Best Time to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Fewer Crowds

If you are searching for the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda with fewer crowds, you’re likely aiming for a more intimate, immersive, and less rushed encounter with mountain gorillas one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. Uganda, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, offers exceptional trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. While gorilla trekking is possible year-round, the secret to avoiding crowds lies in timing your visit during the “shoulder seasons” periods just outside peak travel months when conditions are still favorable but visitor numbers drop significantly. This guide breaks down when to go, why it matters, and how to plan even a 1-day gorilla trek from Kigali all tailored for travelers seeking exclusivity, better availability, and a deeper connection with nature.

Understanding Uganda’s Gorilla Trekking Seasons

Uganda has two main dry seasons and two wet (rainy) seasons:

• Dry Seasons (Peak Tourist Periods)
  • June to September
  • December to February
    These are the most popular months due to easier hiking conditions, but they also attract the highest number of visitors.
• Wet Seasons (Low Tourist Periods)
  • March to May (long rains)
  • October to November (short rains)
    These months see fewer travelers, making them ideal for those seeking solitude—but trails can be muddy and challenging.

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking with Fewer Crowds

The best balance between good trekking conditions and fewer crowds is found in the shoulder months:

✔ Late February to early March

✔ Late May to early June

✔ October to mid-December

During these periods:

• Gorilla permits are more available (even last-minute bookings possible)
• Lodges offer discounts or better room availability
• Trails are less congested, allowing a more personal gorilla experience
• Forests are lush and vibrant—ideal for photography

Pro Tip: Early June and November are particularly underrated they sit right between seasons, offering a sweet spot of manageable weather and minimal tourist traffic.

What is included in our Uganda Gorilla Safari Cost

All Eco Adventure Safaris gorilla trekking packages are all-inclusive of gorilla permits, accommodation as well and transport to and from Entebbe or Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We prefer assisting with all components of the tour or your holiday so that while traveling with us in Africa, your holiday is stress-free having trusted the experts to do it for you.

Gorilla permit and what is included or excluded

A gorilla permit is a card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows you to go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park home to endangered mountain gorillas to have a chance of viewing them for one hour. Gorilla permits are only valid for the date booked and once expired cannot be used. Make sure that you are available on the day of trekking. This gorilla permit includes spending one hour with a given habituated mountain gorilla family. During this one hour, you will be allowed to take still photos as well as simple videos. Please read our dos and don’ts while with mountain gorillas. You will also listen to an informative talk from your guide or the day. Included as well are the services of a ranger guide and tourism police to ensure that security in the forest is guaranteed. The ranger from Uganda Wildlife Authority will be carrying a gun probably an AK47 to scare away any stray animal that may misbehave along the way. Park entry fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and or Mgahinga national park is also included in the pre-purchased gorilla permits and is valid for 24 hours.

How to book Uganda Gorilla Permits?

Travel advice for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at info@ecoadventuresafaris.com so that we check for the availability of gorilla habituation permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. Booking permit for gorilla trekking is advised to book your Gorilla permits in advance at least 2-3 months prior your visit given the fact few permits are available per day and sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.

What is the best time for Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done throughout the year and the best time to do gorilla trekking in Africa is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

What to pack for Gorilla Trekking?

During gorilla tracking, you will need a comfortable, hard-wearing, pair of walking shoes or boots.  Conditions are generally very muddy in the forest when it is raining. There are uphill sections which may be quite steep and strenuous.  It is also advisable to wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt and lightweight long trousers to protect yourself from the undergrowth, stinging nettles and biting ants.  Suggested Items to pack for Gorilla trekking;

• Insect Repellent                      

• Torch/Flashlight – and Spare Batteries

• Wet Wipes                             

• Water Bottle                              

• Camera, lenses etc

• Comfortable walking/hiking boots & socks       

• Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking

• Sandals/strops/walking shoes    

• Hat and Sunscreen

• Rain Jacket

• Sweater/fleece

• Swimwear

• Binoculars (game/bird watching)

How to get to Bwindi Forest National Park

By Road; The southern sector of Bwindi Forest National Park can be accessed through the main safari circuit from Entebbe/Kampala which is approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will need to turn off at Muko along the Kabale-Kisoro road you will see the signpost of Uganda Wildlife Authority which you will follow up to your booked lodge for accommodation in either Rushaga or Nkuringo sector.

By Air; You can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip to access the southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo. Scheduled and chartered flights are available and operated by domestic airline operators of Aero Link and Fly Uganda. You will need to plan with your tour operator for a transfer from the airstrip to the Park

Traveling to Uganda to see Gorillas with Eco Adventure Safaris. At Eco Adventure Safaris we provide personalized service with the utmost dedication to the safety and enjoyment of our clients. We are committed to the well-being of our staff and guests as well as to having a positive impact on the communities and wild places that our operations reach. On all our operations and safaris, we embrace the environmental ethic “Take Nothing but Photographs, Leave Only Footprints” all our packages are eco-friendly. Contact us here for more details on the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda with fewer crowds.