Best time to go gorilla trekking 

Mountain gorillas inhabit high-altitude tropical rainforests in Uganda and Rwanda, where the weather is highly determinant of tourism activities. The dry seasons are the greatest for gorilla trekking because less rain would spoil your special encounter with the forest giants. Best time to go gorilla trekking – Based on our past experience and knowledge, the best time to trek mountain gorillas in East Africa is usually during the dry season when the forests are less thick and the ground is less slippery.

Gorilla trekking in East Africa is done on a guided hike or trek in the deep impenetrable tropical rainforests, individuals are grouped into groups of about 8 members and are allocated to a gorilla family. The group will then be guided by well-trained ranger guides in the forest to look for the massive mountain gorillas, the trek starts from the visitors center.

Mountain Gorillas

After locating the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed an exclusive one hour to watch the gorillas in their natural habitat – a life-changing moment for many travelers. You will enjoy watching the females groom their young ones, as they feed, play and the watchful silverback keeps an eye on his group or family.

Mountain gorillas being Humans’ second closest relatives after chimpanzees, they share more than 90% of the DNA with us and you will be amazed by the sense of similarity as they try to mimic human behaviors.

The fantastic gorilla safari means proper planning and timing for your gorilla trekking safari. Knowing the Best time to go gorilla trekking in East Africa will make your journey a hustle free and memorable one.

Best time to go gorilla trekking – if you are looking forward to planning your gorilla trekking safari in East Africa, the best time to go gorilla trekking is between June to August, when the forests have less foliage and the ground and trails are less slippery. There are minimal chances of a downpour during this time, although you can’t completely rule out rain because you’ll be trekking in a rainforest. Fortunately, it never lasts long before the blue skies open up to a bright sunny day, even if it rains.

In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga, and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Parks, gorillas can only be accessed on foot, and on unmarked trails through the dense, misty jungle. The trails are drier and considerably simpler to trek on during the dry season than they are during the rainy season.

The forest canopy is where gorillas find the majority of their food, thus they spend a lot of time there. When it rains, the rainforest turns into a dense, misty jungle, making hiking difficult for photographers who want to capture those priceless moments. Because of this, the greatest time to go gorilla trekking for photographers is during the dry months, when the weather is ideal for taking the best pictures.

It is important to note that Mountain gorillas can be tracked at any time of the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons. You can trek mountain gorillas all year round however, great timing would make your gorilla safari more magical.

When should I go gorilla trekking?

In our experience, the perfect time to track gorillas is just after the rainy season has ended and the countryside is still looking green and fertile. December to February and between June and August are the best time to go gorilla trekking in East Africa. These times are the best for trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.

How difficult is gorilla trekking?

Trekking to see gorillas involves trekking challenging terrain, dense foliage, pools of water, hills, and valleys. If one is not accustomed to walking for extended periods of time, the activity may be quite difficult and exhausting, leaving one weary and with sore knees.