BEST TIME TO VISIT BWINDI PARK FOR A UGANDA GORILLA SAFARI TREK

Best Time, Seasons & Months To Go Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi?

When planning your safari vacation, one of the first questions you may have is about the best time to visit the reserve – especially if you plan to see the famed mountain gorillas of Bwindi Park. As the tour consultant at AfricanMecca Safaris will advise, you can visit at any time of the year. That’s because temperatures don’t fluctuate significantly in these areas. The only other factors to consider when choosing your best time to travel to Bwindi are seasonal climatic conditions, accommodation costs and tourist numbers in the park.

Different Monthly Seasons At Bwindi - Dry, Hot, Wet Rainy & Cool

1. Dry Months, Best Time & Peak Season For Bwindi: June, July, and August. Note September is peak season but is also part of the wet rainy season.
2. Dry & Wet Rainy Months, Very Good Time & High Season For Bwindi: End of December, January, and early parts of February.
3. Wet Rainy Months, Good Time & Mid-Peak Season For Bwindi: March and September are both rainy periods though September is also a peak period with high number of visitors into Bwindi. These months are also the start of the lush green season.
4. Wet Rainy Season, Least Best Time & Low Season For Bwindi: April, May, October, and November.
5. Hot & Cool Months: There is only 1-3 Celsius degrees variation in temperature in between months at Bwindi. January and February are the hottest months with highs of 25 C (77 F) during the day and lows of 12 C (54 F) at night while June and July are the coolest months with highs of 22 C (72 F) during the day and lows of 11 C (52 F) at night. All other months have a range from 22 C (72 F) to 24 C (75 F) during the daytime while nighttime temperatures average from 11 C (52 F) and 12 C (54 F).
6. Best Time For Birdwatching Safaris In Bwindi: The best time for birding safaris in Bwindi is from the end of May to September though March is a great time to visit but trekking in the steep forest is always challenging in the rains. The migratory birds arrive in November and leave by April.

Key Takeaways

• Best months to visit to Bwindi for your gorilla trek is during the long dry season beginning in June continuing all through August
• The long wet season months are September, October, November, and early part of December, while the short wet season begins around mid to late February through March, April and May
• Gorillas can be seen during the dry and wet seasons; though, it is easier to traverse the forests when it's dry. In the wet season, there are also sightings of migratory birds. Lush greenery during the wet seasons because of which gorillas stay in the lower slopes where food is readily available.
• Higher visitor footfall during the dry seasons since this is also the time for summer in Europe and North America and schools are closed, and is also the best time for safari in other parks in Africa i.e. Serengeti, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro, Chobe, Okavango Delta, Kruger etc
• Highest temperatures all through the year ranging from 22 C (72 F) to 25 C (77 F) during the day and 11 C (52) to 12 C ( (54 F) at night

Climate, Temperatures & Weather Conditions For Bwindi

You want to come prepared for the possibility of unpredictable weather conditions due, at least in part, to global warming. Do keep in mind that, like the rest of Africa, Uganda (best time to visit) has two dry seasons and two wet seasons, which may affect your experience of the park. Given that the main focus of your safari holiday is likely to be the gorillas, the best time to visit Bwindi is in the long dry season, which begins in June and continues through July and August. These months are the best time to visit, since the trails in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are generally less muddy and traveling along them takes less time. The intermittent dry season with pockets of rain runs from December, January, and early parts of February, is also a very good time to go. You can expect that the highest temperatures in the daytime will range from 22 C (72 F) to 25 C (77 F), with nighttime temperatures around 11 C (52) to 12 C (54 F).

Visiting Bwindi During the Dry Seasons - Is It The Best Time To Go On Safari?

You may notice more visitors to the park during the dry season months of June to August (best time to go to Bwindi), as these periods coincide with the summer months in the northern hemisphere. Since schools are closed for the summer break, many parents find this an ideal time for a family safari vacation with older children. Visitors from North America and Europe also tend to visit Africa during the short dry season, especially the latter two weeks of December, during the winter holiday season. The other factor is the dry season in Bwindi coincides with dry season in other parks in Kenya and Tanzania e.g. Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lewa - Laikipia, Serengeti, Ngorongoro etc. Also, during the dry season in Uganda, you are likely to encounter fewer insects, which lowers malaria risk. Further, the foliage is sparser, so you might find that following your woodland trail excursion is easier when tracking down mountain gorillas in Bwindi.

Wet Rainy Seasons in Bwindi

Visiting in the wet seasons may also be a smart adventurous option, since food is more readily available at the lower altitudes and gorilla families are less likely to wander to the upper inclines of the forest looking for it. The long wet season begins in September, and leads into October, November, and early part of December, while the short wet season begins around mid to late February through March, April and May. During these times, the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park take on a lush, green cover that is truly wonderful to see. You may also be able to spot more of the migratory birds that arrive in these seasons.

Planning Activities In The Wet Rainy Season At Bwindi

It should be noted that it doesn’t rain continuously through the day in the wet season in Bwindi, and there are often areas that don’t get rainfall at all on a particular day. You can expect times when the weather is clear and the sun is shining. During this period, your gorilla safari trekking and nature walking excursions around the rainy spells does continue as per assigned activity permit date. Planning your gorilla-viewing expedition in the wet season has an additional advantage, in that most camps and lodges offer discounted room rates. Aside from the roads getting muddier and logistics taking somewhat longer, your holiday itinerary for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will progress as planned; though, excessive rains can sometimes limit activities.