Gorilla Trekking in Uganda in the Off-Peak Season

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda in the Off-Peak Season

Did you know you can do gorilla trekking in Uganda in the off-peak season? Getting up close and personal with the fabled mountain gorillas in Uganda is the dream of many travelers, but long believed to be a privilege only reserved for the seriously wealthy. Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa”, even if it is the base of some of the most unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences on the entire Continent, isn’t so much of an expensive safari destination.

Uganda is traditionally one of the best choices for gorilla trekking, promising high-quality experiences at a fraction of the price- assuming, of course, that you know when to go. Timing is everything when it comes to enjoying unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda. You can expect to pay an average of $3000 for a three-day Bwindi Gorilla trip, including initial flight expenses. By planning your gorilla safari during the off-peak season, you can save up to a staggering $1000 if you book the trip in the off-peak season, hence saving roughly around 40% on the cost of your gorilla tour.

Plan Carefully, you won’t regret it

With careful planning, you can enjoy a fantastic gorilla safari at a time when mountain gorilla natural habitats- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are most beautiful, and take advantage of off-peak season rates. For travelers yearning to go for their gorilla trekking adventures in the off-peak season can use our many years of local expertise to create packages that maximize your gorilla safari experience.  

Now, don’t get confused by Uganda’s seasons. The off-peak season, in fact, coincides with the colder rainy/wet months between March and May, and November, when the forests are cold and rainy. These months are also known as the “Green season” due to the breathtakingly lush landscapes at this time of the year.

The above months are categorized as “off-peak” season for gorilla trekking in Uganda for two reasons. Firstly, this is when Uganda, especially Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, receives most of its rainfall, and the vegetation is thickest- the increased rainfall levels also make forest trails muddy and slippery, hence making gorilla trekking more challenging. Here are the interesting reasons for gorilla trekking in Uganda in the off-peak season;

The Green transformation

The off-peak season, which is also the “Green season”, is true to its name, and it is easy to see why. The jungles are a thousand different shades of green brought about by the rains. It is Bwindi Forest at its most beautiful- verdant and bursting with life. Wild flowers and other vegetation types carpet the rolling hills, and the air is full of birdsong as well as flashes of color with the arrival of migratory bird species. The mountain gorilla natural habitats receive most of their rainfall, with hot and sunny mornings as well as afternoon thunderstorms, usually short heavy downpours during the late afternoon. It is a perfect time for photography, with clear and bright air.

Save in the off-peak season

There is a financial incentive to Uganda’s gorilla trekking off-peak season, too. The country’s gorilla permit prices remain the same throughout the year- $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 per person for foreign residents, and Shs.300,000 for East African Community Citizens. However, many Safari Lodges are keen to get business through their doors during the off-peak season and so offer some of the lowest room rates, but not over the festive season, which is sort of a “mini-peak season” in the low season. At some places, you can stay for three nights and only pay for two nights, while others waive the single supplement fee over the off-peak season. This means a considerable saving compared to the peak dry season rates.

Gorilla trekking in the off-peak season provides more choice, more time

It is no brainer that Uganda’s gorilla trekking in the off-peak season has the lowest occupancy rate at most accommodations, but this, of course, gives the advantage to primate enthusiasts. There is usually no problem with gorilla permit and accommodation availability in the off-peak season- even at relatively short notice or for rooms at the top Safari Lodges, or even when you are traveling as a large group/family. It is also during the off-peak season that you will have the greatest choice of the accommodation you desire.

Far from the crowds during the off-peak season

You should expect fewer people at accommodation facilities during the off-peak season, hence your gorilla safari experience will be less crowded.

Thousands of travelers go for gorilla trekking during Uganda’s dry season, which is also the peak season. However, visitor numbers plunge as the rains begin in March to May, then in November. For this reason, expect low visitor numbers (most times less than the maximum 8 persons that ordinarily trek a habituated gorilla family), and sometimes you might be the only ones trekking a particular gorilla family. Therefore, if you are looking forward to having your gorilla trekking experience on the more private side, then go in the off-peak season.

Uganda’s unforgettable birding opportunities

Whether you are a beginner birder or a professional bird photographer looking to combine gorilla trekking in Uganda with birding, then the off-peak season is the perfect time to plan your trip. With food (vegetation) and water (rains) now plentiful across Uganda, especially Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, migrant bird species arrive from Eurasia as well as other parts of Africa to swell the already impressive bird list in these incredible Important Bird Areas. This makes gorilla trekking in Uganda in the off-peak season the best decision so far.

Being the prime time for bird watching, migratory bird species return in dazzling colors, filling the jungles with calls and flutters. The abundance of food during the time attracts everything from the Common cuckoo, the Broad-billed rollers, to the woodland kingfishers. While the humidity and heat can rise during the day, gorilla trekking adventures that start early in the morning and end by afternoon remain pleasant. Just bring a lightweight rain jacket, as you might catch a classic African thunderstorm while in the middle of the adventure.

Wonderful conditions for photography

The off-peak season in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park delivers what many photographers think are the best conditions for professional nature photography, despite the risk of downpours. It should interest you to know that the dry season dust clouds and the blinding sunlight give way to a softer, deeper-layered landscape. Colors are more pronounced during the green season, with richer backgrounds, as well as clearer air, hence making wonderful conditions easier to work with during your photography trip. Therefore, if you are looking to combine gorilla trekking in Uganda with nature photography, then we advise you to choose the off-peak season for an unforgettable experience.