For a long time, the low season has been seen as not the ideal season for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The low season is termed the off-season, where tourism is literally very slow due to low visitor turnout. This was primarily because of the conditions experienced in this season, which made gorilla trekking in this season impossible. Well, we are here to change the narrative that had before robbed visitors of a secret time with the mountain gorillas.
Here are some of the reasons why it is ideal to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda during the low season;
Shorter treks
During the low season, visitors are subjected to shorter treks before finding the mountain gorillas. This is because with fewer numbers, the rangers target a closer gorilla family as the best option. This eases visitors from the long treks that are often challenging and exhausting. With fewer numbers, there are multiple gorilla families to choose from, and often the closest is preferred.
Lower gorilla permit costs
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has recently come out to announce a new reduction in the costs for gorilla permits in the low season. This was a move to improve tourism in the low season, and since this communication, in the shortest time, has yielded results. There has been a significant increase in the number of visitors, and this number is estimated to rise. This cut in costs for the gorilla permit is the ice breaker for one to have a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda in the low season.
Cheaper accommodation options
Fewer visitors means slow business, and thus most accommodation facilities tend to lower their prices in the low seasons. This subsidization of prices in the low creates cheaper accommodation options for the visitors. This means clients can spend less on accommodation in the low season compared to the high season.
Intimate gorilla trekking experience
Gorilla trekking in the low season offers a more intimate gorilla trekking experience. This is highly attributed to the few available visitors. Such a number means that visitors have a smaller group that allows them to have a personal experience in the presence of the gorillas.
Beautiful scenic sightings
The low season is known to have high rainfall patterns that lead to the growth of the massive vegetation cover. This leaves the forest green with lush canopies and undergrowth. This environment creates ideal photographic tours that will leave one speechless.
Uganda predominantly receives a tropical type of climate since it is crossed by the equator. Areas further from the equator experience shifting weather and climatic patterns to more arid and semi-arid climates. The gorilla destinations in this case are situated very close to the equator, thus have well-distributed weather patterns all year-round.
When does the low season occur in Uganda?
The low season in Uganda takes place from March to May and from September to November. This means that the country receives two wet seasons in a calendar year because it receives an equatorial or tropical climate. This climate is received across the country with much dominance in the areas close to the equator.
Areas that extend further from the equator receive shifting patterns in their weather. This is where there are prolonged dry or wet seasons. The terrain and vegetation also have much to do with the weather. Gorilla destinations in Uganda are very mountainous and highly dense with a lush montane vegetation type. This vegetation zone is known for contributing much to the weather, much with rainfall through evaporation.
Where is gorilla trekking done in Uganda?
Talking about gorilla trekking cannot go about without mentioning Uganda as a gorilla trekking destination. With just a handful of gorilla destinations left in the whole world, Uganda is a highlight in the world. This is because it is the leading gorilla destination in the world as it produces to unique gorilla destinations. These destinations include the following.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the undisputed gorilla destination in Uganda. By land mass, Bwindi is not a giant, with over 331 square kilometers. It is estimated that Bwindi has a record number of about 50 gorilla families. Among this sizeable number, only about 22 gorilla families are habituated and actively trekked daily.
Mountain gorillas live in groups known as families, just like humans. Each family is headed by a male gorilla called a silverback. With such a huge number of gorilla families, Bwindi is believed to be hosting over 459 mountain gorilla individuals. This number raises Bwindi to the ranks as the best destination.
Adding up all the mountain gorillas in all the destinations to Bwindi, the number goes up to 1,063. Therefore, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park harbors close to half of that population. These gorillas are not tamed, thus roam freely across the park’s known four sectors, Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. These sectors harbor numerous habituated mountain gorillas, marking a significant step in conservation but also trekking. Bwindi has been a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994, just three years after its establishment.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
From the mention of its name, one would really tell that Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a gorilla destination. It is a sister park to Bwindi, situated south of the border with Rwanda. Just like all other gorilla destinations, Mgahinga falls under the Virunga Conservation Area. This conservation area is the known gorilla destination on the face of the Earth.
Mgahinga hosts a sizable number of mountain gorillas, estimated at 100 individuals. These operate around the mountainous region of this park. Mgahinga is home to a single gorilla family called Nyakagazi. This gorilla group is the known habituated gorilla group up for exploration. This means only eight gorilla permits are available per day.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established as a national park in 1991. It is the smallest protected area in the country, covering just 33.7 square kilometers. This national park is crossed by the Kisoro district. Mgahinga has a healthy population of golden monkeys and is the only place to find these primates in the country. This is why this park is termed a place where silver meets gold.
Trekking gorillas in the low season requires planning, from the dates to the purchase of a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This is why Monteero Safaris is the best tour company for gorilla tours and an expert in organizing low season travels across the country and beyond. Contact us now for your plan for low season gorilla experiences.