When Should You Visit Uganda For A Safari in 2023
When should you visit Uganda for a safari? When is the best time to visit Uganda gorillas? Mountain gorillas in Uganda can be visited at any time of the month or year, but the dry season is the best time for you to enjoy an excellent gorilla trekking experience. There are 2 phases of the dry season that Uganda experiences each year, and this should guide you when planning your next gorilla safari.
The first phase of the dry season to consider visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking or wildlife safari starts from June, July, and August to early September. The second phase begins from December, January till February.
The advantage of traveling during the dry season for gorilla trekking in Uganda
The dry season is considered the favorite time for tourists to visit Uganda gorillas because it is when the parks experience no or low rains. With no/little rains received, the gorilla habitats remain drier or become more passable unlike during the wetter months. The vegetation cover is also clear during the dry season and it makes it easier to spot the families of mountain gorillas and other wildlife species.
gorilla trekking in Uganda
Considering the nature of the mountain gorilla habitats, downpours should be expected at any time of day, month, or year. Uganda experiences a tropical kind of climate, but the advantage of it is that it can rain and shortly stops and the normal gorilla trekking can proceed.
The disadvantage of the dry season is that low/no rains come with food shortages in the gorilla habitats. This makes gorilla families move distances in search of food but luckily, they can be traced.
The dry season is also referred to as the peak season of the year- the period when a huge visitor turns up is recorded in all gorilla safari destinations.
Visiting Uganda gorillas during the wet or rainy/off-season
The wet/rainy season also offers visitors the opportunity to visit Uganda and get up close and personal with the family of mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Being an off/low season, there is low visitor turn up and higher chances are you can get some discount offers, especially from accommodation facilities. This is perfect for budget travelers or backpackers on Uganda safari tours.
The rainy/low season also you to enjoy a gorilla trek or wildlife tour free of crowds, unlike the peak season/months. The first phase of the wet season occurs from March, April, to May and the other phase begins from October to November.
Uganda gorilla trekking – where should you go?
The largest population of endangered mountain gorillas resides in the jungles of Uganda and there are 2 National Parks to consider a must-visit for all Uganda gorilla safaris. Gorilla tours in Uganda are perfectly carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or you can visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The geographical location
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are situated in the Southwestern side of Uganda. These two parks are all accessible from Kampala/Entebbe city and even from Kigali. Traveling from Kampala to Bwindi/Mgahinga takes longer hours, about 8-10, and crossing from Kigali via Katuna/Chanika border takes 4-5 hours’ drive.
How many gorilla families live in Uganda?
There are over 21 habituated families residing within the 2 National Parks in Uganda alone. This is the highest number of gorilla groups and trekking them can be done in the five sectors: Ruhija, Ntebeko, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo regions. The list of habituated gorilla families to explore on the Uganda gorilla tour includes Nkuringo, Katwe, Kutu, Bitukura, Rushegura, Mubare gorilla family, Kahungye, Busingye, Mishaya, Christmas, Bweza and Habinyanja, etc.
Uganda gorilla trekking cost
Gorilla trekking is a memorable experience that attracts every adventure seeker on holiday in Uganda. To visit Bwindi or Mgahinga to see gorillas requires you to have a valid gorilla permit and a single permit costs USD 700 –this is the cost for foreign non-residents, the foreign residents pay USD 600, and Ugandans/citizens in East Africa are issued permits at UGX 250,000.
Important items to pack
The recommended items to consider on your packing list besides gorilla permits include long-sleeved shirts, waterproof daypack, trousers, sweaters, adequate drinking water, snacks, insect repellents, rain jackets, lightweight and waterproof hiking boots, gardening gloves, and others.