Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Weather and Climate

Understanding the Bwindi gorilla trekking weather and Climate is crucial for planning your trip effectively. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in Uganda, is one of the prime destinations for gorilla trekking in the world to see the Mountains Gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Forest mainly has a tropical climate, so it is a tropical rainforest where it can any time of the day. The average temperatures range from 7-20C to 20-27C and the forest receives up to 2390MM of rain per year. Below is the summary of Bwindi gorilla trekking weather and Climate;

Climate:

• Bwindi experiences a tropical rainforest climate due to its location near the equator.
• It’s generally damp and receives significant rainfall throughout the year.
• There are two main rainy seasons: from mid-February to the end of May, and from September to mid-December. These periods are characterized by heavy rainfall.
• The dry seasons are from June to August and from mid-December to mid-February. However, even during the dry season, some rainfall can still occur.

Weather:

• Temperatures in Bwindi don’t vary much throughout the year due to its equatorial location. Daytime temperatures typically range from 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F).
• Evenings and early mornings can be cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 7°C to 15°C (45°F to 59°F).
• The weather can be unpredictable in Bwindi, so it’s advisable to be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and rainfall.
• The mountainous terrain of Bwindi can also influence local weather patterns, with higher elevations generally being cooler and wetter.

Implications for Gorilla Trekking:

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is possible throughout the year, but the experience may vary depending on the weather.
• The rainy seasons can make trekking more challenging due to muddy and slippery trails, as well as dense vegetation.
• However, the rainy seasons also tend to be less crowded, so you may have a more intimate experience with the gorillas if you don’t mind the rain.
• The dry seasons are generally more popular for gorilla trekking due to the clearer skies and drier trails, but it’s also the peak tourist season, so permits may be more difficult to obtain, and the trails may be more crowded.

Overall, when planning your gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi, consider your preferences regarding Bwindi gorilla trekking weather and Climate conditions, as well as your tolerance for rain and crowds, to choose the best time for your visit.

About Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southwestern park of Uganda bordering the districts of Kanungu, Rubanda and Kisoro, the park also borders the Uganda-DR Congo border. It is home to 19 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking which are found in the four main gates/ sections that is Ruhija and Buhoma in the north, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south.

The chances of seeing the gorillas in Uganda is 98% since it has half of the world’s population of these great endangered apes. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is safe and such a life time experience on your travel list.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking means visiting the gorillas in their natural habitat in the forest, the trek in Bwindi Forest starts at 7:00am with briefing at every Park headquarters in each region on the dos and don’ts while moving in the forest and with the gorillas. After briefing, the park guides, rangers, and trackers lead you to the forest to find the gorillas. You are allowed one hour of viewing the gorillas when found and later you return to the starting point to receive a certificate for the successful gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

The gorillas are amazing to watch as they have 95% of the human DNA. Only eight visitors allowed to see gorillas per habituated family per day according to Uganda Wildlife Authority policy so as to conserve the gorillas. To be allowed to do gorilla trekking, you must be aged 15 years and above as per the policy and minors are not allowed to trek since they may not easy be controlled in the forest and may easily transmit diseases to the gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable National Park is safe for gorilla trekking, policies and guidelines are in place for trekking and conservation which as Eco Adventure Safaris we always share with you while planning your gorilla trip.

What is the price of the gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

The gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi costs USD800 per person for Non-Foreign Residents, USD700 for Foreign Residents and Shs. 300, 000 for East African Citizens. You are allowed only one hour of viewing of the gorillas or staying in their space. The gorilla trekking permits normally sell out so very quickly during the high season (January, February, July, August, September, and December every year. Contact Eco Adventure Safaris about your planned trek and desired dates, we shall check the availability of permits online system for Uganda Wildlife Authority and if permits are available, we shall send you an invoice to make payment for the permits as they are top priority and if they are not available, you will choose other dates that have availability of permits. Once we receive payment, we shall book and secure your permits and send you copy of the receipt with booking ID to confirm your trek. The process of acquiring the gorilla permits is easy and transparent for your booking of gorilla trip to Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

How to access Bwindi impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking?

You can access Bwindi impenetrable national Park by road, it is about 9-10 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe. The road trip is enjoyable as you will stop at the Equator for Photography, Lunch in Mbarara and other stops to view beautiful scenery. We do use 4×4 vehicles that are comfortable for your trip and our professional and trained driver guides will ensure your safety on your gorilla trip.

You can as well fly to Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrips that serve Bwindi impenetrable national park. The flights is about 1-2 hours and they you drive to the hotel/ lodge. There are daily flights from Entebbe international Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip, you can opt for scheduled flights or chartered flights depending on your budget and planned trip.

You can also fly into Kigali international Airport, drive to south western Uganda through Cyanika or Katuna Boarder which take only 4-5 hours with the time spent at immigrations at the border. We always advise our visitors to acquire the East African Visa which allows multiple entry of both Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. The East African Visa fee costs USD100 which can be gotten at the Airport upon arrival or online and it is cost effective instead of buying single entry Visas. But you can as well opt to secure single Visas as well, the Rwandan Visa costs USD30 and Uganda Visa cost USD 50. Bwindi impenetrable national park is easily accessible and safe for gorilla trekking.

Where to stay on a gorilla trekking trip to Bwindi impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi impenetrable national park has many lodges/Hotels where you can stay on your gorilla trekking tour. These range from budget to high end hotels and Eco Adventure Safaris can help you book the hotel of your choice and budget. We recommend staying in the sector where you are trekking for easy accessibility of the park headquarters. In Rushaga, you can stay at Rushaga Gorilla camp, Four Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, in Nkuringo you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge. In Buhoma sector you can stay at Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany springs Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, and Gorilla forest camp. In Ruhija sector you can stay at Trekkers Tavern Lodge, Bakiga lodge or even at Lake Bunyonyi or lodges in Kabale town. The lodges are very many in Bwindi but they require to be booked in advance as they can be fully booked during high season. We always ensure standard service for safety of clients on their stay.

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Eco Adventure Safaris is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Eco Adventure Safaris is run and owned by Ugandans. We are members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) and are registered by UTB (Uganda Tourism Board). We have a good and long working relationship with UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari. Eco Adventure Safaris is highly reviewed on trip advisor. Please contact Eco Adventure Safaris to plan your visit to trek the gorillas in Bwindi Forest and more information about Bwindi gorilla trekking weather and Climate.