Are you a Gorilla trekking enthusiast; one who wishes to spend hours of the day taking photos, asking questions, admiring the gorilla body structure, the wilderness vibes and sound of the gorillas; Man’s closest relative, then the Republic of Uganda is the place to go. With half of the mountain gorilla population, Uganda is by far one of the most famous and safest gorilla trekking destinations in the world. It is a tiny landlocked country east of the continent of Africa, with a wide range of biodiversity, flora and fauna.
Weather is very friendly all year through, astride by the equator making it even more stable and beautiful. After his African safari, the British war time Minister; Winston Churchill couldn’t hide his amusement about Uganda’s hospitality, biodiversity, and cool weather, but rather described it as “the pearl of Africa”. Countries neighboring Uganda include among others South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Whereas gorilla trekking happens the entire year, convenience is paramount. No one would want after a tiresome hiking experience; the adventure ends in Mud, lots of rain or even any form of disorganization; A reason why we are here to give you guidance on which months are most ideal for gorilla trekking.
We also understand that there are those people with less money but wish to encounter the gorillas; yes, a budget gorilla package is up for grabs and done in the time when most accommodation facilities and services offer discounted rates.
Gorillas are apes, spending nights in different destinations, feeding on foliage and living socially. They have giant hairy bodies covered with completely with fur except for their eyes and thumbs. A group of gorillas is called a family; led by a dominant silverback whose role is to make sure the group is safe, happy and united. Show some love to the gorillas!
Gorilla trekking is done on foot, starts very early in the morning through the jungle for hours. This exercise starts with a pre trekking briefing by the park rangers for about 30 minutes and the search lasts for approximately 1- 8hours, depending on how far the apes have moved, as well as your trekking pace.
Best months to do gorilla trekking in Uganda.
June to September and December to March. These are generally dry months in Uganda, thus the best time to see gorillas. Even though some days of this month receive rain, it is not as heavy as during wet season. This is also the same period when there is an influx of visitors, thus the peak season.
It favors mostly luxury travelers and those who are not budget sensitive therefore prices tend to be hiked and advance payment is highly recommended. If you can, then this is the best time to do gorilla trekking.
October to November and March to early June. These months are characterized by plenty of rain thus trekking the gorillas in this period tends to be hard though possible. Take a scenario where you come in a week of any of these months and find it dry, won’t that be a big deal?
As the country receives plenty of rain in these months, there is still a chance to visit the gorillas. For many budget travelers, these are the most recommended months because of the discounts on different accommodation facilities, trekking permits and several other services. It is a low season for tourism, meaning less congestion and more fun.
Gorillas are in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park, located in southwestern Uganda on foothills of the giant Virunga chain of Mountains, which sprawls through three nations – Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
Cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda.
As you think of the best time to see gorillas, note that the trekking permits cost, 700 USD for foreign non-residents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens. It is wise to book gorilla trekking permits at least 3 months in advance because they are in high demand, yet few. Only those aged 15years and above are eligible for gorilla trekking.
Having said all this; June to September and December to March are the best months to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda. Mountain Gorillas are only found in the continent of Africa with Uganda hosting half of their population.
