Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi in September
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi in September: The month of September lies between the drier months of the year in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. it’s a high season for tourism in Bwindi and it’s when a high number of travelers are visiting the park for mountain gorilla trekking and other activities. During September, gorilla permits are very scarce and therefore travelers are advised to book their permits and safari 3-4 months earlier in advance.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is possible in all four sectors of the park namely Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma. The gorilla tours in this park can be done at any time of the year however the dry season is the best and that is where September falls. Trekkers will find the trekking trails dry, the vegetation short and scattered, and little or no rainfall should be expected during that day.
Encounter Gorillas in Bwindi in September
Gorilla trekking experience in September
Travelers intending to have gorilla tours in September should expect little or no rainfall on their day of trekking being a dry month. On the day of gorilla trekking in all the sectors of the park, trekkers must wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then get transferred to the sector offices where they will join with other trekkers. At the sector offices, park wardens do teach trekkers about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity, group people not exceeding 8, allocate mountain gorilla families, and then get armed ranger guides to lead the trek.
The search for mountain gorillas is led by the armed ranger guides that first communicate with the trackers to know which best routes to use to allocate the mountain gorilla family easily. During September, the search for mountain gorillas can take 2-7 hours and it depends on the location mountain gorilla family as well as the speed of trekkers. During the search, trekkers are able to meet different mammals, primates, and birds. When you set eyes on mountain gorillas, you are given one hour to be around them and this will enable you to learn about their habits, watch them do daily activities, and take photos.
How difficult is Bwindi gorilla trekking in September?
September is a dry month and therefore travelers should expect little or no rainfall on their trekking day. During the whole trekking activity, the vegetation is dry so you are likely to get out of the jungle the way you went unless it rains. The trekking trails are dry and passable but finding the mountain gorilla family might take longer because the mountain gorillas move so far too high altitudes to search for food. Expect to view the mountain gorillas clearly because the vegetation is very short and scattered.
Cost of Bwindi gorilla permits in September
Travelers intending to have Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi in September need to have a gorilla permit in order to be allowed to encounter mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking permits are got from a trusted local tour operator or Uganda Wildlife Authority at the same fee. Each gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. Spend is a high season month and therefore we advise travelers to book their trekking permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.
How to buy Bwindi gorilla permits to September
To buy Bwindi gorilla trekking permits, you can use a trusted local tour operator like Africa Adventure Vacations limited or direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority. You will need first need to get the dates of the month and year you want to travel then send them via email to the local tour operator or reservation office Uganda Wildlife Authority. They will use this information to check for the availability of the trekking permits and once they are available, you will be sent an email containing banking details. You will pay money for the permit and then send them a scanned copy of your receipt for confirmation. Your permit will be booked and you will find them with your tour operator while those that used Uganda wildlife authority will pick them up at their office.
Packing list for gorilla trekking
What to pack for gorilla trekking in September?
To have a successful mountain gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi in September in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park you need to pack long-sleeved shirts, waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, a sweater, rain jacket, a hat, sunscreen, long cotton stocks, long-sleeved pants, toiletries, first aid kit, insect repellents, sanitizer, facemask, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, a camera and a pair of binoculars among others.
Getting to Bwindi in September
Travelers visiting Bwindi in September can access the park using road transport or air transport. Travelers to use air transport should inform their tour operators or book direct with the airline company in advance to avoid inconveniences. Daily flights by Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda start from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi airstrip in Buhoma or Kisoro airstrip for those visiting Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga.
Travelers using road transport can access Bwindi in September from Kampala or Kigali within a single day. Travelers from Entebbe/Kampala will have to go through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro to access any of the regions they want to visit, and this takes 9-10 hours. Travelers from Kigali Rwanda can access Bwindi by driving through Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro and moving to the sectors of the park they are to trek gorillas.
