Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season
Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season: Mountain gorillas are the main attractions in Bwindi gorilla park located in the southwestern part of the country. The national park has over 650 mountain gorillas living in an area that covers 331 sq. km. The mountain gorillas in Bwindi gorilla park have been habituated and open for gorilla trekking activities that can be done at any time of the year.
Bwindi gorilla park has two seasons which are the dry season and the rainy season. Both seasons do attract travelers and today we are going to look at the rainy season. The rainy season happens from March to May and October to November and the most attracts the budget travelers because everything is at a discount. Gorilla trekking being an expensive activity, most travelers that want to encounter mountain gorillas but don’t have enough money look at the periods that are cheap and these are the rainy months (March, April, May, October, and November).
Why you need to trek Bwindi gorillas in the rainy season
The first reason as to why trekkers should consider trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi gorilla park during the rainy season is that there is nothing like competition for gorilla permits. There are a few travelers visiting the park in the rainy season and therefore you will always find the permits available any day you book. The rainy season is called the low season because it attracts a few travelers to the park. However much the permits are always available at any time, travelers must book these permits days before the trekking activity for better preparation in the park.
Travelers most especially the budget ones should trek mountain gorillas in the rainy season to enjoy discounts. There are huge discounts on the safaris themselves from the tour operator which is done to attract the few travelers. There are also huge discounts on the accommodation facilities to attract the little travelers in the park.
Travelers should also do Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season because trekking takes little time. During the rainy, there are chances of meeting the gorilla family within the first two hours and this is because the mountain gorillas don’t move so far to look for food. There is plenty of food in the park and so mountain gorillas don’t move to high altitudes they just stay on the lower levels. The mountain gorillas also stay on the lower slopes of the park to avoid the coldness at the high altitudes.
Trekking Gorillas in a rainy season
Why you need to avoid trekking Bwindi gorillas in the rainy season
There are so many challenges faced when you trek Bwindi gorillas in the rainy season. Bwindi gorilla trekking is every person’s dream come true and therefore it’s better you have a great time if you get an opportunity to encounter these apes. Trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season come with too much rainfall and coldness within the park. Too much rainfall makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery which affects the speed of trekkers even though the gorillas are not so far at high altitudes.
The rainy season also destroys the roads leading to the park which increases the travel time. There are some roads that have holes and a lot of mud and sometimes the cars get stuck there increasing the time you would take to access the park. During the rainy season, the vegetation in the jungle is very tall and thick and this affects the visibility of the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are not clearly seen and sometimes they hide in the thick bush making you spot a few members in the group. Photography in the rainy season is never clear because there is a lot of fog and rainfall that can even destroy the cameras.
Trekking gorillas in the rainy season
Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season starts early in the morning when trekkers move to the park headquarters for gathering and listen to what park wardens have to say. At the briefing center, the trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity, permits are checked if they are valid, and then grouped not exceeding 8 people. Those that have too much luggage are able to hire porters at a fee.
Armed ranger guides are assigned to each group to lead them into the jungle. Their role is to protect trekkers from dangerous wild animals, show them the right trails and give them different information about the park and wild animals. The search for mountain gorillas in the rainy season takes a few hours but within those hours, you will be able to encounter different park mammals, primates, and birds. The activity takes you through slippery and muddy trails but you will be given a walking stick at the start of the trekking.
When you meet the mountain gorillas that are not always so far because of plenty of food in the park and coldness at the high altitude you will be given 1 hour to be around them, learn about their habits, take photos and see them do daily activities such as nesting, eating, patrolling, coupling among others. You will later trek out of the jungle, and meet your driver-guide to transfer you to where you can pick up your trekking certificate.
How much is gorilla trekking in the rainy season
Gorilla trekking permit price never changes whether it’s a rainy season or a dry season. A traveler can get a single gorilla trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee of $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East Africa. The gorilla permits can be booked directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted local tour operator at the same price.
Carry along with waterproof hiking shoes
What to pack for Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season
Things to pack for Bwindi gorilla trekking in the rainy season do include waterproof hiking shoes to enable pass through the muddy and slippery trails, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a light backpack, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, a camera, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, sanitizer, face mask, first aid kit and a rain jacket among others.
