When Can I Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking?
When Can I Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking? It is one of the remarkable adventure activities done in Uganda, where visitors have a chance to meet face-to-face with the majestic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. However, many visitors have always asked the question of what is the best time to do gorilla trekking in Uganda’s destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
Visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking safaris is one of the best ways to offer visitors an experience that is worth their price! Most of these travellers have a passion for travel, and they sacrifice a lot when planning for such adventure safaris. When planning for these tours, most travellers take a lot of time saving their money for their dreams to come true. However, for travelers to achieve the best experience that meets their expectations, they need to know the best time to do gorilla trekking in Uganda’s gorilla tracking destinations of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year in Uganda’s gorilla parks, although some months are more ideal than others. The dry months that run from June to September and December to February are the best to visit the park for a gorilla trekking safari because these months experience intermittent rainfall, making the trekking trails dry, short, and thin with vivid views of wildlife, especially mountain gorillas, and the roads connecting to the park are easily accessible.
The park can also be visited during the rainy season, especially by budget travellers in the months of March to May and from September to November. These months are subject to heavy rainfall, leading to the roads connecting to the park being slick and slippery, hence making them impassable, and the thick vegetation obscures the visibility of wildlife species. Since this wet season receives much rainfall, the park receives fewer crowds, which allows budget travellers to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi
Following: When Can I Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking? Gorilla trekking is the premier activity in all the trekking sectors of the park, where different gorilla families have been habituated and are open for trekking activities. The park has over 23 mountain gorilla families that are set for trekking activities to allow travelers to get close to mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This encounter takes place for a maximum of an hour, and the tracking sector to visit is determined by the gorilla permit purchased.
To track the majestic gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a gorilla trekking permit is a must, and without it, the park wardens won’t allow you to take part in this fascinating activity. These gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority early in advance at a fee of $800 for non-foreign residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for the rest of Africa, and UGX 300,000 for citizens of East Africa.
The gorilla trekking exercise in all the sectors of the park begins early in the morning at various information centers where visitors converge for a briefing concerning the exercise from the park wardens. These park wardens always check for these gorilla trekking permits and sensitise visitors about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After, visitors are grouped into 8, followed by trekkers and armed ranger guides to lead the trekkers in the jungle.
The armed ranger guides lead visitors through the easiest and fastest routes to the assigned gorilla family after coordinating with the trackers to locate where the gorilla family is. This search mainly takes about 2-7 hours, and the duration depends on the pace of the trekkers and the location of the gorilla family based on the previous nesting point. Once these apes are spotted, you are allocated 1 hour to study and interact with mountain gorillas about their behaviors, and take photos and videos as you enjoy watching them do their daily activities. This is different from the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as discussed below.
What to Pack During Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda?
To enjoy gorilla trekking tours in Uganda’s gorilla destinations, such as Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, you need to pack the essential items. Your packing list for gorilla trekking should include long cotton socks, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, a face mask, a pair of binoculars, sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, a hat, a pair of gaiters, waterproof hiking shoes, a water bottle, insect repellent, a camera, long cotton socks, long-sleeved socks, extra batteries, and others.
Accommodation in Uganda’s Gorilla Parks
Following: When Can I Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking? While on a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda’s gorilla parks, there are various accommodation options, from affordable to luxury options. Visitors are advised to book lodges based on their budget and in the sectors where they opt to track gorillas. Some of these lodges available in Mgahinga include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Eco Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, and others.
Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Sanctuary Gorilla Lodge, Silverback Safari Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ride 4 A Woman, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Oruzogo Safari Lodge, Clouds Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Bwindi Neck Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Cuckooland Lodge, Dorotia Safari Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Mirambi Safari Lodge, Karaa Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Rushaga Haven Lodge, and others.