Trekking gorillas in the rain – In the dense tropical rain-forests where mountain gorillas thrive, rainfall is experienced throughout the year.
This is because they experience tropical and equatorial climates, meaning that even tourists who trek gorillas during the dry season still expect rain during trekking because it can rain at any time of the day.
There are both advantages and disadvantages of trekking mountain gorillas during the wet, green, or low season as explained below.
Advantages of trekking gorillas during the rainy seasons
Since it is the low season, tourists are able to trek gorillas in smaller groups of less than eight, and they can also be given a chance to select which gorilla family to trek.
During the rainy season, mountain gorillas are easy to find on the mountain slopes. This is because the heavy rains support the growth of vegetation and fruits, so gorillas don’t have to go very far to higher elevations looking for food when they have it in abundance on the mountain slopes.
The wet season is very favorable for tourists traveling on a budget because they can get good accommodations at a lower price since some lodges and hotels offer discount rates during this time of the year.
During the wet/low season, there is no congestion and struggle for gorilla permits, making it difficult for you to miss out on gorilla permits. This gives you the freedom to even book the permit in the same month of your trekking date, which is not similar to during the dry/peak season where permits are booked three months in advance.
During this low season, even gorilla permits can be sold at a discounted rate. For example, Congo offers permits at $400 per person and provides discount rates at $200 per person during the rainy season.
Disadvantages of trekking mountain gorillas during the rainy season
During the wet season, heavy rainfall affects trekking in a way that roads become muddy and slippery, making it difficult to climb to higher elevations where mountain gorillas live.
Mountain gorilla trekking during the rainy season requires carrying some things that you may not need during the dry season, like waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, raincoats, long-sleeved clothing, insect repellents, and energy-giving snacks, without forgetting to carry a walking stick during the trek.
In conclusion, mountain gorilla trekking can be carried out at any time of the year, given that the dry season has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the rainy season has its own.
So going gorilla trekking in either Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo will depend on the time you have and your budget. Hope to see you there.
