Gorilla trekking is an activity of visiting the endangered mountain gorilla habitats and observe the behaviour and social interaction of mountain gorillas. There are less than 1000 gorillas still in existence all over the world. Most of the gorillas if not all are found in three countries of east and central African countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The parks where you can find these primates are Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. Bwindi Forest national park and Mgahinga national park of Uganda. Finally, you can also find them at the Virunga national park of DRC.
Most experts advise the gorilla trekkers to always come for the activity during the dry season. That is between June to September and January to march. This is so because the trails are assumed to be dry and weather more predictable. However, am going to give you the reason why actually it is better to book your gorilla trekking safari in the rainy month. From October to December and from late march to May for a greater and special adventure. Here are the reasons why I think the rainy seasons will be the perfect time for you.
You will travel less distance before finding gorillas
Gorillas never stay in their nest for more than one night and the major reason why they keep moving is to find food. During the dry season the food is scarce which make the gorillas to have to move for longer distance as they are looking for food. One feature of gorilla is they will spend the night at point where they will have their evening meal.
Mother and infant gorilla at Bwindi- Charging gorilla
There for due to food scarcity during dry season, they are likely to sleep far from where they were last seen the previous day. On the other side, during the rainy season the fruits are more, and the food is in plenty. Therefore, the gorillas have to move for less distance as they are looking for food. This will reduce on the distance you have to travel before meeting the gorillas. As they will have moved for less distance from where they slept the previous day.
The parks are less populated
Usually during this time few people visits the park compared to the peak dry seasons where everyone wishes to visit the park. The competition during dry season affects the whole experience of gorilla viewing. As very many people will be fighting for the few clear spots for gorilla viewing. However, during rainy season few people visits the park. This gives those few people a clear view and better interaction with the gorillas during these seasons.
Secondly all gorilla family must be visited daily by the trackers and potters to ensure that they’re in good health. Therefore, the few that do book the permit will be divided into small group to ensure that all gorillas are visited. This is also done to ensure that the habituated gorillas do not forget people.
Low accommodation prices
A charging gorilla at Mgahinga National Park
During the peak seasons accommodation tend to be so high as the competition for the few available hotels and lodges is very high. This will lead to an increase in the overall cost of your trip. However, during rainy seasons, due to the reduced demand for accommodation. Add in the high competition for the few available clients, the accommodation prices tend to drop. On top of that, lodges tend to offer discounts to the clients. Hence enabling you to save some few dollars.
Less gorilla permit competition and discounts
During dry season the permit competition is usually so high. This necessitates you to do your booking early to avoid missing out. However, during rainy season that is a low season, you might not even need to book permit before coming as they are always available. On top of that, the permit especially in Rwanda are usually offered on the discount. This can never be the case during the peak season
Embrace the challenge
The challenge of going through these sleepily roads, increased vegetation and muddy road will make your trekking experience even more fan. The fact is the more challenging the trip be, the happier you will be when succeed. Therefore, doing your trip in a rainy season will of course be a little more challenging but the challenge will add to your overall experience as it will be another story to tell
Conclusion
Even though doing your trip in rainy season may seem more challenging, it has got several advantages. These may make it more enjoyable and a right choice to do during your gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda. So, don’t be scared to try out your experience during this time of the year. As it will surely add to your overall experience of the whole journey.
