Best time to go mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda & Uganda?

There has been an ongoing debate on what is the best time to trek gorillas or track gorillas in Uganda. Several arguments and opinions have been voiced in different avenues including online forums such as tripadvisor, lonely planet among others. The fact is that gorillas in Uganda can be tracked throughout the year and clients almost get the same satisfaction. This is because clients tend to avoid rainy season forgetting that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in an Equatorial Forest where chances of rain are very high daily.

On paper, the best time to trek gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is during the drier months of June, July, August and early September. During these months, these months experience less rainfall compared to months such as April, May and November. Its during these months that people prefer booking their gorilla treks making it competitive. Gorilla permits tend to sell out quickly and all those interested in trekking gorillas during this time/season should book their gorilla permits in advance.

Mountain gorillas which are among the most endangered species on planet earth are located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga ranges which are shared amongst three countries such as Uganda (Mgahinga National Park) Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park) and Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park. And because these primates are highly endangered, clients pay highly to view or trek them. Because of the current price of gorilla permits which are at USD1500.00 in Rwanda and USD600.00 in Uganda, clients would love to maximize their experience when it comes to gorilla trekking and the best time to visit them.

Uganda being crossed by the equator has a modified equatorial type of climate with two rainy seasons and because of this people tend to associate drier seasons to be the best time to trek gorillas. This is true because when it is raining, it becomes hard to hike and trek in the impenetrable forest because of the heavy rains that make the trails too slippery. Roads to bwindi impenetrable National Park tend to become slippery and rivers flood making accessibility hard.

Encounter Africa safaris organizes gorilla trekking trips all round the year and we have recorded 98% success with all our gorilla tours since our clients are able to see gorillas on their respective treks. Whether dry or wet season, the success of any given gorilla trek goes beyond time/season to how you are prepared. You should have the right gear, be physically fit and if not, please hire services of a porter and you will be able to enjoy your trek.