Gorilla trekking is a top activity by tourists visiting Rwanda and Uganda carried out all year round. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is carried out in only two national parks that is Bwindi and Mgahinga and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and one of the main reasons as to why they are top tourist attractions is that they can only be found in three countries in the Virunga region and they are endangered species which leads to tourists paying a high price to come and trek the gorillas. You will however a gorilla need permit which needs to be booked in advance in order to gain access to the gorillas. The permits were introduced in order to reduce on the poaching and the number of people who visit the gorillas per session. In this article we are going to look at when to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda to help you easily decide and plan your gorilla trip.
Best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Uganda is an all-year-round tourist destination for all visitors planning on visiting the country. Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular safari activities, and Uganda is the best gorilla trekking destination because it has half the population of mountain gorillas in the world. Uganda experiences two seasons, which are the dry season (peak or high season) and the wet or rainy season (low season). The dry season is always an expensive time to travel, whereas the low season sees some of the lodges close, making it an affordable time to trek the gorillas.
The Dry season: two dry seasons are experienced in Uganda from June to October and January to February. This is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda and other national parks in the country. June and July are the busiest months for gorilla trekking.
The Rainy season: Uganda has two rainy seasons, like most of the East African countries: the long rainy season and the short rainy season. The short rainy season is experienced from late October to around mid-December, and the long rainy season, which receives heavy rainfall, starts in late February until the end of May. There are frequent downpours, and although they do not last long, they always leave the trek routes muddy and slippery, and in most cases, hikers tend to miss out on the whole gorilla trekking experience during the wet season.
Best time to see gorillas in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a top tourist attraction that is carried out in the Volcanoes National Park located in the Virunga region. This is the most sought-after safari activity in the country and there is a high chance of seeing the primates while trekking. Rwanda experiences two seasons that are the dry and wet season and these determine the best time and month to visit Rwanda for the gorilla trek.
The dry season: also known as the peak season, there are two dry seasons experienced in the Volcanoes National Park and these are the short dry season (from December to February) and the long rains (from June to September).
The wet season: There are two wet/rainy seasons with the short rains from October to November and long rains from March to May. The heavy rains usually come in around end of March and April and if possible, we advise that you avoid these months if possible.
Best time to see gorillas in DRC
Kahuzi Biega national Park is located in the south kivu, it’s the home for the eastern lowland gorillas and all gorilla trekking adventures are either done in Kahuzi Biega or Maiko national park in the entire world. Democratic republic is a valuable tourism destination in the entire central & East Africa region. Most travelers normally ask about the best time to visit the park for different activities. Yes, you can go at any time of the year but the best time is the dry season which occurs in June, July, August, December, January, and February.
The dry season: The dry season in Kahuzi Biega national park occurs from June to September and December to November. The benefit of visiting the park in the dry season is that the activities do take place you keep dry and clean throughout the day. Kahuzi Biega national park being a forested area, yes it can rain at any day but the chances of raining are very low.
The trekking and hiking trails in this park stay dry and less slippery which means that the activities will be done with ease and comfort. Carrying out most of the park activities not expecting any rainfall to disrupt the activity gives you the best moments of the safari. During the dry season, the animals along the trails are seen clearly since the vegetation is short and the skies are clear.
The only disadvantage that can be faced during the dry season is that the participants in most of the park activities are so many and this might not work for those that love small groups however some people can benefit by making friends in big groups.
the rainy season: It’s the discounted gorilla permits and accommodation facilities that normally attract tourists to Kahuzi Biega national park. During the rainy season, the visitors in the park are very small and at any time of the day, it can rain and this can affect the park activities such as hiking, trekking and nature walks since the trekking trails became money and slippery affecting the speed at which activities must be done.
In conclusion
Ultimately, the best time for gorilla trekking depends on your personal preferences regarding weather, crowd levels, and budget. It’s advisable to research and plan your trip well in advance, considering all these factors to ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience. Additionally, consulting with local tour operators or travel agencies can provide more specific and up-to-date information based on your preferences and travel dates.