Gorilla tracking seasons in Uganda & Rwanda

Gorilla tracking seasons in Uganda & Rwanda – Best season for gorilla trekking – With Gorilla permits

Gorilla tracking seasons in Uganda and Rwanda are not specific; these two countries can be visited all year round, with temperatures barely changing throughout the seasons. However, a Gorilla tracking safari in Uganda and Rwanda is at its best during the two dry seasons between December – February and between June – August, when conditions are particularly good for trekking to see the Mountain Gorillas and the Chimpanzees.

Game spotting in National Parks is also good at this time, as well as between February and March and from September through to early October when large numbers of wildlife can be seen at waterholes. Uganda is also fabulous for bird spotting all year round.

Best time for Gorilla Trekking “with guaranteed gorilla permits”

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda are trekked in the tropical rain forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, both located in south-western part of the country. In Rwanda, Mountain Gorillas are seen in the Volcanoes National Park in the north-eastern of the country.

Mountain Gorillas in both countries are trekked all year round, but knowing the best season for Gorilla tracking safaris is very helpful as each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. Rwanda and Uganda are blessed with climates made up of two rainy seasons, the short one in October and November and a longer one from mid-March to May. The remaining months are dry although the current variations in weather patterns make it difficult to forecast the seasons.

Best season to Visit Uganda and Rwanda – High Season

The best season to visit Uganda and Rwanda is in the months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December where there is less rainfall and sometimes even no rains at all. Most travelers choose to travel during this season because of the dry weather and it is because of this that there is a high demand for the Gorilla permits at this time.

This means travelers have to book their Gorilla permits well in advance and pay for them in full as booking fee. Dry season is perfect for trekking Mountain Gorillas, the Mountain Gorillas are found in the temperate weathered regions with raised landscapes, this means the climate remains cool all year round and perfect weather for length treks.

Naturally Mountain Gorilla trekking in both seasons is not expensive, it only depends to the country where you choose to trek them and level of accommodation you choose. A Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is much cheaper than that of Rwanda. This allows every traveler to meet his or her budget especially travelers intending to go beyond the Gorillas for different experiences, they find it cheaper to combine other attractions with their Gorilla trek.

Short gorilla trekking safaris offered by Great Adventure Safaris

Best time to Visit Uganda and Rwanda – Low Season

This is the best time to visit especially if you are  travelling to see wildlife. you can enjoy travelling to see the Mountain Gorillas throughout the low season. During this time, Gorilla trekking permits cost the same as high season but lodges usually give discounted rates which make the trip cost to go low.

The low season is known for its heavy rains between the months of March, April, May and November, and it is this rainfall that discourages many prospective travelers.

Lodge rates in the low season are more favorable than during high season; since the occupancy rate is low, low prices are set to attract budget travellers. To add to all the discounted lodge rates and with less people trekking the Mountain Gorillas in the low season, the few who trek are allocated to different Gorilla families, which provide them with closer and more exclusive interactions with them.

However despite the advantages during this season, rains make Gorilla trekking a bit difficult. The grounds become slippery and muddy, together with the showers and droplets, and can make an uncomfortable experience for less experienced walkers.

But despite the rains, the Mountain Gorilla trek will continue. There has never been a whole day lost to the rain. This means that the sun shines shortly after the rain has fallen, enabling trekkers to continue with the activity albeit slightly wet.

In both countries of Uganda and Rwanda, Mountain Gorillas are visited in the morning hours to half a day. Gorilla Trekking is done every day not minding whether it is raining or shining. For all the years that Gorilla trekking has been done, no single day has ever been cancelled because of bad weather.

Tracking Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas in low season brings you to the best experience as the number of travelers is few which make the Gorilla families less congested by number of visitors. The cost of purchasing a Gorilla permit remains the same. In Uganda Gorilla trekking permit costs USD700 per person per trek while in Rwanda the cost for Rwanda’s Gorilla trekking permit is USD1500 per person per trek, valid for one day and for a maximum of one hour with the Mountain Gorillas.

We hope you are encouraged to venture into Uganda or Rwanda for one of the most life altering experiences you can have, despite the season, Mountain Gorilla tracking is a must on your bucket list.

What to pick for your Gorilla tracking adventure?

Whether you trek the Mountain Gorillas in the wet or dry season, there are certain essentials you must pack to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable Gorilla adventure. The must pack things for Gorilla tracking include:

• Rain jacket for the unpredicted forest weather
  Hiking boots/shoes for easy hiking
  Gardening gloves to protect your hands
  Ponchos and sweaters for the cold forest weather
  Bottled drinking water
  Insect repellents to prevent insect bites
  Energy giving snacks to keep you strong
  Long pants tucked into stockings
  Camera and extra batteries

Whichever time you choose to visit Mountain Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, you will certainly get a lifetime experience. Gorilla adventures remain the best wildlife experience, which attracts the highest number of travelers from all parts of the world. Contact Great Adventure Safaris now- book your Mountain Gorilla trekking safari to Uganda and Rwanda at affordable rates offering you a lifetime experience.

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