Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR TREKKING WITH MOUNTAIN GORILLAS?

There has been quiet many inquiries and concerns from both Uganda and Rwanda travelers on which is the best time to go for gorilla trekking Rwanda and seeing gorillas in Uganda.

Lots of arguments and opinions have been raised in various avenues and platforms such as online forums like trip advisor, lonely planet and among others. But the reality Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done / active throughout the year and clients guaranteed of the same satisfaction.

We have seen where some of the clients tend to avoid seeing gorillas during the rainy season and forget that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated deep in an Equatorial Forest where chances of rain are relatively very high on a daily basis.

However on ground, the best time for trekking gorillas both in Uganda and Rwanda is during the drier months of June, July, August September. During this time, in these months the gorilla parks experience less rainfall compared to months of April, May, October and November.

And it is mostly preferred during these months that all Uganda and Rwanda travelers are booking and confirming their gorilla trekking holidays and this has made the gorilla permits booking process as so competitive as they are issued and offered on the first come first serve criteria.

Therefore during this period Gorilla permits tend to sell out quickly and to all those interested in Gorillas trekking tours during this time/season are always advised to book their gorilla permits in advance through their entrusted licensed tours and travel agencies like gorilla holidays that has aimed at creating a lifetime of memories to all its esteemed clients with professionalism and unleveled experience.

Mountain gorillas are among the most endangered primate species in the whole world are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Virunga ranges which are shared amongst three countries and that is Uganda (Mgahinga National Park) Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park).  However democratic Republic of Congo is the only gorilla destination with both lowland and Mountain gorillas. And because these rare primates are on high demand, clients from across all corners of the world are willing pay and see or trek them. The current price of a gorilla permit is at 1500USD in Rwanda and 800USD in Uganda currently.

Uganda has a modified equatorial type of climate with two rainy seasons and because of this most travelers prefer drier seasons to be the best time for mountain gorilla trekking.

But this is right because when it’s a rainy season, hiking and trekking in the Bwindi impenetrable forest becomes hard and difficult to many because the trails become too slippery. And somehow the roads to Bwindi impenetrable National Park gorilla trekking sectors tend to become slippery as well.

But with all the debate about the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, Gorilla Holidays organizes gorilla trekking private tours at an affordable price all year round and we have recorded over 98% successful gorilla trekking safaris since our clients have been able to see gorillas on their respective arranged treks and we will continue to serve you better whether dry or wet season.

But well reminded that the success of any given gorilla trek in Uganda and Rwanda goes beyond time or season to how you are prepared. Therefore this will demand for the right gorilla trekking gear, with some minimum fitness level and if not, please hire services of a porter and you will be able to enjoy your trek.

Much as we emphasize drier seasons to be the best time to trek gorillas, global warming as changed everything and rain can come out anytime. There is no guarantee that if you come to Uganda for gorilla trekking in the mentioned month, you will not experience rain. Bwindi forest being a tropical rain forest, it can rain anytime any day so you have to prepare for all situations.

Kindly contact us for more the best time to trek gorillas or our affordable gorilla tours, so contact us via email or phone.

 

Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) & Its Effect on Safaris and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo

The whole world has been engulfed by the highly contagious Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) which started from Wuhan in China back in 2019 and has eventually spread everywhere. The virus can be spread through coughs, sneezing or talking so it can enter the human body through the nose, mouth or eyes.

To date, there is no known medicine or cure for COVID-19 and the number of infections worldwide have continued to soar forcing most countries to declare total lock-down to control / slow down the spread to enable the health systems to cope.

Africa has not been an exception and most countries have announced travel bans and total lock down. As a result, Africa’s famous safari industry has greatly been affected as bookings continue to plunge and cancellations on the increase.

Tanzania, which is one of the leading destinations for safari in Africa has not yet announced a lock down but the number of infections there has rapidly increased which is worrying to the rest of the East African countries.

Gorilla trekking is the next big thing for most travelers to Africa and because of the pandemic, the Gorilla parks have all been closed. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park will be closed up to 1^st June 2020 but the closure could be extended if the situation doesn’t significantly improve.

Congo’s Virunga, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, remain closed as the authorities continue to monitor the situation and advise on the next steps. The gorilla parks in particular were closed because the Gorillas share 98% human DNA and as such can easily contract the virus which has no known cure and they are already highly endangered species!

The survival of these Gorillas however, depends much on the revenue obtained from selling the Gorilla permit to visitors looking to take part in Gorilla trekking which supports the authorities in executing their duties to protect the park, fend off poachers and ensure their survival.

The local communities where these Gorillas live also earn a living by working as porters and selling souvenirs to visitors who go trekking. With this closure therefore and the looming Coronavirus pandemic, there is surely much at stake.

So, what next? Because of the uncertainty of this situation, some tourists have panicked to cancel their trips and lost money while others have abandoned the idea of visiting Africa altogether and you might now be contemplating what to do!

Should I cancel my safari / Gorilla trek in Africa? Is it possible to rescheduled my safari or when will the parks open?

If you are planning to go on a safari in Africa or Gorilla trek, here is what to expect and what you can do;

1.      Stay safe; the virus has no known cure yet so follow the guidelines provided by the authorities in your country and stay safe and protect everyone around you from the virus.

2.      Do not cancel your booking; if you have already booked a trip, you do not cancel. This will hurt the industry more and threatens the survival of the wildlife. You can instead reschedule your trip to a later date or move it to 2021. This is what the park authorities advise. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for example, allows tour operators to reschedule the already booked gorilla permits twice up to March 2022. This means, you can change your dates twice between now and March 2022 so you do not have to cancel your trip.

3.      Book your trip; yes, the situation is uncertain but if you have concrete plans of going on safari or Gorilla trek this year, you need to plan early and confirm your booking. There is a faint chance that this virus will be controlled and tourism will resume especially towards the end of the year (September to December)!

If that happens, there will be many looking to go and you could miss out. It is best that you book with a local operator and agree to make payment on arrival so you don’t have to commit any deposit upfront

If you are planning a Gorilla trek in particular, you can book only the Gorilla permit so that if you are unable to go, you can always reschedule or your permit can be sold and get your refund. You can get in touch with a reliable local tour operator like Gorilla Holidays Uganda for your gorilla trekking trips in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

All in all, it is important to observe the following guidelines;

·       Stay home and away from public gatherings

·       Regularly wash your hands with soap and water

·       Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% and above alcohol

·       Do not touch your mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands

·       If you have to step out, wear a face mask

·       Lastly, find some form of exercise which you can do from home.

STAY SAFE and we will travel again soon.

Uganda Named on cool 19 list for 2019 by National Geographic Traveler

Uganda makes it on the top 19 destinations list for 2019 by National Geographic Traveler

Dubbed “the cool list 2019”, the list features the 19 destinations that are believed to make the travel headlines in the coming year – 2019. Uganda stands out among other African destinations including Zimbabwe, Eritrea and KwaZulu Natal and the reasons are clear;

Gorilla trekking continues to stand out as a bucket list adventure for African travelers and there is no better destination than Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. It should be noted that after Rwanda doubled its Gorilla permit price from $750 to a whopping $1,500 in 2017, Uganda Gorilla Permits remained at $600.

That, coupled with the closure of the Virunga National Park in Congo due to insecurity, leaves Uganda as the hot spot for mountain Gorilla trekking in Africa! However, there’s more to explore and adventure in Uganda considering the country has 10 National Parks, the source of the Nile River and a host of adrenaline activities in Jinja, diverse cultures and the friendliest people on the African continent!

You can read about the full National Geographic cool list 2019 here. http://www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/smart-travel/features/the-cool-list-2019/