Frequently Asked Question
Yes, you can trek gorillas during the wet season in Uganda. Gorilla excursions go out every day irrespective of the weather.
Also, it’s the low season for the gorilla safari in Uganda during the rainy months of October to November and March to May. Some budget travelers like trekking gorillas during the low season and take advantage of the low-season discounts regardless of the regular downpours.
Tourists usually avoid the wet season, and it is during this time a savvy tourist can enjoy a private safari. You could find just you and your partner as guests in an entire lodge property during the wet or low season—a perfect way to enjoy the African wilderness without disruptions from other tourists.
Uganda straddles along the Equator, which gives the country a tropical climate all year round. The gorilla parks are open for tourism all year round. However, the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season months of January, June, July, August, and December.
The dry season is also considered the peak season in Uganda when many tourists flock into the country and accommodation prices shoot up. During this time, gorilla permits are very scarce, and we recommend processing yours at least a year in advance if you want to go during this time.
The other months experience torrential rains that could disrupt your trekking experience. The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda because the forest floors are less damp, trails are passable, and you’re sure you and your photography equipment will not get drenched in the torrential downpours.
June and July are the driest months in the southwestern region where gorillas live but expect to see some occasional rains because the area is mainly covered with rainforests.
Compared to June and July, the gorilla region gets a little more rainfall in December, January, and February. Some chose to come during this time to taste the developing emerald green across the countryside.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is moderately difficult, challenging, and requires moderate physical fitness because you’ll be hiking through rugged, uneven terrain, damp, muddy forest floor, and thick forest undergrowth. There are no used trails in the gorilla jungle, and your rangers will be cutting through shrubs and vines to create a path for you.
However, anyone above 15 years with moderate physical fitness can trek gorillas with the help of a porter. A group of porters hangs out at the trailhead offices in hopes of getting employment from trekkers that would require assistance to trek through the ordeal. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; nothing should stop you from meeting Uganda’s mountain giants. A porter costs $20 for the entire hike: as much as a souvenir you would hang on your kitchen wall and not look at for years.
On a gorilla trek, expect to hike for extended hours, husking your way and crouching through misty rain forest jungle on uneven terrain. You’ll be in the company of seven other trekkers, a pair of armed rangers, and an expert tracker guide armed with a machete till you find a gorilla family and spend an hour in close proximity with them.
Whatever means you use to get to the gorilla parks in southwestern Uganda, lower your gorilla trekking expectations to the least possible level. You’ll be surprised at the terrific experience on your gorilla safari in Uganda when you don’t push everything around to fit your expectations.