Road trip to Bwindi Gorillas from Kigali – Gorilla permits bookings – Budget gorilla trekking trips from Kigali – Short Gorilla trekking safaris.
Road trip to Bwindi Gorillas from Kigali – Uganda and Rwanda are often combined along a single itinerary. Those who are finishing up a trip in Rwanda can connect to Uganda to visit the Mountain Gorillas. While you can do Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Gorilla permits are much more expensive at USD1500 per person, compared to the USD700 per person rates in neighboring Uganda as of now.
If you would like to book a Gorilla trek in Uganda from Kigali, we can help set you up with the right flights, and transfers, and get everything in place for your Gorilla tour for Bwindi Mountain Gorillas. The best time to visit the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is during the dry seasons from June to August, and again from December to February.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done in both the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Bwindi is by far the more popular option. The temperatures in Uganda don’t change much year-round, staying between 24°C and 30°C. The most important factor to consider is the rain there are two distinct rainy seasons March to May and September to November.
The peak season is from June to August and December to February. This is when conditions are most likely to be dry. The days should be clear and sunny, making trekking more enjoyable. The drier vegetation is easier to hike through, and steep slopes are a lot less slippery.
Gorilla Permits for these months sell out well in advance, so you should be planning at least 12 months if you’re looking to travel in peak season. There are limited accommodation options in the National Parks and these properties are generally high-demand, low-capacity lodges which also get booked up far in advance.
While these months tend to be drier, downpours are possible at any time of year due to Uganda’s tropical climate. The low season spans from March to May and September to November. The wetter conditions can make trekking more challenging and uncomfortable, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict weather patterns – so you might get lucky.
Showers are typically heavy downpours intermittently throughout the day, so you can still enjoy frequent sunny spells when the sky clears. Accommodation prices are typically lower during this quieter period and Gorilla permits are easier to get a hold of (although they do still need to be purchased quite far in advance).
Uganda is home to half the world’s Mountain Gorilla population. Seeing these animals up close in their natural habitat is one of the most impressive wildlife encounters in Africa.
