What is the best time for Gorilla Tracking?
Regardless of mountain gorilla trekking being an all year round adventure, a number of questions have been raised concerning this lifetime experience. Among many questions, most tourists are left asking themselves when is the best time for gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; When is the best time to track the rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo others are still confused which month should they travel for gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which months are ideal for mountain gorilla tracking? All these have been raised but majority of travelers are still not satisfied due to limited up to date information concerning this lifetime adventure in Africa and thus leaving it the most debatable questions across travelers.
What may seem the best time to you may turn out to be the worst time to another traveler! The fact remains that mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo is an all year round experience however, most tourists tend to dodge wet season forgetting that these protected areas lie within the Equator and there are higher chances of it raining at any time whether wet or dry season.
In the whole world, the rare mountain gorillas are only inhabited in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda, the Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is conducted in the thick tropical rain forests in the above countries and there are fewer than 900 individuals that are still surviving in the whole world, however Uganda and Rwanda take the largest population compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Whereas this fascinating adventure can be done at any time of year, tourists need to consider the climate or seasonality of three countries.
Across the 3 destinations where the rare mountain gorilla tours are conducted, there are 2 wet (rainy) seasons from which the trails tend to be muddy and the steep slopes become slippery but at times it doesn’t rain in almost the entire day.
The wet season starts in March to May and October to November. During this period, trekking is really challenging but adventurous tourists still come to achieve their dreams in Africa. When it is raining during, the ground becomes slippery and this makes it too challenging for tourists to track gorillas during the wet season and for those who may prefer traveling during this period, a 4 by 4 safari car is very ideal for your safaris. The vegetation also tends to thick and may make photo taking a bit challenging. On the other hand, the habitat is drier in the month of June and September and December to February.
This means that it is easier tracking these Great Apes during this season as it is simpler for tourists to hike through the thick jungles and steep slopes of these magnificent wild creatures.
For tourists who are planning their safari to Uganda Rwanda and DRC for this lifetime experience, the dry season is best time to visit any of the mountain gorilla destinations (June, July, August, September and December, January and February. However, with the ongoing global warming, it is hard to predict whether it is going to rain or not and this calls for you to be prepared at all times. Even during the dry season it can rain given the nature of the gorilla habitat.
Usually the first rains come late in February through March, April and May and during these months the ground is muddy and it explains why most tourists tend to dodge traveling for gorilla trekking. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no trekking for these Great Apes in Uganda, Rwanda or DRC. The advantage with the wet season is that there is plenty of food and most of the gorilla groups are kept within the base of the park making it easier for visitors to catch a glimpse of these dramatic creatures in the wild. For those who are planning their safaris to Uganda Rwanda and DRC, they need long sleeved shirts/T-shirts, waterproof hiking boots or gumboots that are light weight, insect repellents, gardening gloves, hat, rain jackets and many more.
In conclusion, when it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, it is best to travel during the dry season which falls from the month of June to September and December to February. However, gorilla trekking is also conducted during the wet season and visitors who come during this season; they equally get rewarded with astonishing encounters while in the natural habitat with these rare apes.