Best Season to Visit Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks

Every traveler and tourist’s main goal is to see so many new unique things and experience more than just what they read online or on google. A primate walking safari is one outstanding adventure that will excite you and cause you to come again for more, the eye-to-eye contact with the hugest primate is pretty striking and such a  memorable experience. Wildlife can be viewed anywhere, the endangered mountain gorillas chose only 3countries for a home Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. The nature of these mountain gorillas is unique that’s why they are not found in any part of the world specifically in these high-altitude forested areas.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING AT VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK-What is the best time to see gorillas in Rwanda

Wondering which time to go for a primates safari in Bwindi or volcanoes national park?

To start off, the Bwindi impenetrable forest is a tropical rain forest that attracts rainfall at any time be it during dry or rainy seasons, therefore there is no specific time that is best to trek since all seasons give a completely different experience. Drizzles can come through during the dry season as you trek or rather the rains may not shower on that one specific day in the wet season as you are in the jungle. Same with volcanoes national parks covered with equatorial forest cover rains are quite unpredictable but less to no rains are expected in the dry season. Therefore gorilla trekking can be done any time of the year in both Bwindi and volcanoes national, but there is that season best preferred by every trekker, well depending on a person’s interest, dry or wet season is okay to trek but let’s see the merits and demerits of both seasons in Bwindi and volcanoes national park.

Trekking in the dry season in Bwindi and volcanoes

The amazing view of the sunrise and its rays during sun set is a beautiful thing to watch and this can only be sighted during the dry season. For a smooth and less slippery trail, June to early September is a good time to visit the forest , less or no rain is expected in this time of the year there the trails are easily traceable. During this season it’s also easy to take very nice memorable photos since gorillas will not be hiding from the showers of rain and you don’t have to worry about our camera getting wet. The months of December to early April or late march are usually dry and very favorable for an unforgettable lifetime experience of the endangered species. The forest is thick with tropical vegetation cover that is easier to trail in the dry season since less plants grow as compared to wet season.  Much the dry season is great time for trekking in Bwindi, in the evening it gets hazy and very cold so you still need to carry warm clothing remember the forest is at very high altitude of about 2300meters high above sea level. Trails in dry season are easy there is less mud that could catch your shoes to slow your walking speed , no red ants that could scare you during your walking safari, making it less worrying and fun to trek during this season. For some people trekking in Bwindi is quite more fun since you move in the jungle for quite a good time seeing other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and if you lucky you could see an African elephant and of cause different plant species all this at the sound of sweet melodies from the birds.

Mubare gorilla family (located in Buhoma)

On the other volcanoes national park is also one-stop tourist center in the northwestern part of Rwanda that will live you with memories that won’t easily be erased from your memory as you drive through the land of a thousand hills. A great experience on your gorilla trek is so breathtaking in the dry season with fewer worries first of all getting wet which is uncomfortable. In volcanoes, there is one briefing center for all activities that is at the park headquarters therefore you will meet different people some going for the gorilla trek others golden monkey trek, Dian Fossey tomb visit briefing, some going to hike Karisimbi and others visiting caves so you can get to catch up with different people share experiences unlike Bwindi which has several sectors but all heading for one activity. Trekking in the dry season in the volcanoes has simple trails for those who may not be used to walking, you can ask for short trails hiking is simpler as the ground is dry  . Dry season trekking is quite a better experience as there is less mosquitoes in the mountains , no likelihood of slippery trails therefore your sure you won’t fall. Much as the temperatures in the volcanoes are always low and it gets very cold, in the dry season is bearable at least you don’t get to trek while shivering. Gorillas are easily seen playing wrestling, mating in the dry season unlike the wet where they could be taking shelter most of the times. Much the dry season is queued with lost of tourist coming through, gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year with changing and unpredictable rains in the volcanoes that can shower at any time.

Trekking in the wet season in  Bwindi and volcanoes national park

Wet season trekking is quite another exciting experience as people look it for the rains. With changing climate globally due to global warming, at times the wet season is not as wet as before and won’t hinders activities for example May and November are known to be very wet  with heavy rain drops showering the ground but it may not rain daily the whole month. Fewer queues of everything in the wet season for both national parks is one advantage that would attribute to this season. Usually there is less competition for gorilla permits, accommodation even vehicles. You could actually save some dollars in this season as some accommodations may discount and even tour companies. Competition even for taking pictures during the gorilla trek is less you find less number of people than the usual 8 going for the trek. You get to ask more questions to the park rangers since you few and being few who knows you may enjoy more incentives. In the wet season food for the gorillas is in plenty therefore you don’t have to move for so long in cases where you find then on the run in such for food like it is in the dry season. Much as it’s so slippery and wet I think it’s worth giving a try as the experience could be a much better one than there is In the dry season, and by the way sky usually very clears after the rains and less hasty and probably less cold in the night due to evaporation and condensation.

To conclude the best time to trek in both Bwindi and volcanoes national park is any time with changing climate that is due to global warming and human activities like charcoal burning and settlement in the parks which has also been controlled and is not so rampant.