Bwindi gorilla trekking in June
Bwindi gorilla trekking in June: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is currently the best and most affordable gorilla trekking destination in the world. The national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kisoro district where it covers a total area of 321 sq.km. It was gazetted in 1993 as a national park to protect the few mountain gorillas that were still alive at the time.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the most visited national park when it comes to mountain gorillas. Tourists can visit this national park at any time of the year to see the habituated mountain gorilla families. June is one of the months that receives a lot of visitors in Bwindi due to the good weather conditions. Below let’s look at gorilla trekking in June.
Gorilla trekking in June
Tourists who do gorilla trekking in June find the best weather which is characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. The trekking trails are dry and easier to go through which eases the movement of trekkers in the jungle. On the day of trekking, all trekkers for the day drive very early in the morning to the sector headquarters where they have a briefing about the activity. The local dancers entertain trekkers through dance and drama as they wait for all trekkers to gather.
Groups not exceeding 8 people are made and given armed ranger guides who are supposed to lead them into the jungle. Trekkers who need to hire porters do get them at the briefing point at a very affordable fee. Trekkers are driven to the starting points of the trekking where they are left with armed ranger guides to head into the jungle and search for mountain gorillas.
Inside the jungle, different trekking trails are used to find the mountain gorillas and as trekkers search they get an opportunity to see several wildlife species, water sources, and vegetation of the park. Searching may take 2 to 4 hours depending on the nature of the trekking trails and the speed of trekkers.
When the mountain gorillas are located, trekkers get to have 1 hour around the members as they do different activities of the day. Trekkers may ask the rangers different questions about mountain gorillas which helps them in knowing more about the gorilla habits. Trekkers are allowed to take photos and record videos as gorillas play, hunt, nest, breastfeed, or mate to mention but a few.
When the one hour around mountain gorillas is done, trekkers are asked to move away from the gorilla group to allow members to continue doing their daily activities. As tourists trek out of the jungle, they get to meet a number of attractions which include mammals, primates, and different bird species among others.
What is the cost of gorilla permits for Bwindi in June?
The cost of gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the same throughout the given period set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that manages and controls the activities of the park. A single gorilla trekking permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 citizens of East African Member states,
When is the best time to book a safari to Bwindi for June?
June is a busy season month in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and this requires tourists to make advance bookings for their safaris to bwindi. Tourists are advised to book their gorilla permits 6 months before the safari because that is when the gorilla permits are available. Early safari and gorilla permit booking enables tourists to trek their favorite sectors while in Bwindi.
What to pack for a Bwindi gorilla safari in June?
To have the best of gorilla trekking in June, tourists are advised to come well prepared with the right gear for trekking. The list of items to pack includes waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved clothes, gardening gloves, a light backpack, a rainy jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera, a pair of binoculars, and insect repellents to mention but a few.
Where to stay on a gorilla safari to Bwindi in June?
Where to stay in Bwindi depends on the gorilla trekking sector you are visiting. Rushaga and Nkuringo are in the southern sector of the park while Ruhija and Buhoma are in the north. Tourists must stay in accommodations close to the sectors they are tracking for them to reach the trekking points on time. The accommodations range from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on the client’s budget.
