like mist or overgrown vegetation.
The dry season has its disadvantages. It is generally more expensive to travel around this period. Gorilla permits are difficult to find and booking last minute gorilla tours is not easy. The dry season is not the best time to visit for those hoping for an easier trek or being assigned a nearby gorilla group. If you are targeting a particular gorilla group, we recommend that you book your trip months in advance, otherwise you will find that they have all been allocated to other travelers. Some people also think gorilla trekking during the dry season denies nature lovers opportunities to marvel at the beautiful African countryside after the rains. Those visiting the countries for the first time may leave with an impression of a dry Africa which is not always the case.
Best month for gorilla trekking in Africa – Bwindi and Mgahinga. The months of March to April and October to November are considered rainy seasons – also referred to as low seasons. The forests can get very muddy and tracking mountain gorillas becomes more challenging. We cannot rule out mud even during the dry season because mountain gorillas live in rain forests – The rains can occur at any time of the year. It is important to also note that the rains in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo do not go on throughout the day like it is in Europe or North America. It rains for between one to two hours before the sun appears again thus enabling the activity to go on regardless of whether it is raining or not. Visitors are given rain jackets to cover themselves while moving in the rain. Gorilla trekking can never be cancelled because of too much rain. In fact, we even know of clients who find gorilla trekking during the rainy season more adventurous despite the rain and mud. You might want to read about the packing list for a safari in Uganda.
One of the advantages of tracking gorillas during the rainy season is that you find the park with less visitors/crowds. This implies that you can have the forest all to yourself and have more close encounters with the primates. The fewer trackers are divided into much smaller groups to visit each family. Instead of 8 individuals per gorilla family like it is during the dry season, you will be about three per gorilla group. You can also book gorilla permits and a tour a few weeks or days to the trip. Tourists who wish to combine gorilla trekking with birding will find the rainy season perfect. This is the breeding season and the forests are full of activity. Traveling during the wet season is generally less expensive compared to the dry season because most hotels reduce their rates to attract more guests. You can stay in one of the best luxury lodges that would seem too expensive during the peak season. During the low or wet seasons, visitors may also get discounts for gorilla permits in Congo. Congo’s gorilla permits cost $400 during the peak season but can be reduced up to $200 during low season. The price for a Gorilla permit remains the same in Rwanda and Uganda even during the low season.
Like we already stated at the beginning of the blog, the decision on when to go for gorilla trekking rests entirely with the client – taking into consideration time constraints, budget, overall fitness, convenience and many of the things discussed above. At the end of the day, the decision on when to go for gorilla trekking rests with the client – taking into consideration time constraints, budget, overall fitness and convenience. Some clients even find gorilla trekking during the rainy season more adventurous despite the challenges.
When to see gorillas in Uganda & Rwanda?
- When to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done year-round, however, rainfall is heavier in September-November and March-May, when paths can become muddy and difficult to hike.
I always remind people that they’re visiting a rainforest. It will, by definition, be wet all year round!
That said, there is still a marked difference between the dry and rainy seasons. The weather is generally drier and hotter between June and September, and again from December to February. These are my preferred months to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
During March and May, and again from September to November you can expect more frequent and heavier rain showers. Muddy roads and paths can become tricky to handle.
Temperatures are fixed year round between 21°C (70 F) and 30°C (86 F), dropping to 10°C (50 F) at higher altitudes. Although chilly at night, the exertion of hiking and climbing will keep you warm during the day.
The advantages to visiting in dry season are less muddy paths, easier hiking and clearer views of the wildlife. The disadvantage is that this is peak tracking season and therefore permit availability is lower. You’ll need to book well in advance.
- Peak season & when to book.
Peak tourism seasons are June to August and around Christmas and New Year. If you plan to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda during peak season or if you are in a large group, you should book six months or more in advance. The earlier you book the more choice you have on where you trek gorillas and where you stay. Last-minute bookings may be possible during low season or with smaller groups.
Aside from more choice in permit and accommodation availability, there are some other pros to visiting during rainy season, smaller group sizes allow a more intimate tracking experience.
If you have little time it is, in theory, possible to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda in just one day—if you fly in very early in the morning. However, it is strongly recommended to spend at least two or three days in the region. The altitude and exertion of the climb can be unpleasant when rushed, and it is worth spending some time acclimatizing. And besides, there’s so much more to Rwanda than ‘just’ one hour with the gorillas.
A month-by-month guide for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
April to May: April to May in the Volcanoes National Park receives some of the longest rains in Rwanda making it quite difficult to trek gorillas during this period. The good thing about this period is that it is a low season with costs on accommodation reduced and a good way to explore with the gorillas while on a budget. It is also a good time to spot the gorillas since most of them move from the higher areas with low temperatures to the lower slopes.
June to September: is a peak season and also the best month for gorilla trekking in Africa – Rwanda. It is the longest dry season experienced in the country and the reason as to why it is considered to be the best time is because getting to the national park is easy, spotting the gorillas is also easy and the trek routes within the national park are not muddy and slippery as it usually is during the wet season. This period is also referred to as the peak season and tourists are advised to book for their gorilla permits in advance at least six to three months before the trek date and booking for the permit in Rwanda means that you will have to at least pay 30% of the total pay of the full price of the permit.
October to November: This is also a low season with short rains unlike April to May and if you can brave the rains, it is a good time to visit the Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking most especially if you love photography. The birds are always flying in during this period, other wildlife calving and the cost is low which cannot be said for the peak season. October is the start of the short rain season also known as the shoulder/low season. Although the short rains mean that the cost of the trek will be low, the weather on the hand might not be friendly.
December to February: I like to think of this as a good season for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The short dry season sees fewer crowds, the trek routes are easily accessible, and it is easy to get to the national park and a good time to go birding due to the presence of the migratory birds. December comes with the end of the short rains making it the best month for gorilla trekking in Africa because the rainforests have started to dry out making it easy to trek the gorillas but since the holidays are coming up, expect the national parks to be a bit crowded.
When to go gorilla trekking in Uganda
Since Rwanda almost doubled the price of gorilla tracking permits, it has become more difficult to secure gorilla permits in next door Uganda.
If you plan to travel during peak season or if you are in a large group, I strongly recommend you book six months or even a year in advance. Peak seasons are June to October and Christmas and the New Year. The earlier you book the more choice you have on where you stay and where you track. Last-minute bookings may be possible during low season or with smaller groups, but cannot be guaranteed.
Gorillas can be tracked throughout the year, however, rainfall is heavier in November and April/May. During those times, it can be very muddy underfoot. The upside is that permits are a little easier to obtain plus you may find fewer tourists on your trail, which I prefer.
month-by-month guide for gorilla trekking in Uganda
- January to February
January: This is the beginning of the short dry season, with little showers of rain now and again. This is a the best month gorilla trekking in Africa because the trek routes are clear and not slippery as compared to the wet season. Unlike the second dry season, which is also known as the peak season, there are few visitors in January, and the cost is reasonable.
February: February is similar to January in both Bwindi and Mgahinga, experiencing the same climate. Both January and February are good times to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and also take other general safaris around the country.
- March to May
March: March is the start of the first wet season. This might not be the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda because the rains come in heavy, making it hard to hike through the dense forests. The routes are always muddy and slippery, the cost of the safari is low, and it is hard to find the gorillas because they also try to get shelter from the rain.
April: April is the wettest month in Uganda and the worst month for gorilla trekking. Most of the roads and some accommodation facilities are closed down due to the heavy rains, reducing the cost of the safari during this time for both gorilla trekking and general African safaris.
May: The rains continue throughout May, although they are not as heavy as they were in April. It is still a low season with reasonable costs, and for visitors who do not mind the rain, this is the best time.
Gorilla trekking is not off limits during the wet season because it will not rain the whole day and every day, and tourists also get a chance to watch the various migratory birds flying into the country.
- June to September
June and July: this is the peak season in Uganda, which sees many tourists visiting the different parts of the country for a safari. June is the beginning of the dry season with little or no rainfall, which makes it easy to trek the gorillas in both Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. The cost of gorilla trekking, however, is high during this time, and the gorilla permits are in high demand, which is why you need to book them at least six or more months before your trek date.
August: August marks the end of the high or peak season and is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The hiking routes are easier to trek and navigate, and this still being the dry season makes it the best time to visit the country and check out other attractions.
September: September marks the end of the dry season, and during this period, the large crowds start narrowing down as light showers of rain start. Since the weather is unpredictable and it might still be the dry season, you will still need to book your permit in advance.
- October to December
October is usually not a busy month, and the pricing during this period is reasonable as compared to the previous months. It is a good time to get that special gorilla trekking permit; however, be ready for the unpredictable bouts of rain. If you do not mind the on-and-off rainfall and slippery and muddy trek trails, then this is the best time, and note that other national parks are always open during this time.
November: The rains continue throughout November, increasing the green foliage in the national parks. This is a low season that has few visitors because of the less-than-ideal weather, but it is the best time for visitors on a low budget.
December: December marks the end of the wet season, with the rains easing off a bit. It is a great time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking, and not only that, you get to see a variety of bird species, including migratory birds flying into the area.
Gorilla trekking Permits availability
Permits and accommodation during the peak summer months of June-August sell out a long way in advance. If you’re set on visiting during the peak months you may need to book at least a year in advance.
We have been organizing gorilla trips to both Uganda and Rwanda for a long time and have experts who can help with any queries that you might be having about gorilla trekking and we will be able to help organize personalized tailored gorilla trips to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park plus Kahuzi-Biega National Park in DR Congo.
Last but least, Gorilla trekking in both countries can be done throughout the year however the best time is during the dry season from December to January and June to September. The trek routes during this time are easy to use and not slippery as compared to the rainy season which makes it hard to trek with the rains and the slippery muddy routes. You can still however trek gorillas during the wet season also known as the low season especially if you are on a budget.
Great Adventure Safaris organizes gorilla trekking trips all-round the year and we have recorded 98% success with all our gorilla tours since our clients are able to see gorillas on their respective treks. Whether dry or wet season, the success of any given gorilla trek goes beyond time/season to how you are prepared. You should have the right gear, be physically fit and if not, please hire services of a porter and you will be able to enjoy your trek.