The best period to trek gorillas in Bwindi
The best period to trek gorillas in Bwindi: Bwindi has the highest concentration of mountain gorillas living in the dense tropical forest in the southwestern part of the country. With mountain gorilla trekking being a once in a lifetime activity, it’s good to know the best time to trek the gorillas in Bwindi in order to have unforgettable memories. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done all throughout the year but knowing the best time to trek gorillas and the season would be of great advantage.
Bwindi gorilla park is famous for mountain gorilla trekking which is done in 4 sectors of the park namely Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma. These sectors have different mountain gorilla families that total 21 and they can all be trekked at any time of the year. The mountain gorillas in Bwindi do live in tropical rainforests at high altitudes of 2000 to 3000 meters above sea level.
Bwindi gorilla park comprises thick tropical rain forests which means it can rainy at any time of the year. The park experiences 2 seasons which are the dry season where there is little or no rainfall and the rainy season where there is plenty of rainfall. Despite the two seasons, gorilla trekking is done all throughout the year whether the rainfall is little or too much however there are certain periods that are better than the rest.
The best period to trek gorillas in Bwindi
The dry season
The dry season is the best period to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Bwindi has two dry seasons and these occur from June to September and December to February. These months are the best to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi and this is because they are characterized by little or no rainfall. The trekking trails are dry, less muddy, and not slippery which doesn’t affect the speed of trekkers. The vegetation is short and thin giving clear views of the mountain gorillas and good photography. Lastly in the dry period, the roads leading to the park are in good condition.
The rainy season
The rainy season can also be a good time to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi gorilla park and this favors the budget travelers. The people who will visit Bwindi in the rainy season will enjoy the huge discounts on accommodation facilities because the people in the park are few and accommodation is put on low cost. The rainy season in Bwindi occurs in March, April, May, October and November. The problem with trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season is that the trekking trails are muddy and slippery which affects the speed of trekkers, the vegetation is tall and thick giving unclear views of the mountain gorillas and bad photography while the roads leading to the park are in poor conditions.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Whether you visit Bwindi gorilla park in the dry season or rainy season, you must pack all that is necessary to have a successful safari. Travelers should expect rainfall at any time of the day even if it’s the dry season. Some of the things to pack include waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, gardening gloves, a pair of gaiters, a rain jacket, a sweater, long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, a light backpack, insect repellents, sanitizer, facemask, a camera, a pair of binoculars, energy-giving snacks, and drinking water bottle.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking is done by all travelers from all parts of the world in the different sectors of the park and the activity starts early in the morning. The trekkers wake for morning breakfast at their lodges and thereafter drivers transfer the trekkers to the sector offices. The trekking starts with a briefing at the sector offices where wardens teach trekkers about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity, group trekkers not exceeding 8, and get 2 armed ranger guides to lead the trekkers in the jungle.
To meet the mountain gorilla family assigned can take 2-7 hours of going through different trekking trails, meeting different park animals such as buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers, giant forest hogs, elephants, bats, otters, jackals, birds, and different plant species. when the mountain gorilla family is found, the rangers give trekkers 1 hour to be around the gorilla group, watch the apes do daily activities, record videos, take photos and learn about their habits.
How much is trekking gorilla in Bwindi
To trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi, all you need is a gorilla trekking permit and these are got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee. The gorilla permits are sold at a fee of $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East Africa. The trekking permit is sold to a person that is 15 years and above.
