Best Time to Visit Gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda & Congo
Best Time to Visit Gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda & Congo. Gorillas is a ground-dwelling predominantly herbivorous apes with a large head and short neck that inhabit the forests which share 98.3% of their genetic code with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and baboons.
The largest of the great apes, gorillas are stocky animals with broad chests and shoulders, large, human-like hands and small eyes set into hairless faces with a lifespan of 35 – 40 years which are the largest living primates. Mountain Gorillas are found in only three countries whole over the world, specifically in Africa that is to say Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda has the most mountain gorillas which estimated over half of the world mountain gorillas which located in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga gorillas National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwest of Uganda in Kigezi region and the Park was proclaimed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
The Park has 19 gorilla families making it the highest National Park with gorilla families among the 4 gorilla National Parks. Mgahinga National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda bordering Rwanda in the south and Democratic Republic of Congo in West and is well known for the mountain gorilla and golden monkey, the Park has one gorilla family called Nyakagezi.
Best time to visit Uganda’s gorillas which found in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, the strategic location of Uganda crossed by the equator and the beautiful Lake Victoria has modified equatorial climate making it with two rainy seasons and dry seasons. During the dry season of June, July, August and September and December to February this is the best time to visit Uganda gorillas in their wild of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. During this season, there are high chances to spot these majestic creatures in their wild since they move to a higher altitude during this time and therefore expect lifetime experience. During the rainy season of October to November and from mid-March to the end of May, there is heavy rains make the trails too slippery making it harder to hike and trek mountain gorillas.
Rwanda has one gorilla National Park known as Volcanoes National Park; it lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is known as a haven for the rare and endangered mountain gorilla and golden monkeys with 10 gorilla families which are habituated for gorilla trekking tours.
Best time to visit gorillas in Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda is any time of the year. However, most travelers prefer to visit gorillas during the drier months of the year.
This is because wildlife viewing trails are not boggy and easily accessed and during these periods offfer by far the easiest hiking conditions and the lowest malaria risk. During June, July, August and September and December to February, this time of the year is usually dry and the best time to visit gorillas in Rwanda.
For those who want to trek mountain gorillas and do canopy walks this is the best time because the trails are dry and passable. However most of them are is a tropical rain forest and this makes whether unpredictable, therefore one has to carry a jacket and boots just in case the nature changes.
Hiking is also easier during this season. Game viewing becomes also easier as most animals will converge at water sources since it’s a dry period, therefore, you have chances of seeing all of them in just one place. And it makes it quite obvious of where you are going to find the animals during this season. March to May and October to November these months are the rainy months in Rwanda but it does not mean that it will rain throughout the entire season this makes that visiting gorillas in Rwanda still be achievable.
However, for those looking at birding, this could be one of the best times to come to Rwanda depending on the bird species you are looking at. At this time most of the plants are flowering and therefore attracting birds. A gorilla permit in Rwanda cost $ 1500.00 per person per trek.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has also one gorilla National Park is known as Virunga National Park, its located in the eastern side of Democratic Republic of Congo and borders both Uganda and Rwanda. The Park covers an area of 7800 km2 and is home to over 200 gorilla individuals mostly situated in the southern part of the Virunga National Park which is also a UNESCO Heritage site. The Park has 8 gorilla families which are habituated for gorilla trekking.
Best time to visit gorilla in Virunga National Park of Congo is an all year round destination and experiences high frequencies Rain all year around. However, the best time to visit gorillas in Virunga National Park of Cong is in the dry season of June, July, August, and September are by far the driest months in the year.
If you are looking at gorillas in Virunga National Park, this is the best time to visit them. There are high chances to spot this gentle giant in their wild since they move to a higher altitude during this time and therefore expect longer hikes.
Despite that these are dry months, you should expect rains any time of the day or your safari. October to November and the long rainy season starts from Mid-march to the end of May but this does not make travel impossible, it’s just that you have to have rain gear with you to overcome some of the wet areas but depending on your interest and budget, these months can still be lifetime experience for you and most hotels give a discount during this season.
The gorillas are present all year round, with a great record of sightings; the best time to visit gorillas is therefore totally up to you. Often it is more to do with permit availability, as they sell out over a year in advance and gorilla permit cost $ 400.00 per person pre-trek.