Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda during the rainy season.
Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. As a result of the discounts that are made available by service providers, gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda during the rainy season might be a chance to save money on expenses such as lodging, transportation, and gorilla permits.
When it comes to going on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda, there is no particular season to choose from since you can be certain of seeing mountain gorillas at any time of the year. On the other hand, the rainy season in Uganda and Rwanda typically occurs between the months of March and May or from late October to November, provided that all other parameters stay unchanged.
Additionally, this is the least busy time of year for tourism in Uganda. It is well known that the Virunga region receives rain throughout the whole year. In spite of this, the rainfall is particularly heavy during this season, and even the thick network of rivers is overflowing over their banks.
Rainfall in the Virunga region often amounts to 2390 millimeters per year on average, which facilitates the growth of various plant zones that are essential to the survival of a wide variety of wild species. Primate creatures are found in the Virunga region, and some of the animals that call this region home include mountain gorillas, olive baboons, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and other primates.
Additional forest inhabitants include a wide diversity of bird species, including unique species of the Albertine Rift, reptiles, butterflies, and a wide range of tree species, among other things.
When you trek to the location where the mountain gorillas may be resting or eating, you should be prepared for some rough terrain since the geography of the Virunga region is mostly composed of volcanic features.
During the severe rainy season in this region, the temperature may drop to around 7 degrees Celsius, so you should prepare yourself for weather that is below freezing for most of the day.
For this reason, it is important to remember to bring along some sweaters, ponchos, and other types of warmers while you are packing for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda during the rainy season.
Where in Uganda and Rwanda is the best place to go gorilla trekking during the rainy season?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This national park is located in the most southwestern part of Uganda, and it is covered with forests. The dense vegetation that has developed over the course of time has reached its peak in this national park that is covered by forests and spans an area of around 327 square kilometers.
The huge forest that is home to about half of the world’s mountain gorilla population is comprised of mountain gorillas. A total of around 18 gorilla families are now available for tourists to see, and two more families have been reserved for the gorilla habituation experience program.
The reason why Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has been home to such a diverse collection of flora and wildlife for such a long period of time is due to the fact that the forest has been there for so many years. The age of the Bwindi forest is estimated to be around 25,000 years. As a result of the dry circumstances that imposed themselves on Africa during the ice age era, it became one of the refugee places for species.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to a diverse range of forest inhabitants, including more than 350 species of birds, over 300 kinds of trees, 88 months of the year, 51 species of reptiles, 310 species of butterflies, and other species. Furthermore, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to about ten different kinds of primates, such as chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey-checked mangabey, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and a variety of other primates.
Mgahinga National Park
Although this national park is very tiny in area, it is nonetheless considered a biosphere reserve. The Mgahinga National Park is home to several mountain gorillas that are still alive and well in the world. However, there is just one gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi family at this time. In the past, it was common knowledge that this family would wander into Rwanda.
This national park is located on the southern slopes of three of the six famous volcanoes that make up the Virunga, which are located in the Virunga Mountains. Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Sabyinyo are some of the volcanoes that are included in this group. On their highlands, it is possible to go on an expedition trek that lasts for around eight hours (return trip), but you will need to request it for them to provide you with a ranger guide to accompany you.
Mgahinga National Park is home to some of the most genuine natural scenery in the world, which is today difficult to find.
An assortment of other primates, such as golden monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons, and others, call this location their home.
In particular, the Gorge route, which leads to Mountain Sabyinyo, is home to a wide variety of bird species in this National Park that is covered in forest. There are now around 115 different species of birds that have been documented, but the number is continually growing as more study is conducted on birds. There are a variety of species that may be seen in this area, including the Rwenzori Turaco, the Kivu Ground Thrush, the Malachite birds, and the Montane Double-collared Sunbird.
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas can only be found in Volcanoes National Park, which is their only known habitat. The location of this national park may be found in the northwestern region of Rwanda. Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Karisimbi are five of the six famous Virunga Volcanoes that are scattered over its terrain.
In addition to the golden, blue, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, black and white colobus, and other monkeys, this National Park is home to a wide variety of other primates that are unlike any other.
Over three hundred different kinds of birds have been identified in this forest, including those that are peculiar to the Albertine Rift.
The Amahoro gorilla family, the Hirwa gorilla family, the Susa gorilla family, and a few others are among the about fifteen gorilla families that are available to tourists in this national park, which is characterized by heavy forest cover. To get access to any of these gorilla families, it is highly recommended that you obtain a gorilla trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board rather than going to any of these families.
When it comes to the rainy season in Uganda and Rwanda, why should you book a gorilla trekking safari?
When the rainy season arrives, there is less competition for gorilla trekking permits. As a result, you may have the opportunity to recommend which gorilla region or group you would want to pick, depending on the things that you are interested in.
Imagine that you want to have your own personal adventure experience, and you want to shut off a gorilla trekking group or family on your own. It is possible for you to carry out this activity throughout the wet season. You could see opportunities that have not yet been reserved, which is the reason for this.
Imagine for a moment that you would want to have no one preventing you from taking pleasure in this experience and capturing stunning photographs or films without causing any damage. Should this be the case, you make the most of the wet season.
There are times when service providers provide discounts on permits during the rainy season for a variety of services, including automobile rental, driver guide costs, and accommodations.
It is anticipated that there would be a greater number of births during the rainy season, even the delivery of newborns, since there will be less disruption by invaders. The mountain gorillas do not seem to care one bit about the people who come to view them.
How much does it cost to go on a gorilla trekking safari during the seasons of rain? | Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
There is a wide variety of prices for gorilla trekking permits during the rainy season, accommodating all budgets, whether they are luxury, mid-range, or low.
Safari quotations may vary for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:
The total number of days spent hiking with gorillas
The price of a gorilla safari increases in proportion to the number of days that you spend on safari. This is because service providers such as hotels, vehicle rental agencies, and others charge on a daily basis.
The number of individuals who must pay to participate in the gorilla trekking safari
When you go with a larger group of people when you go gorilla trekking, the cost of the safari will be lower for each individual. Most of the goods that are included in the safari package, such as the rental of a car, the charge for the driver guide, the cost of petrol, and other expenses, are shared by you. When you go by yourself, you are responsible for paying all of the costs associated with the safari package.
The rainy season is considered the low season, which means that businesses such as vehicle rental, lodging, and other services may provide discounts during this time.
When paired with gorilla trekking, the number of activities also includes
The cost of the safari will increase according to the number of activities that are included with gorilla trekking. Activities such as chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, wildlife drives, boat safaris, seeing the source of the Nile River, nature walks, and other similar activities are all acceptable options.
Can you tell me how much it costs to get a permit to go gorilla trekking during the rainy season? | Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
The public is able to purchase gorilla permits during the low season, and there is a possibility that they may be lowered. However, this is not a guarantee. These licenses for gorilla trekking often come with a set of restrictions and conditions that pertain to their acquisition.
Currently, the normal fee for Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is $1500 per person each trek. This is the typical rate. At the moment, the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is equal to $800 per person for each journey.
Among the expenses associated with gorilla trekking permits are
Prices for ranger guides
Every gorilla trekking excursion is led by a ranger guide through the jungle. The knowledge that these rangers share on the mountain gorilla families is a wealth of information that has been acquired over the course of time. It is a common desire among all individuals to have a ranger who is both skilled and experienced accompany them on their jungle excursion. However, it is terrible that these rangers need to be compensated in order to urge them to continue with this mission that is so altruistic.
Fees for entering the park
You are required to pay park fees for each national park that you visit, and these payments are already included in the price of the gorilla trekking permit. Both the preservation of the park and its upkeep are covered by this charge.
Medicine from the Gorilla
Even though mountain gorillas are wild and should seek care in the forest, this is not the case. This is particularly true when the gorillas are severely wounded; the gorilla physicians’ teams step in to provide therapy to the gorillas to ensure that they can live.
There are occasions when mountain gorillas are subjected to general examinations, which include the collection of samples of their feces or blood in order to determine their current state of health. This is done to ensure the continued survival of mountain gorillas.
Mountain Gorilla Habituation and Research Investigations
As the world continues to change, there is a pressing need for further study on mountain gorillas. There has been a significant amount of information uncovered on mountain gorillas since the time of the American primatologist Dian Fossey.
Conservation efforts for mountain gorillas are being aided by this. A financial investment is required for even the process of gorilla habituation. The term “gorilla habituation” refers to the process of acclimating wild mountain gorillas to the presence of people.
The more money that is put into the gorilla fund, the more searches that are conducted. There is a portion of this money that is included in the purchase of the gorilla permit.
Help out with the community initiatives in your area.
When it comes to the conservation of mountain gorillas and other forest environments, the local population has to be brought on board. Regrettably, there are instances in which mountain gorillas enter the neighborhood and consume the food that citizens have grown.
They provide a portion of the yearly revenues from the sale of gorilla permits to the general population as a kind of compensation. This money is used to fund their many programs, which include the construction of water sources, schools, and health facilities, among other things. As a consequence of this, the neighborhood residents are in favor of the conservation effort for mountain gorillas.
When is the most prudent time to make reservations for gorilla permits during the wet season? | Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
Even though gorilla trekking is available throughout the year, you must make a reservation for your gorilla permit at least six months before the date of your trip. This is done to reduce the likelihood of you being anxious about purchasing your gorilla permit.
Although it is often believed that there is a lower demand for gorilla permits during the rainy season, this is only true in certain instances. The seasons fluctuate; therefore, if you want to feel secure, you should obtain your permit for the rainy season in advance.
If you top up your gorilla permit thirty days before the date of your trip, you may be able to purchase it in installments. This is required when you acquire your gorilla permit ninety days before the date of your journey.
If you cannot renew your gorilla permit within the allotted time limit, you will be able to keep it since it will not be made available to the general public again.
Packing for Gorilla Trekking During the Rainy Season: What You Need to Bring
When trekking through the jungle in pursuit of mountain gorillas, it is important to wear the appropriate rainproof clothing.
It is important to have Safari boots with you so that you can protect your feet from sharp objects that may be found in the bush.
To protect your hands from stinging nettles that you could contact with, you should wear Jack Garden gloves.
Be sure to bring a lamp with you in case the lights go out throughout the night. Solar power is used by the majority of lodges in this region for both lighting and water heating.
Keep some cash with you so that you may convert it into the local currency and buy whatever you want on the ground.
Have a camera with you so that you may shoot pictures of your encounter with the mountain gorillas. You should take pleasure in these recollections.
In the forest, you should protect your body from potentially harmful surfaces by wearing long-sleeved shirts and convertible pants.
A bag that you may use to transport your belongings while you are in the bush, so that they do not get dispersed.
You should apply sunscreen to your skin in order to shield it from the intense sun rays that you could encounter on your journey to the gorilla trekking area.
Use bug spray in your room in the event that it is infested with insects.
A travel adaptor and charger if you need a recharge for your electronic devices.
There should be a supply of spare batteries available in the event that the ones you have run out while you are walking with the mountain gorillas.
Because these places tend to be cool in the early morning and late afternoon, you should bring some warmers, such as a sweater or poncho. Warmers are need to be present in order to prevent one from being chilly. Footwear that may be changed into after a long day spent in the wild, Flip-flops
Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is, without a question, one of the most popular tourist activities in Africa. Both of these parks are located in Uganda and Rwanda, respectively.
Due to the expenses that are involved in organizing a gorilla trekking trip, a great number of travelers, regardless of their financial situation, would want to make the most of their experience. Consequently, a great number of individuals will constantly be on the lookout for the most favorable time to undertake mountain gorilla trekking, which includes avoiding gorilla trekking during the wet seasons.
The wet seasons are not the best time to go gorilla trekking. | Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
It is recommended that visitors refrain from going gorilla trekking during the wet seasons for a variety of reasons. However, before we get into the specifics, it is important to note that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a tropical rainforest that is subject to rain throughout the whole year.
Despite the fact that we have typical warm and rainy seasons, it is possible for it to rain at any moment, hour, or minute in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park gets an amount of more than one thousand millimeters of precipitation annually. Numerous visitors make an effort to avoid gorilla trekking during the rainy seasons for a variety of reasons; nevertheless, gorilla trekking may be done throughout the whole year since gorilla rangers and guides are prepared to deal with any circumstance that may arise.
The treacherous terrain is one of the reasons why people avoid visiting during the wet seasons. When the terrain is so slick, it is difficult to climb or trek in pursuit of a certain family of habituated gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park because the park’s habitats are steep.
The procedure of gorilla trekking is made more difficult by the fact that it involves climbing up and down hills in Bwindi. The presence of rain may also make it difficult to see gorillas and take photographs of them, which is another way in which it can undermine the whole experience.
The roads leading to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are notoriously treacherous, which makes gorilla trekking much more difficult during the wet seasons. This may be even more frustrating. In the event of rain, the majority of roads leading to Bwindi, particularly those located in the southern region of Nkuringo and Rushaga, become inaccessible.
In addition, the route that connects Buhoma and Ruhija is impacted during the wet seasons; nevertheless, the Ugandan government is working to improve the infrastructure in order to make it easier for tourists to navigate the country. | Trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
