Best Time To visit Bwindi
Best Time To Visit Bwindi: Are you unsure of the ideal time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi? Though gorilla tracking is considerably more difficult during the rainy season, which runs from April to May and September to November, you can visit the park at any time of year.
Bwindi National Park is considered a year-round destination for good reason—it enjoys great weather and environmental conditions. But considering the park’s nature, normal weather patterns are predictable. The tropical rainforest dominates most of this area, where daytime highs of 23°C can be reached and nighttime lows of 11°C.
Guide for the Best Times to See the Bwindi Gorillas
Due to its equatorial climate, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park experiences comparatively damp weather, yet you may visit it year-round for gorilla trekking safaris.
The everyday mist, morning or afternoon showers, chilly temperatures, bright skies, and blazing sunshine are some of the consistent weather patterns found in Bwindi Forest. The ideal times of year to see gorillas in Bwindi Forest are thought to be during the dry season, which runs from December to February and from June to September. But because these are the busiest times of year for gorilla trekking, demand drives up rates. It is necessary to reserve your gorilla safari, including accommodations and gorilla permits, well in advance (at least three months).
Even in the dry season, rain can fall at any moment of the day. You should also be ready for physically demanding long walks because of the steep terrain. Although the trails are generally dry and slick, gorillas travel great distances in search of new foliage, or food.
Some tourists choose to view gorillas during wet seasons since gorilla safaris are comparatively less expensive during these seasons, even if the dry season may offer the best gorilla trekking conditions. In the months of March, April, and May, as well as the shorter months of October, September, and November, Uganda Wildlife Authority reduces the cost of gorilla permits for foreign tourists from $600 to $450 USD per person.
There are rarely many gorilla hikers, so your chances of seeing gorillas in small groups with less people competing for excellent angle shots are higher. High-end lodges and hotels in particular provide reduced lodging rates; in general, the rainy season lowers the cost of a Bwindi gorilla safari.
Seeing gorillas might be difficult during rainy seasons because of the wet, slick pathways and tangles of vegetation. The rainy season is the greatest time of year to view gorillas for a variety of reasons.
Since gorillas typically graze on lower slopes or near park boundaries, your walk will probably be brief. That being said, nothing can be guaranteed, so you must be prepared. Get a walking stick at the beginning of the trek, get a porter to carry your daypack, and bring rain coats to protect your photography gear. When hiking, wear gloves to protect your feet from sharp rocks and muddy, deep routes. You also don’t want to touch thorny bushes or guitars.
In Bwindi, inclement weather rarely makes a gorilla trekking experience less enjoyable. Actually, there haven’t been any complaints about this, and many people who have gone on treks say that going on a gorilla hike is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see animals.
A party of eight tourists, escorted by rangers and guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, spend an hour each day with one of the 12 habituated gorilla families. These can be found in four distinct areas of the national park known as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. To avoid disappointment, visitors must ask the guides before trekking commences in the morning about their hiking abilities in order to be assigned to a gorilla family that is more accessible.
While many tourists to Uganda are interested in gorilla trekking in Bwindi, it is still the most environmentally friendly activity available. Before scheduling a gorilla safari, visitors must thoroughly read and comprehend the rules and regulations pertaining to gorilla trekking.
The Ideal Time to Visit a Gorilla Month by month
Often considered low season, January and February bring decent trekking conditions to Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These months are also typically reasonably dry. It’s prime trekking season, when visitors swarm gorilla parks to see gorillas in their native habitat, and one of the finest times to see gorillas.
March, April, and May are rainy months in the Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda both have licenses for mountain gorillas. Gorilla parks record minimal turnout during the regarded low season months of March, April, and May.
The main months for gorilla trekking are June, July, and August. During this time, you may also combine gorilla viewing with the Tanzanian wildebeest migration, which crosses the Serengeti plains. Make sure to reserve your gorilla permit as far in advance as you can because they may sell out before you can get one.
If you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania across the border, September and October are the best months to go gorilla watching because the weather is perfect for both activities.
November is another rainy month, but once more, permits from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are frequently less expensive. Rainfall is heavy this month, and all gorilla parks report minimal attendance. It eases down to light showers by mid-December, so if you’re looking for a different way to spend Christmas, you might do worse than traveling to East Africa to see gorillas.
When is the best time of year to visit Bwindi NP?
The dry season, is the best time of year to enjoy a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi National Park. The park goes through two distinct dry season periods every year, so keep those in mind while making trip plans. June, July, August, and September are the longest months, whereas December, January, and February are the shortest dry spells.
Best and worst periods for gorilla trekking For the purpose of tracking mountain gorillas, the dry season (June to September and December to February) is the optimum time of year to visit Bwindi. The year’s three busiest months are June, July, and August. The months of April, May, October, and November are considered off-seasons; the months of June, July, August, and September offer the finest weather, followed by December, January, and February. The park experiences its worst weather in March, April, and May as well as in late September, October, and November.
Why visit gorillas during the dry season? The best weather and climate are bestowed upon the dry season throughout the year. During this time of year, very little to no rain is reported, and even in the event that it happens, gorilla trekking in the park is still possible. If you’re a photographer, this is the greatest time of year to go because of the somewhat clearer forest cover, which allows you to set up for the best pictures of the massive silverback gorillas and their families.
Trekking with gorillas during the rainy season in 2024–2025 The rainy/wet season, in contrast to the dry months/season, begins in March, April, and May, with the other phase being observed from October to November. These are not the best months to undertake gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest because of the possibility of slick terrain and high inclines. Furthermore, if you want to take crisp photos of mountain gorillas, the extensive foliage cover might not be ideal.
Travelers who wish to visit during off-peak times might choose the rainy or off-season. During the rainy season, those who prefer to avoid crowds can have a more tailored experience. Most lodging facilities lower their prices during this time of year, making them accessible to even those on a tight budget. Since there aren’t many people that visit the park, this is one method they use to get people to make reservations. Furthermore, food is more readily accessible during the wet season, and gorillas tend to stay close to their home range. This shortens the gorilla treks, and if you are paired with a less difficult group, the walk can conclude as early as 11 a.m.