Best Time to Visit Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla Trekking 2024

Learn about the Best Time to Visit Volcanoes National Park, ensuring optimal conditions for encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Dry Months – The Best Time to visit Volcanoes National Park for Ultimate Experience:

Best time to visit volcanoes national park is in the dry months of June to Mid-September and December to February. During these months, the maximum temperatures rise to between 25C and 27C (77F to 81F) degrees during the day and fall to between 13.5C and 15C (56F to 59F) at night.

This is the best time to go for gorilla trekking and do canopy walks since the trails are dry and passable. However you must remember that this is a tropical rain forest meaning you should expect rain at any time of year and the weather here can be quite cool in the evenings and early mornings.

Therefore, we recommend packing some warm clothing for this adventure such as a jacket and boots.

Many travelers prefer to visit Volcanoes National Park in the drier months to experience gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, hiking and nature walks. This is because the trails are less muddy and slippery and there’s less likelihood of getting drenched by rainfall.

The long dry season in Volcanoes coincides with summertime in the northern hemisphere. This is the time when travelers plan their adventures to Africa since most schools in Europe and North America close for the summer holidays.

Travelers also plan their trips in the winter months of December and January to the countries in the south, which are warmer during this time.

Wet Months – Best Time to Visit for Budget Travelers;

The wet months in Volcanoes National Park run from March to mid-May and July to September. March to May is a long wet season and may not be favorable for travelers intending to visit Volcanoes National Park.

Although these months are associated with heavy rainfalls, there are still great opportunities to enjoy the wide range of activities here such a gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, hiking, and nature walks among others, as it rains for a few hours and shines the rest of the day.

The wet season gives you the best opportunity to see specific mountain gorilla families. During the rainy seasons, temperature at higher elevations drop and the gorillas prefer to remain on the lower slopes of the mountain making it is easier to trek and see them.

Although the trails can be challenging to climb due to being slippery, you might equally easily find a gorilla family assigned to you within a short period of time say an hour or two after starting your trek.

Food is more plentiful in these months and the gorillas don’t have to wander far away to find food. They normally eat fleshy leaves, tender bamboo shoots, roots, insects, wild fruits, and wild celery among others.

The cool weather offer a much better contrast for photographers. It is usually cloudy during sometime of the day and thus offering a clear coverage since the vegetation will look all green and clear in your shots.

This is also the best time for avid birders to visit the park since there is plenty of food for birds. That means it is their nesting period and therefore expect to see an abundance of both migratory and resident bird species here.

Generally, Volcanoes National Park can be visited at any time of year although most travelers prefer visiting in the dry months because the trails are dry and can be easily navigated as compared to the wet months.

Whatever time of year you visit Volcanoes National Park, you are sure to experience its magnificent scenery, incredible wildlife and lots of activities to embark on.