Best Time for Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda (Jan-July)
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda: Mountain gorillas dwell in tropical rainforests at high altitudes in Uganda and Rwanda, where weather heavily influences tourism operations. The greatest time to go gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons, when there is less chance of rain interfering with your lovely encounter with the forest giants.
You should schedule your gorilla trekking adventure trip between June and August, and December and February. There is a low likelihood of rain at this period, but you can’t count it out totally because you’ll be traveling through a jungle. Even if it rains, it never lasts long until the blue sky open up to reveal a brilliant sunny day.
Viewing gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga, and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Parks is totally dependent on food, which is carried via steep, uneven, and unmarked routes through thick and foggy foliage. During the Dry Season, the tracks are drier and simpler to travel than during the rainy season.
Gorillas spend the most of their time in the forest canopy, where they find the majority of their food. During the rainy season, the rainforest becomes a foggy, dense jungle, making hiking a struggle for photographers looking to capture those unique moments. As a result, for photographers, the greatest time for gorilla trekking is during the dry months, when the weather is ideal for capturing the best images.
Excursions for gorilla trekking begin at 8:00 a.m. By 7:30 a.m., trekkers gather at the park entry hall to get hiking instructions from the park warden. Mornings may be cold and rainy, especially during the wet seasons. If your body is sensitive to chilly mornings, you should avoid going gorilla trekking during the coldest months.
Some individuals, on the other hand, can handle the odd downpour and go into the forest regardless of the weather. Furthermore, gorilla trekking expeditions take place every day, regardless of the weather. In addition, during the wet seasons, visitors may take advantage of the low season savings given by most gorilla lodges in both Uganda and Rwanda.
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda.
January – February (Dry Season)
January falls during the region’s brief dry season, making it ideal for gorilla climbing in both countries and game watching in Uganda. The dry routes make driving the unpaved roads to the gorillas and strolling through the bush a breeze. Despite being one of the hottest months of the year, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes and Bwindi forests is enjoyable due to lower temperatures that dump heat at high altitudes.
The tropical weather may bring occasional rain, but it is unlikely to disrupt your gorilla experience or safari game activities. As a result, January is one of the greatest months for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda since it occurs during the peak season, when most tourists go to these safari vacation spots.
The month of January is especially ideal for combining the spectacular big five game drives in Kidepo Valley national park, Murchison Falls National Park with gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda.
Despite the fact that February is part of the dry season, the number of visitors begins to decline during the month. Similarly to January, February is the greatest month for gorilla trekking, bird viewing, and enjoying a game drive to see the savannah animals before the March rains disperse them.
Rwanda and Uganda’s greenery will lighten as the month progresses toward the end of the dry season. As a result, spotting animals will be easier as they congregate around the few surviving waterholes. As a result, February is the greatest month for gorilla trekking and wildlife watching safaris in Uganda, the Masai Mara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. In addition, it is calving season in the southern Serengeti, which is an excellent time to observe predators in action.
March- May (Wet Season)
March heralds the start of a three-month low travel season as well as the commencement of the region’s wet season. This is not to say that gorilla trekking is completely off-limits.
Although safari adventure activities in East Africa are at their peak around this time, some travelers consider it to be a good time to go gorilla trekking since it falls outside of the busy season, when travel expenses are likely to be lower. There will be lots of availability at a variety of lodges, as well as gorilla permits at this period.
Even though it is the rainy season, it is doubtful that it will rain for more than two hours every day before the skies clear for pleasant, peaceful weather during your excursion. Traveling with waterproof clothes and gadgets can save you from getting soaked, and you’ll still have plenty of time to rest at your safari lodge.
The prolonged downpours of March and April persist into May, causing walking trips to be hampered. We believe that April and May are the worst months for gorilla trekking and wildlife watching.
However, if you don’t mind trudging through the rain in the dense gorilla woods, it might be a wonderful time to explore the region’s stunning sceneries. The elegantly terraced craggy hillsides will be lush and verdant after extended wet seasons, offering great settings for photography during this time. Furthermore, gorilla permits are generally accessible, and you’ll get the finest deals on lodging during this period.
A mix of the Serengeti, Mara, or Uganda’s savannah parks with gorilla trekking is an excellent option. Because the rains are generally light-short showers in the afternoon and there is stunning green scenery, game watching is quite accessible.
June – July (Peak Season & Dry)
The peak safari season in Uganda and Rwanda begins in June and lasts through September, although June and July feature the greatest weather for gorilla trekking in both countries. During that time, there will be little to no rain, making the walk to discover gorillas doable for most visitors. Because it is peak season, gorilla trekking expenses will be higher, and permits must be reserved well in advance.
Unlike other African destinations, however, a safari trip in Uganda or Rwanda during peak season is rarely crowded or packed, enabling you close, wild interactions and remarkable experiences. Excursions for gorilla trekking are strictly limited to no more than eight individuals per gorilla group, providing for intimate interaction during your precious one hour with the gorillas.
June, being the first month following the rainy season, still boasts lush vistas, making it an ideal time to go if you wish to combine gorilla trekking with wildlife viewing and scenic photography.
Assume you have extra time on your safari vacation. In that scenario, the dry season of July to October is ideal for combining gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with big-game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.