When is the best time to visit gorillas: Gorilla trekking is an activity in which people go through deep tropical woods in pursuit of mountain gorillas in their natural environment, and once located, spend one hour in the presence of the endangered mountain gorillas taking photographs and learning about the gorillas, among other things. Mountain gorillas can only be found in four African national parks: Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Volcanoes in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, and Mgahinga in Uganda. Bwindi is the only gorilla destination in the world, home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas.

Visitors who want to go gorilla trekking must first get a gorilla trekking permit, which allows them to visit any habituated gorilla family in any national park. Gorilla trekking permits differ based on the country from where you would hike the gorillas. For example, a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park costs $1500 for all nationalities and is the most expensive of the three nations. A single gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks, on the other hand, costs $600 for Foreign Non Residents, while a gorilla trekking permit in Virunga national park costs $400 for Foreign Non Residents and $200 during the low season.

To encourage more people, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only place that gives a cheap gorilla trekking permit during the high season and a reduced permit during the low season.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda may be done at any time of year since Uganda has a pleasant and suitable environment that is defined by two rainy seasons: the short rainy season from October to November and the long rainy season from mid-March to May. Uganda also has two dry seasons, with the short dry season lasting from December to February and the long dry season lasting from June to September.

Best Time to Visit Gorillas

Visiting Gorillas during the Peak season / High season

During the months of June to September and December to February, this is also known as the dry season. This is the optimum period for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park since there is little or no rain in the woods during these months. Due to the great weather in Uganda and Rwanda, this is the time of year when most travellers choose to travel to Africa for gorilla trekking and other activities such as hiking, nature walks, and boat cruises, among others.

The forest grounds will not be rainy, muddy, or slippery during the peak season or dry season, thus gorilla trekking paths will be practicable and gorillas will be clearly seen owing to the short grass in the jungle.

Because gorilla destinations in Africa are at a high altitude or elevation and are covered with dense tropical rainforests, it can rain at any time of day and will shine after it has rained, so visitors who wish to engage in gorilla trekking activities are encouraged to bring gorilla trekking equipment such as rain jackets, hiking shoes, warm clothes, and other items because it can get very cold, especially early in the morning and late at night.

Peak season, also known as the dry season, is the greatest time to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and other African gorilla hotspots such as Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park. However, during the peak season, gorilla trekking permits are generally competitive and sell out quicker compared to the wet season, so travellers should obtain gorilla trekking permits 4 to 6 months in advance to prevent disappointment.

Off-season

The low season, also known as the rainy season, lasts from mid-March to May and from October to November. During the low season, there is considerable rainfall, and the gorilla trekking pathways in the jungle are constantly damp, muddy, slippery, and covered in rain drops, making gorilla trekking wet and tough. During the low or wet season, lodges near gorilla sites offer discounts to entice more guests, which is an extra benefit for budget travellers because the lodges will be less expensive and less fully booked than during the peak season.

It is simple to hike mountain gorillas during the low season, particularly in Volcanoes and Mgahinga national parks, since the gorillas will retreat to lower altitude places where there is abundance of food, making trekking simple. During the low season, gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Virunga, and Volcanoes national parks are less competitive than during the peak season, and the national parks are less crowded, allowing tourists to explore the forest with less crowds.

During the wet season, it usually rains in the morning, then shines briefly before raining again in the late afternoon, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Volcanoes national parks is done every day, rain or shine. It is, however, the finest period for bird viewing, with the possibility to see migrating species in the forest from November to April.

All in all: gorilla trekking tours are some of the best wildlife tours that any tourist can experience during your visit to Rwanda, Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo.