Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda during dry season.
The months of June through September and December through February are often considered to be the dry season for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, provided that all other parameters stay unchanged. Despite the fact that rain may fall at any time and without prior notice in this region, the months in question are renowned for getting less precipitation, which makes the paths easier to navigate.
It is during the dry season that even the other animals that live in the forest, such as butterflies and monkeys, are more prevalent. Every year, this region gets an average of 2390 millimeters of precipitation. March to May and October to November are the months that get the most precipitation, however the seasons may shift at any moment owing to changes in the climate.
It is possible for temperatures in the Virunga region to dip as low as seven degrees Celsius or to climb to around twenty degrees above zero.
Even though other Uganda safari activities are also in great demand, gorilla trekking permits during the dry seasons are very competitive. This is because of the strong demand for these permits. Therefore, at this time of year, it is more popular to combine gorilla trekking with other activities that are part of a Uganda safari, such as game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and a trip to the source of the River Nile.
There are a number of places in Uganda and Rwanda where you may go gorilla trekking.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
When it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular option. One of the relics of the ice age era, which was a time when Africa was subjected to dry circumstances, is this national park known for its forests. As a consequence of this, this forest, which is thought to be around thirty thousand years old, provided a shelter for a wide variety of unusual flora and wildlife.
This national park is home to over 300 different types of trees, ten different species of primates, 310 different species of butterflies, 51 different species of reptiles, and much more. There are around 18 gorilla families that are exposed to tourists in this national park, and the mountain gorillas are the most remarkable primates that can be found there.
Over three hundred and fifty different kinds of birds call this area home, seven of which are on the IUCN’s red list. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to about 23 of the 24 bird species that are considered to be indigenous to the Albertine Rift environment. An avid birder could be able to recognize more than one hundred different species of birds in a single day. The Western Green Tinkerbird, the Mountain Masked Apalises, the Red-faced Woodland Warblers, the Rwenzori Batis, the Rwenzori Hill, and the Collared Apalis are some of the endangered birds that you could have the opportunity to observe.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga National Park is another location in Uganda that is home to mountain gorillas, despite the fact that its land area is very modest. Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Sabyinyo are the three unique volcanoes that serve as a background for the park, which has a total area of 33.7 square kilometers of land.
This park is known to be home to a variety of various primates, including but not limited to golden monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons, and other different species. However, it also provides access to some of the unspoiled settings in this region.
The Nyakagezi Family is the only known gorilla family to reside in this national park, which is its only known location. It was difficult to get gorilla permits for this park in the past because mountain gorillas would wander into Rwanda and remain there for extended periods of time. This made it difficult to protect the gorillas. According to recent reports, these mountain gorillas have been residing in Mgahinga National Park, and it is acceptable to make reservations for gorilla permits in advance.
It is also possible to trek to the peak of each of these two different volcanoes in a single day, which would take eight hours for a round journey. Once you reach the peak of Gahinga mountain, you will be able to take in a panoramic view of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda from the same vantage point.
Mgahinga National Park is home to around 115 different kinds of birds, making it an excellent location for birdwatching. Some of the species that you may be able to see are the White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, the Lagden’s Bush Shrike, the Rwenzori Turaco, and the Malachite sunbird, amongst others.
Volcanoes National Park
Some of the mountain gorillas who are still alive in Rwanda make their home in this tropical national park, which is located in the northwestern region of the country. You are required to get a gorilla trekking permission from the Rwanda Development Board in order to have the opportunity to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
At the moment, Volcanoes National Park is home to around fifteen gorilla families that are there for the purpose of tourism. Volcanoes National Park is home to a wide variety of primates, some of which are blue monkeys, golden monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and others.
There are approximately 300 different kinds of birds that have been documented as being inhabitants of Volcanoes National Park, including the unique species of the Albertine Rift. One of the additional activities that you may participate in during your tour of the park is birdwatching.
A journey through the last steps of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist and mountain gorilla hero, to the location where her remains are believed to be. Mount Gahinga, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Karisimbi are some of the Virunga Volcanoes that are suitable for mountaineering.
In Uganda and Rwanda, when should one make reservations for gorilla trekking permits during the dry season?
The easiest method to decrease the likelihood of finding yourself in a state of stress in order to secure a gorilla permit at the eleventh hour is to make your reservation in advance. Nevertheless, this in addition causes you to get disorganized since even other safari facilities, such as accommodations, need to be scheduled in advance.
When it comes to purchasing permits for the high or dry season, we recommend that our customers do it at least six months in advance, particularly if they are traveling with other people.
This may also provide an option to acquire your gorilla permits in installments; nevertheless, it is essential that you make sure to top out your account ninety days prior to the date of your walk.
Making a reservation for your gorilla trekking permit at the eleventh hour causes you to feel anxious and restricts the number of options available to you for the greatest services to get throughout your safari in Africa.
During the dry seasons, it is more difficult to hope to get a gorilla permit on the day of the trekking trip since you are unaware of whether or not there will be a no-show or a potential last-minute gorilla permit opening.
When it comes to Uganda, the odds of securing gorilla trekking permits at the last minute are even more difficult. This is because passes in Bwindi Impenetrable National park are allocated by area. Therefore, in order to avoid having to get up early in order to catch up with the briefing, you are need to spend the night in close proximity to or inside the locations where your gorilla permits are booked.
Should you be uncertain about the availability of gorilla permits, we strongly recommend that you refrain from going to the parks. This is because you can wind up spending more money on your gorilla trekking safari than you had originally planned. You also have the option of sending a request for assistance to a professional trip operator such as Encounter Africa Safaris.
During the dry season, how long does it take to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas may be difficult to see in Uganda and Rwanda, which makes gorilla trekking in those countries an uncertain experience. It is not uncommon for visitors to spend around three quarters of the day between two hours following the day’s beginning.
There are a number of variables that might affect the amount of time it takes to identify mountain gorillas, including
The closeness of the food source for mountain gorillas
This means that the mountain gorilla walk will take longer if the site of the mountain gorilla food is farther away. A family of mountain gorillas will take over a certain region for a period of time, and then, after they have exhausted their food supply, they will look for other feeding grounds.
In their natural environment, mountain gorillas are vegetarians that consume vegetation throughout the day and carry it with them during the night, despite the fact that their bodies are rather small. Among the foods that they like eating the most are bamboo, soft stems, fruits, branches, leaves, tubers, and so on.
In the event that there is a severe conflict among the mountain gorillas.
The members of the gorilla family may seek safety in the more remote parts of the forest in the event that they are attacked by another gorilla family and are defeated. This would cause the gorilla trip to be extended. If there is a disagreement among the members of the gorilla family and there is a severe battle going on inside the family, the gorillas may break up, and each troupe works its way out. It could be difficult to track down this gorilla family as well.
There is a possibility that a joyful family may be spotted celebrating, and it might not be too difficult to find them, but this is by no means certain. At times, you can even be fortunate enough to have a specific gorilla family pay you a visit just outside your apartment.
Existing weather conditions in the region at the moment
It is common for mountain gorillas to be forced to go to the slopes during the harsh rainy season. As a result of their large size, they have a tendency to steer clear of very wet terrain or places that are slippery. During the dry months, mountain gorillas often eat closer to the ground because their food is easier to get and walking is not as arduous. This is because the food is easier to reach.
How quickly the gorilla hikers were moving
The amount of time you have to view the gorillas may be extended if you are assigned to a gorilla trekking party that include individuals who move slowly. People that are swift and active, on the other hand, may move more quickly, which means that they may also be able to locate the mountain gorillas more quickly. In order to ensure that no one is overlooked when one is in the woods, the ranger guide will walk at the same speed as the slowest trekker.
Which of the Two Countries, Uganda or Rwanda, Offers the Best Opportunities for Gorilla Trekking?
You forget all the difficulties you may have encountered in order to make your goal of gorilla trekking a reality when you finally have the chance to interact with mountain gorillas.
There is no comparison to the sensation you receive after encountering gorillas, regardless of whether you go gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda. This moment, when you stare into the dark brown eyes of these gentle giants, penetrates your very essence and causes you to feel a profound sadness. In spite of this, there are a few things that might make the experience of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda quite different from one another.
The price gap between gorilla permits
The price of gorilla trekking licenses in Rwanda is $1500 per person each trek, whereas the price of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda is $800 per person per trip. Rwanda is among the countries that provide gorilla trekking permits.
The distance traveled to reach the locations where gorilla trekking is offered
With twisting roads, the journey from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park takes around three hours. On the other hand, the journey from Entebbe International Airport to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park takes approximately eight to nine hours.
There are around 19 gorilla families in Uganda that are available to tourists, but Rwanda only has approximately 15 gorilla families that are accessible to tourists at the moment.
In addition to gorilla trekking, Uganda offers a variety of other activities that may be combined with gorilla trekking. Some of these activities include game drives, white water rafting, seeing the source of the Nile River, chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, and hiking, etc. Rwanda, on the other hand, is home to amazing landscapes, activities such as chimpanzee trekking, Rwanda birdwatching, game drives, and tours of Kigali city, amongst other things.
Rwanda’s welcome for briefing before to gorilla trekking is more defined and structured than Uganda’s. Uganda’s greeting is more relaxed and less formal.
Regulations Regarding the Hiking of Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
Volunteer to remain behind in the event that you get infected with a contagious illness. Training gorillas are, unfortunately, vulnerable to the illnesses that are being discussed here.
There should be no garbage in the forest since it is where the mountain gorillas get their food. It is possible that the character of the forest will change if you dump waste that cannot be broken down.
When you come face to face with mountain gorillas, you should not encircle them. This gives them the impression that they are being ambushed.
In order to prevent the gorillas from stealing your food or smoking, you need remain at least 300 meters away from them while you are eating or smoking. As wild creatures, they must not be dependent on the provision that humans provide for them.
It is strictly illegal to spit on plants since doing so might potentially contaminate the food that the mountain gorillas consume, so exposing them to pathogens.
When you find the mountain gorillas, you should position yourself around eight meters away from them in order to minimize the likelihood of transmitting infections to either them or to you.
It is very banned to provoke the mountain gorillas since they could get angry as a result of what you do to them on purpose.
In order to avoid frightening the mountain gorillas, it is best to avoid using flash photography while shooting images in front of them. Mountain gorillas are often frightened when they are in the company of new things.
Prior to locating the gorilla, it is imperative that you put on a mask. It is required to be at least N95 as a precautionary step to lessen the likelihood of the mountain gorillas contracting the coronavirus illness. Additionally, before entering the bush to begin gorilla trekking, make sure that your footwear has been well cleaned.
Children who are 15 years old are not permitted to participate in gorilla trekking due to the constraints that are associated with this activity. These constraints include the time at which the mountain gorillas are located. One must have a certain amount of patience, which may be challenging to manage while one is looking for a kid. It is possible that you will have to trek in order to reach the mountain gorillas, despite the fact that the jungle is treacherous. If the youngster is of this age, this can be difficult for them to do.
The mountain gorillas can only be with you for a maximum of one hour after you have located them. Once that is complete, they are required to proceed with their regular activities.
People do not like going on gorilla treks during the wet seasons; thus, we will make an effort to examine the benefits of going on gorilla treks during the dry seasons. June, July, August, September, December, January, and February are the months that are traditionally considered to be dry seasons in Uganda and Rwanda respective.
There are three national parks in Uganda and Rwanda that are popular destinations for gorilla trekking: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. These months have been characterized as the optimum time to visit these parks. For the purpose of enabling all those who are interested in gorilla trekking to make an informed choice, it is important to investigate both the benefits and the drawbacks of gorilla trekking during dry seasons.
