Trekking Gorillas In The Rainy Season

Is it possible to go trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season? Mountain gorillas stay on high elevations of tropical and subtropical rain forests of Virunga national park in DR Congo, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda as well as Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda. These forests sometimes experience tropical climate receiving rainfall almost throughout the year, meaning that tourists trekking gorillas in the dry season can also expect rainfall on any day during trekking. There are advantages and disadvantages of trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season and some of these are seen below.

Advantages of gorilla trekking in the rainy season

Trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season gives trekkers a chance of trekking these apes in few numbers of less than 8 people and you can choose your own gorilla family to trek because the people are few. During the rainy seasons, tourists also find it easy to trek mountain gorillas because they can easily be found near the starting points reason being the food is always plenty on the mountain slopes other than the dry season where they have to move higher elevations in search of food.

Another advantage of trekking gorillas in the wet season is that some lodges and hotels in the park give discount rates and this is good for budget tourists. Trekking mountain gorillas in the wet season can also become an advantage because you will not have to struggle or miss gorilla permits meaning you can even book a permit in the very month you are planning to go trekking unlike dry seasons when gorilla permits are scarce wanting you to book 3-4 months in advance.

Disadvantages of trekking gorillas in rainy seasons

Mountain gorillas stay on high elevations of tropical and sub-tropical rain forests that receive 1000-2000 mm of rain annually; trekking mountain gorillas during the wet season makes the trekking trails slippery and muddy making it hard to traverse the jungle.

Best time to trek, What to carry & Cost of permits

Mountain gorillas can be trekked at any time of the year but the best time is the dry season of June to September and December to February. During these months the trails are dry and the roads leading to the park are accessible

Trekking mountain gorillas in the rainy season needs preparedness and you should forget to carry enough drinking water, energy-giving snacks, insect repellents, good waterproof hiking shoes, good quality camera, sunscreen, a hat, garden gloves, long-sleeved clothes, and a walking stick.

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit differs depending on the country you are going to trek mountain gorillas from, Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1500, Uganda permits cost $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250,000 East African citizens and lastly, DR Congo permits cost $450 in the rainy season and $200 in the rainy season.