Best Season for Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda : The best time to visit Uganda is dependent on the wildlife you’d like to see as the climate is good all year round. Equatorial Uganda has a pleasant warm and tropical climate with insignificant seasonal variations. There are wetter months that make certain plans and activities somewhat trickier which are worth factoring into your planning. Average temperatures in Uganda are around 21.5°C or 71°F, dropping to a minimum of 12°C or 54°F at night time, with altitude also affecting this. Being on the equator, rainfall ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 millimeters each year, but depending on time of year these can be short bursts which give rise to clearer skies.
It is noted that mountain gorillas can be tracked at any time of the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons so the tourist shouldn’t be too selective on which month to go trekking the best time to track gorillas is just after the rainy season has ended and the country side is looking green and fertile during the dry season, so on a Uganda safari the times and seasons can easily be told by a safari guide.
SEASONS AND TIMES TO VISIT THE GORILLAS
Dry season: The best time to visit Uganda is during the dry season between December and February, and between June and august when the condition is good for trekking to see mountain gorillas and even game spotting in national parks is also good during the dry season as well as between February and march .large numbers of wild life can be seen at waterholes from September through to early October the temperatures barely change throughout the seasons sitting around 75 to 86 degrees you can visit Uganda all year round
During mid-October to November: A short rains period ,gorilla trekking may not be favorable and during these months it can also be great for birding as trees and plants are flowering and bird life is visible it is even good for birding tours at the end of the rainy season photograph conditions are excellent with short rains, Best Season for Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda .
It is noted that mountain gorillas can be tracked at any time of the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons so the tourist shouldn’t be too selective on which month to go trekking the best time to track gorillas is just after the rainy season has ended and the country side is looking green and fertile during the dry season
Rainy season: The rainy season in Uganda affects people’s travels but that doesn’t mean they don’t completely travel since the season is combined of both rains and sunshine the mountain gorilla trekking goes on even during the rainy season and national parks are fully in operation during the low season of march to May and October to November most of the lodges reduce their rates to attract more tourist to book with them and even gorilla permits are reduced to attract more tourist to Uganda, Best Season for Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda .
So on your Uganda tour safari consider moving with a tour group that is aware of all these seasons and times in order to keep safe.
MUST HAVES FOR GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Gorilla Permit and Passport: These two documents must be with you at all times. The gorilla permit and passport must be present at the head offices for verification so that the authorities can ascertain whether a traveler is eligible to track the gorillas. The passport is presented to the park officials to know if the permit is yours and that you are old enough to track the gorillas. According to the gorilla trekking rules, one needs to be at least 15 years to track gorillas. Besides it’s like going to school without school fees.
Raincoat and sweater: The weather in most of the gorilla parks is very unpredictable. You can start the hike when the sun is bright and the rains come suddenly. As a tracker, you must carry a rain jacket before going out to look for the gorillas. The Volcanoes and Mgahinga National Park are located in areas of high altitude. It can get very cold especially during the wet season. A sweater will help you keep warm during and after gorilla trekking. You also need a cap to protect your head from sunlight and sunglasses to protect your eyes from the same. Hand gloves will help protect your hands from sharp tree branches.
Hiking Boots: As we mentioned earlier, gorilla trekking requires one to hike for long distances in dense forest. The forest trails can be muddy and steep hence presenting challenges to trackers. With the challenges in mind, a tracker needs to acquire shoes with good grip/traction and can cover the feet/ankles. With such shoes, one can easily walk for long hours in the forest without slipping or getting pierced
Walking stick: Gorilla tracking is very unpredictable depending on which national park you visit. The trails are not demarcated and you will find yourself hiking through thick forests, mountain slopes, river streams and valleys. We recommend that you acquire a suitable hiking stick to support and help you hike through hills and valleys. Basic walking sticks are given free of charge at the starting point but you can acquire higher-end ones at a cost.
Clothing: Not all clothes are suitable for the African jungle. The clothes for gorilla trekking should be made of light material and water proof. They should cover most parts of your body to protect you from thorns and sharp vegetation in the jungle. A tracker must wear a long sleeved top and a long pair of trousers. A tracker must also be selective of the colors. He or she should choose what is known as jungle colors – cream, brown, grey and dark green. Very bright colors make you stand out and could attract unnecessary attention from the gorillas.
Binoculars: Gorilla trekking is not all about gorillas. You will be encountering pristine wilderness with an amazing collection of wildlife including small primates, butterflies, moths, birds, antelopes, forest hogs and much more. A binocular will help you spot all these creatures as you search for the gorillas.
And even lots more coz all these help you keep safe and sound from a number of issues and even others that I have not talked about.
WHAT TO DO AFRTER GORILLA TREKKING.
Uganda has much to offer those who like a physical challenge. Visitors can hike the volcanoes of south-west Uganda, canoe the lakes of Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi, hike Mount Elgon in the east and climb the Rwenzoris (the fabled Mountains of the Moon). Thrill-seekers can take part in a wide range of high-adrenaline activities such as quad biking, horse riding, grade 5 white water rafting and kayaking on the River Nile in Jinja. This town sits on Lake Victoria and is known as the source of the Nile.
After knowing the seasons and what you need the rest is quite easy to attain and know you can go on with your other activities on the Uganda Budget Safari. And all this can be arranged for you in case of any interests at a fee
GORILLAS TREKKING FEES
| GROUP OF PEOPLE | CHARGE FEES |
| NON RESIDANCES | 700USD |
| RESIDANCES | 600USD |
| EAST AFRICA | 250USD |
