Best time to Visit Bwindi impenetrable national park

Best  time to Visit Bwindi impenetrable national park  : Bwindi impenetrable National Park is the best gorilla trekking destination in the world and one of the only four gorilla destination where you can do gorilla trekking, Bwindi is located in the South Western part of Uganda in the Kanungu District.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population with about 1600 individuals making the best destination to visit for gorilla trekking and why it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into 4 gorilla sectors all hosting about 22 gorilla families, these sectors include Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Gorilla trekking is the main Uganda safari activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this article provides all the necessary information you about the best time to visit the park for gorilla trekking.

Weather in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park receives consistent weather patterns with everyday mist, morning or afternoon downpours, chilly temperatures, clear skies and bright sunlight.

Dry season

The dry season is considered to be the best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking safari, this season runs from December to February and June to September.

The dry season in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park coincides with the peak season and gorilla safaris tend to be expensive and competition for gorilla permits are high. As a visitor planning to go gorilla trekking in this season, we recommend booking your gorilla permits and safari at least three months in advance.

In Bwindi impenetrable National Park, it can rain at any time of the day, also you must be ready for hard long hikes owing to the high terrain. Routes are reasonably dry and slippery and gorillas migrate for long distances in search for fresh fruits.

Wet Season

Wet season in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is experienced in months of March, April and May which receive heavier rains and October, September and November receiving shorter rains.

Though this is not considered to be the best time to visit the gorillas, there are usually a limited number of visitors in Bwindi thus making it a great time for visitors who prefer less crowded areas to visit.

Also in this season, prices for gorilla safaris are relatively low as the prices for accommodation are discounted.

Note: Seeing gorillas in the rainy season might be difficult due to damp, slippery pathways and tangled foliage.

In the rainy season, mountain gorillas prefer to graze on lower slopes near the park’s boundary so you will probably have to hike a short distance to meet them.

Best time to Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by Months

January – February

January and February are typically dry months in Uganda resulting into decent gorilla trekking conditions, the trails used to trek mountain gorillas are relatively dry making it one of the greatest times for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

January – February is still considered a peak season with many visitors visiting Bwindi Forests to see mountain gorillas in the natural habitat.

March – May

March marks the start of the wet/rainy season in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, in these months a lot of rain is received in Bwindi forests. This is considered as the low season.

June – August

This is the main gorilla trekking season in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Uganda as well, this season offers the best circumstances for gorilla trekking as less rain is received and the trails are relatively dry.

Note: in this season, it is important to book your gorilla permit in advance, about 3 months to the dates of your safari to avoid disappointments.

September – December

This is one of the best periods for gorilla trekking in Uganda’s forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

 Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on gorilla trekking safari

There is a wide range of lodging options in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park categorized as budget, luxury and midrange. These accommodation options are found in the four sectors of Bwindi that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo and they include

• Gorilla Resort Bwindi
• Mahogany Springs Lodge
• Nkuringo Gorilla Camp
• Rushaga Haven Lodge
• Ruhija Gorilla Mist Lodge
• Four Gorillas Lodge
• Sanctuary Bwindi Gorilla Camp
• Buhoma Haven Lodge
• Bwindi Gorilla Camp among others.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an accessible Uganda gorilla destination by both road and air, Entebbe International Airport is the main entry point to Uganda for a gorilla safari to Bwindi.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be accessed by road and air transport means.

By air – there are daily domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to either Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip serving the park, these flights are offered by several local flight operators including Bar Aviation and AeroLink. Then connect to Bwindi by a vehicle on a 3 hours drive.

By road – it is a drive of about 8 – 10 hours to Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kampala or Entebbe,  Kampala – Mbarara – Kabale Route and Kampala –Masaka – Mbarara high way are used to reach the park.