Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda; Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities that attracts big numbers of tourists to travel to African and it involves tourists moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park while gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. apart from Uganda and Rwanda, gorilla trekking can also be done in Virunga national park and Kahuzi biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes gorilla trekking easy.
During the dry season, vegetation in the gorilla destinations will be thin/ short which gives you an opportunity to view the mountain gorillas and other wildlife species clearly.
Though the dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, it has some disadvantages of difficulty to purchase the gorilla trekking permits as they get sold out quickly due to many travellers therefore tourists are advised to book the gorilla permits in advance.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park can also be visited in the wet/rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November. The rainy season is characterized by rainfall which makes the forest and gorilla trekking trails muddy and slippery however it doesn’t rain the whole day hence gorilla trekking activity can still be done after the rain. Gorilla trekking in the rainy season has some advantages for example clients will be able to explore the parks with less crowds, booking of gorilla trekking permits will be easy due to few visitors and some lodges offer discounts as a way to attract tourists which favours budget travellers.
Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primates, bird species among others and once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviours, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes national park Rwanda cost 1500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 500 USD per person for foreign residents in Rwanda, 500 USD per person for African citizens/foreign residents in Africa, 200 USD per person for Rwanda citizens and 200 USD per person for East African citizens.
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park cost 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda were however increased to 800 USD per person for foreign non residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, 500 USD per person for Africans and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens effective 1st/July/2024.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda can be booked through Focus East Africa Tours (UWA) a trusted tour operator in Kampala where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit the mountain gorillas. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability from Uganda Wildlife Authority and if there are permits available on your preferred dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. When the payment has been made, we will be able to purchase the gorilla permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda can either be booked directly through Rwanda Development Board (RDB) where you will contact the park headquarters on email or telephone. Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Focus East Africa Tours where you will reach out to us with the date, month and year when you wish to trek the gorillas. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once the payment has been made, we will be able to purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a copy of the receipt as confirmation.
The dry season is best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda however due to global warming, you can expect rain at any time of the day regardless of the season. For more information about the best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, you can reach out to us at Focus East Africa Tours or visit our website for various gorilla trekking packages.
