Best time to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park?

Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the top amazing tourist destination in Africa, the park famous for being a home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas and offering the most amazing mountain gorilla trekking experience through its numerous habituated gorilla families. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a UNESCO world heritage site located in southern west Uganda in kanungu district, Bwindi impenetrable national park offers an excellent mountain gorilla trekking experience and other activities like bird watching, nature walks through its equatorial forests.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes the tourist through beautiful habituated gorilla families which are situated in four sectors of the park that is

  • Buhoma sector located in northern region of the park, trekking in this sector you will encounter mountain gorilla families such Habinyanja, mubare and Rushegura. This sector is best for bird viewing and more accessible from Queen Elizabeth national park and kibale national park, generally it is more accessible than other sectors thus Best time to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park?.
  • Rushaga sector located in the southern region of Bwindi, trekking through this sector you will come across one of these 5 gorilla families that is Bweza, Busingye, Nshongi, Kahungye and Mishaya. In this sector you can also participate in birdwatching and batwa cultural trail.
  • Nkuringo sector located in the higher altitude of the park, this sector only contains one gorilla family that is the magical Nkuringo gorilla family.
  • Ruhija sector located in the eastern part of Bwindi, this sector is the coldest area in the park hosting 3 families that is Bitukura, Kyaguriro family, Oruzogo family.

When planning a mountain gorilla safari to Bwindi forest national park, the best time to visit the park is one of many crucial questions asked by the tourists. This article is here to answer all your burning questions about the best time to visit the home of the largest population of the primates.

Best time to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park?
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking

Uganda the pearl of Africa is one of the top tourist destination in Africa, Uganda is made up of rugged topography and crossed by the equator which influences its climate. Because of the equator Uganda generally experiences equatorial climate with two rain seasons that is a short season in the months of October to November and long season in the months of mid-march to May. Uganda always receives clear skies throughout the year with annual rainfall ranges of 1000-2000 millimeters and average temperatures of 21.5°C, temperatures unusually drop to 57° F.

Mountain gorilla trekking and other safari activities like nature walks and batwa trail experience in Bwindi impenetrable are offered in the park throughout the year, the best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park depends on season. 

High season (peak season)

High season is always the best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park for mountain gorilla trekking and other safari activities, dry season months of June to September, December to February when the park is drier is the best time to visit the park. In Bwindi it rains on a regular basis  but in the dry months the park receives less rainfall, the trails used climb through the thick forests are passable as they are  less slippery and muddy.

Most tourists chose to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park in these months because of the dryness in the park but it is very risky as the gorilla trekking permits are on a higher demand and the accommodations are fully booked. High season happen in dry months which are sunny which is very conducive but it might get extra sunny affecting your skin so you should carry a hut and sun screen lotion with you. Another advantage of visiting Bwindi in this season chances of getting malaria fever are slims since there is few mosquitoes, though sunny it gets cold in the night so you carry a pair of warm clothes with you. In this season December is the busiest month in the park more suitable for luxury tourists and while visiting Bwindi in this season you will encounter other tourists in the park.

Low Season

Low season takes place in the heavy rain receiving months of March, may, September and November. In this season the park is misty and wet, this period is best for bird lovers as many migratory birds come to the park and for budget tourists as permits and lodges are offered at discounted prices. The months of March, April, May and November receive heavy rainfall, making the trails to be impassable (the trails become slippery and muddy). If you are planning on visiting the park in these months you should carry warm and water proof clothing with you getting wet and cold is expected. In the low seasons lodges charge low prices and some of them close down, it is a good time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park since the lodges are not over booked when compared to high season even the gorilla permits are not on a very high demand.

Visiting Bwindi impenetrable national park is best in the dry months of June to August and December to February, though because of dryness of these months. The park receive a large number of tourists thus regarding these months to be peak season most suitable for luxury tourists as many tourists trek in this season. However, wet months of October to November and March to May are good for tourists intending to do mountain gorilla trekking and also bird watching, though the trails are impassable this season is more fitting for budget tourist thus Best time to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park?.

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