Not every destination gives travelers a reason to visit during off-peak seasons. But kudos to Uganda for introducing special rates during the months of April, May and November. Four years after the decrease in gorilla permit prices during this period, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has witnessed a marked increase in visitation.
Traditionally, Uganda’s rainy seasons between late-September and November (short rains) and from March to May (long rains) were considered less-than-ideal times to undertake a safari. Gorilla tracking during this period was believed to be more challenging than during dry spells.
The long-held belief that the best trekking, hiking and game-viewing periods are during the dry months of June through early September and late December through February has kept away a number of potential travelers. But no longer.
The climate of southern Uganda has changed in recent years to the point where even during the rainy seasons, forested areas like Bwindi experience sunshine most of the day, with cloudy moments (ideal for hiking and nature photography) and scattered rainfall in the afternoons. Quite often, afternoon rains finish as quickly as they start. With such predictability, Adventure Consults can easily plan for your daily excursions.
Nowadays, off-peak travelers have more time and space to comfortably explore the Pearl of Africa. Low-season travel rates have also helped stem competition for gorilla permits during the busy months and some of the touristy chaos that ensued. In line with this move, Adventure Consults has partnered with a number of lodges around the gorilla parks for special rates to make our safari packages even less costly.
Uganda’s Low-Season Gorilla Permit Rates:
- Foreign Non-residents: US$450 compared to the standard US$600
- Foreign Residents: US$400 compared to the standard US$500
- East Africans: UGX 150,000 compared to the standard UGX 250,000.
Mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Parc National Des Volcans in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At the moment, we only offer gorilla packages in Uganda and Rwanda.
Although Uganda has greatly benefited from low-season prices, Rwanda has gone the opposite direction, a bold move to increased gorilla permits to US$1,500. For more information follow this link.
Plan your trip and take advantage of Uganda’s low-season rates. Not only is the gorilla trekking awesome, but the national parks are less crowded, the yellowy-brown hues of the dry season have faded away in favor of a beautiful verdant green, and it could be argued that the rainy seasons are actually better for nature photography. Get in touch!