What is the Best Time to See the Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda?

Best Time to See the Gorillas In Uganda and Rwanda

It’s important to remember that mountain gorillas can be tracked throughout the year, as their movements are not seasonally dependent. While the advantages and disadvantages of visiting during specific times of the year will be discussed, it’s advisable for travelers not to be overly concerned with selecting a particular month for trekking. From our experience, the most favourable time to track gorillas is immediately following the rainy season, when the landscape remains lush and verdant. However, pinpointing the optimal time has become challenging due to global warming’s significant alteration of Africa’s weather patterns, which complicates predictions of the commencement and conclusion of the rainy and dry seasons. Ultimately, the decision of when to visit rests with the traveler.

Our task is to outline the advantages and disadvantages of visiting during each season. Countries on the equator, including Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, typically have dry and wet seasons. The dry season occurs from December to February and then from June to September. Gorilla trekking during the dry season offers several benefits. It is also the optimal period for wildlife safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti, and various Ugandan national parks.

Tourists can conveniently plan a trip that combines gorilla trekking with a safari to witness the wildebeest migration and visits to Uganda’s Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth National Park. The dry season is ideal for capturing clear, high-quality photographs of the landscape, natural landmarks, and mountain gorillas, as visibility is not hindered by fog or dense vegetation. However, the dry season comes with a downside: travel costs tend to be higher.

Obtaining gorilla permits can be challenging, and securing last-minute gorilla tours is often not feasible. The dry season may not be the ideal time for those seeking an easier trek or hoping to be assigned to a gorilla group nearby. To ensure the opportunity to track a specific group of gorillas, it is advisable to book several months in advance; otherwise, you may discover that all groups have been allocated to other tourists. Additionally, trekking during the dry season might mean missing out on the lush African landscape post-rainfall. First-time visitors to these countries might expect a dry Africa, but this is not always the reality.

The rainy season, spanning March to April and October to November, is also known as the low season. During this time, the forests can become muddy, making the tracking of mountain gorillas more challenging. However, the possibility of encountering mud exists even in the dry season, as mountain gorillas inhabit tropical forests where rain is a year-round occurrence. Notably, rain in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo typically does not persist throughout the day as it might in Europe or North America.

Rain typically falls for one to two hours before the sun emerges, permitting activities to proceed regardless of the weather. It’s important to secure a complete packing list of items for Gorilla trekking before embarking on the trail. Gorilla trekking is never cancelled due to heavy rain. Some clients find trekking during the rainy season to be an added adventure, despite the mud and rain.

  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Best Time To Visit: June to August and December to February
• High Season: June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
• Best Weather: June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

  Volcanoes National Park