Mid-range temperatures and classic dry season with game viewing make these months a popular time to visit East Africa on self-drive tours. December is always a popular month for travel to parks across Africa, so it is always advisable to book your trip well in advance. Being tropical rain forests, there’s a good chance of experiencing some rain all year-round.
Just roll it up and put it in your backpack when you’re done. Come trek mountain gorillas in the wild in either Uganda or Rwanda. Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where the iconic mountain gorilla can be reliably tracked on foot.
The rain rarely lets up at Bwindi, with the heaviest falls occurring from March to May and October to November. Pack plenty of wet-weather gear to combat the drizzle. The forest’s mild climate is easier to enjoy in the drier months (June to August and December to February).
Is mountain gorilla trekking safe?
Yes mountain gorilla tracking is safe. A mountain gorilla is an endangered species and can only be seen in three African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the interaction with the gorilla families requiring visitors to hike, the terrain differs from path to path. During the rainy season the ground can become very slippery, making the trek a little more challenging. But whether there’s rain or sunshine, the gorilla trekking experiences run every day. You’ll need to drink a lot during the trek so make sure you pack enough water into your backpack.
Visitors are generally advised to keep a seven-meter distance from the gorilla family however it’s not uncommon for members of the gorilla group to walk or brush past you. What makes Bwindi so special isn’t just gorilla trekking with one of fourteen habituated gorilla groups, but the abundance of other wildlife that lives in the park.
Bwindi affords visitors the opportunity of seeing colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, over 350 bird species and 120 mammal species, including the African elephant and striped jackal. Where to find mountain gorillas a silver back mountain gorilla and his family go about their day in the tropical rain forest they call home.
Gorilla trekking is a year-round activity
Tracking gorillas is best when Bwindi’s trails are not so sodden and there is more sunshine (June to August and December to February). Slippery trails and occasional mist make wildlife watching more challenging during the wetter months of the year.
However there are certain months that are regarded to be better than others. The treks can be tough and take a few hours so it’s always advisable to pack energy bars, chocolate, and sugar-coated snacks. Many of the luxury camps will provide their guests with snacks but it doesn’t hurt to bring your favorites long.
What to pack for Gorilla Trekking
It is advisable to bring along some insect repellent in order to keep these creatures at bay. Sunscreen is a must, especially for those with a fair complexion, as the rays of the sun can be harsh. Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the higher altitudes especially Bwindi.
When tracking gorillas layering your clothing is the best idea and we suggest: long sleeved shirts, cotton or gore tex trousers, strong walking shoes with ankle support, socks that you can tuck your trousers into, light gloves to protect your hands from thorns and nettles, a hat and sunglasses to provide protection against the sun and a waterproof jacket in neutral colours may come in handy in the moist mountains.
Who should trek mountain gorillas?
Families traveling with children are advised that although some camps accept children of all ages, the age restriction for gorilla trekking is fifteen years. Gorillas have been wrongfully labeled as aggressive and volatile animals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Gorillas are in fact very gentle and shy animals that maintain their composure until threatened.
Visitors are instructed to sit down quietly and not make any sudden movements, as this can often surprise the group and result in the given the costs of gorilla trekking, most visitors tend to only do one trek during their stay, and will more often than not choose a habituation trek which affords them a four-hour visit versus the one-hour gorilla trek.
Either experience though is unforgettable. Insect repellent to avoid being cut and scratched by branches and vines, a durable pair of gloves are essential as well as a wide-brimmed bush hat that offers protection from the rays of the sun. A life-changing experience awaits you in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
Gorilla Habituation Experience is offered in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda and is a more exclusive experience with only four people in a group. It’s an all-day affair, and although relatively more expensive than a gorilla trekking experience, the advantage is the extended visiting hours with the family.
This experience is perfect for those gorilla enthusiasts or wildlife photographers. There is a lot of planning and preparation involved in a gorilla habituation experience safari. It’s important to know that all the gorilla groups visited in East Africa have been habituated over a period of time – roughly around two years. This means that these groups of gorillas have become accustomed to the presence of humans, allowing these incredible animals to go about their day without being perturbed by their human visitors.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is a vast mountainous wilderness that’s perfect for gorillas. Given the possibility of it raining on your trek, it’s best to wear clothing that will dry with the wind try to select khaki or natural colored clothing to blend in with the surroundings. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Rwanda forms part of the Virunga Conservation region and is one of the most popular gorilla destinations.
Experiences offered in this region include gorilla trekking with one of ten habituated gorilla groups, hiking the 3800-meter Karisimbi Volcano, visits to the renowned Dian Fossey Tomb, The Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, cultural village tours and cave tours. Other animals to be seen in the park include golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffalo, hyena and over 300 bird species.
It is by far the most up-close experience in Africa, coming face-to-face with one of the rarest animals on earth. The mountain gorilla is the world’s most endangered great ape, found only in protected forests in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The last census estimated the world population of mountain gorillas to be a total of 1068 with the greatest increase showing in Uganda.
Experience, you are assigned to a gorilla group that fits your level of fitness and your ability to withstand the tougher gorilla treks. After splitting into groups of eight people, you head off on your trek through the forest in search of your assigned gorilla family. You are accompanied by researches and trackers who share their knowledge of these incredible animals with you.
Depending on their location, you could trek for up to three hours before finding them. Once you locate the family, you will have one hour to watch them as they go about their daily life and capture this incredible interaction on camera. After extensive research, several scientists have concluded that humans and gorillas share 98% of their genetic makeup, making the gorilla species our closest living relative.
Living high up in the mountains, mountain gorillas are exposed to extremely cold weather conditions and are therefore equipped with long black hair to retain heat, whilst gorillas living on the lower mountain escarpment are much smaller and have a brownish-grey coat and a well-defined temple-bone. The only real predator that a mountain gorilla faces is that of an armed human poacher. Visit Rwanda mountain gorilla Safari.