Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda: A Month-by-Month Guide

By Anna Axelson, Operations Manager, East Africa Safaris · Updated October 2026

The best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is the long dry season, June to September, when the trails are at their driest, with the short dry season, December to February, as the second-best window. Gorilla trekking takes place year-round, and the wetter months bring Uganda's lowest permit price: $600 instead of $800 in April, May and November. Rwanda's $1,500 permit has a low-season discount from November to May, but it comes with conditions and is not guaranteed. For dry trails, book July and August about 6 months ahead. For value, look at Uganda in April, May or November.

Checked: October 2026. Prices are in US dollars for foreign non-residents, and every figure is tied to a numbered source below.

Gorilla trekking month by month

Seasons follow Visit Rwanda, the official tourism site of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the Uganda Tourism Board. Weather varies from year to year and often within a day, so treat the seasons as a guide, not a forecast.

* From November to May, RDB lists a 30% low-season discount on the gorilla permit for travelers who also stay two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe National Park with a paid activity there. It depends on availability and RDB's conditions and is not guaranteed, so ask us whether it can apply to your dates.

† The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) low-season rate. These permits cannot be rescheduled.

Dry and rainy seasons in Rwanda and Uganda

In broad terms, both countries have a long dry season from June to September, a short dry season from December to February, and wetter months from March to May and from October to November. The official dates differ a little by country.

Rwanda

Visit Rwanda lists two rainy seasons: mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December. The main dry season runs from June to mid-September, with light cloud and only occasional light rain, and Visit Rwanda says roads and paths are easier to navigate then. Mid-December to mid-February falls between the two rainy seasons.

Uganda

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) names December to February and June to August as Uganda's dry seasons and the best times for gorilla trekking, because the trails are drier. Its rainy seasons are March to May and September to November, when it says trekking can be more challenging. UTB adds that the west of the country, home to Bwindi and Mgahinga, gets some of Uganda's heaviest rain, but showers are usually followed by sun.

Temperature and altitude

Temperature hardly changes with the seasons. In the World Bank's climate data for 1991 to 2020, the average monthly temperature varies by only about 1°C (2°F) across the year in Rwanda and about 2°C (3.6°F) in Uganda. Altitude matters more than the month. Visit Rwanda says treks reach 2,500 to 4,000 meters (about 8,200 to 13,100 feet) and calls the Virunga mountains the coolest part of the country, and RDB says Musanze, at 1,700 meters, is generally cold, especially in the evening. Pack warm layers in any month.

What rain changes on a gorilla trek

Gorilla trekking takes place year-round. Rain can make the trails more slippery and challenging, so treks may sometimes be longer or shorter depending on trail conditions and the gorillas' location. Most treks are generally manageable in duration, and rain does not necessarily mean a longer trek. We recommend proper waterproof hiking gear during the rainy seasons.

• Time. The hike depends on where your gorilla family is that morning: 30 minutes to more than four hours in Rwanda, according to Visit Rwanda, and 2 to 7 hours for the whole activity in Uganda, according to UWA. Your time with the gorillas is one hour in every season.
• Gear. Visit Rwanda recommends solid walking shoes with gaiters, gardening or leather gloves against stinging nettles, and a lightweight waterproof jacket. For our full packing list, see our frequently asked questions.
• Help on the trail. Porters can carry your backpack and camera and give you a hand along the route, according to Visit Rwanda. Porter fees are not included in our published prices.
• When the rain falls. RDB calls Musanze's climate "changeable," with sun and rain often in the same day. SafariBookings reports that in Volcanoes most rain falls in the afternoon, while treks start in the morning: visitors gather at park headquarters in Kinigi at 7:00 AM, according to Visit Rwanda.
• Photography. RDB allows photos but not flash. SafariBookings reports mist and poor visibility in the wet months and says rain can interfere with photography in Bwindi, while the dry months bring more sun but can be hazy. A rain cover or dry bag for your camera is worth packing in any month.
• Roads. SafariBookings notes that some access roads to Bwindi may need a 4×4 in the wet season. Most of our tours use 4×4 safari vehicles, including Land Cruisers, Toyota Prados, and safari vans.

Fitness, age and health rules in every month

These rules are the same in the dry and rainy seasons.

• Fitness. No specific fitness benchmark is required. At the morning briefing in Kinigi, rangers assign groups to gorilla families with fitness in mind, according to Visit Rwanda. If you are less steady on your feet, choose the drier months, hire a porter, and tell us about any mobility concerns before you book.
• Minimum age. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 in both Rwanda and Uganda, so children under 15 cannot trek. Younger travelers can track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park from age 12, according to RDB.
• Masks. Visitors should wear masks during the trek to protect the gorillas from respiratory diseases such as coughs and flu. UWA's rules also bar anyone with a cold or other infectious illness from visiting the gorillas.

How much can you save in the low season?

Both official low seasons fall mostly in the rainy months.

• Uganda: $600 in April, May and November. UWA's notice of February 26, 2026 cut the gorilla permit from $800 to $600 in those months. It says the low-season permits cannot be rescheduled, and it gives no end date.
• Rwanda: a conditional 30% discount from November to May. RDB's booking portal lists it for travelers who stay two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe National Park, or one night in each, with a paid hotel receipt and at least one paid activity there. It depends on availability and RDB's conditions and is not guaranteed, so ask us whether it can apply to your dates.

Here is how the low seasons line up with our gorilla tours. Prices are per person and include the gorilla permit at the standard non-resident rate.

The 4-day Uganda safari treks in Mgahinga or Bwindi (Rushaga or Nkuringo sector), depending on gorilla permit availability and your preference. The 4-day double makes one trek in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga.

Our published prices are the same in every month, so ask us whether a low-season rate applies to your dates. If an approved date change requires rebooking a permit, our fee is USD 300 per permit, and UWA's low-season permits cannot be rescheduled at all. For the full figures, see our gorilla trekking permit cost guide and gorilla trekking cost guide.

How far ahead should you book?

Permit supply is fixed. Each habituated family takes eight visitors a day, which gives Rwanda 96 permits a day across 12 families, according to Visit Rwanda. UWA says Mgahinga issues about eight permits a day.

SafariBookings reports that Uganda's peak seasons are June to August and December to February. For July and August, and for peak dates generally, we recommend booking about 6 months ahead.

Payment rules add to the lead time. RDB sells permits first come, first served, and since March 1, 2026, UWA secures Uganda permits only on full payment. On our side, a 50% deposit confirms your booking and lets us buy permits, and the balance is due 30 days before your start date.

Pairing gorillas with other activities by season

• Golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park. Same park, same weather as the gorilla trek. Our 3-day and 4-day Uganda tours include a golden monkey trek in Volcanoes. RDB charges $100 and sets the minimum age at 12.
• Chimpanzees, Nyungwe National Park. SafariBookings rates June to September as the best time for chimpanzee trekking, on drier trails, and the wet season as the best for forest birding. On our 7-day Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari, the chimpanzee trek starts at 5:00 AM.
• Game drives, Akagera National Park. SafariBookings calls June to September the prime time for wildlife and says mid-December to mid-February is also good. The 7-day trip spends two days in Akagera, then visits Nyanza, tracks chimpanzees in Nyungwe, stays on Lake Kivu and ends with the gorillas, from $4,378 per person for six.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Maasai Mara. Both are on our 15-day East Africa safari, priced on request, which tracks gorillas in Mgahinga. SafariBookings rates Queen Elizabeth best from January to February and June to July, and gives July or August to October as the best chance of seeing the wildebeest migration in the Mara, with river crossings best in August and September.
• Kwita Izina. Rwanda's gorilla naming ceremony was held in Kinigi on September 4, 2026. The 2027 date is set by RDB, and we will add it here once RDB announces it.

Which month should you pick?

• You want the easiest trails: June to September, or to mid-September in Rwanda. For July and August, book about 6 months ahead. The 1-day and 2-day Rwanda treks are the shortest options.
• You want dry weather outside July and August: December to February, the short dry season, at its best from mid-December to mid-February in Rwanda. For a longer Rwanda trip, the 7-day safari adds Akagera, which SafariBookings also rates as good in those months.
• You want the lowest permit price: April, May or November in Uganda, at $600 instead of $800, if you can accept wetter trails and fixed dates. Our 4-day Uganda safari treks in Mgahinga or Bwindi (Rushaga or Nkuringo sector), depending on gorilla permit availability and your preference.
• You want two gorilla treks: the 4-day Uganda double makes one trek in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga. In the wet months, pack for two days of muddy trails.
• You are short on time: the 1-day and 2-day Rwanda treks run year-round. In the rainy seasons, bring proper waterproof hiking gear.
• You want gorillas and the Great Migration: August on the 15-day trip, inside Uganda's dry season and the Mara's best months for river crossings. Book early.
• Your dates are flexible: skip October, which is wet and full price in both countries.
• You are traveling with children: the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, so plan the gorilla trek for travelers aged 15 and over. Golden monkey tracking is open from age 12.

Check permit availability for your dates

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month for gorilla trekking?

For the driest trails, June to September, the long dry season in both Rwanda and Uganda. July and August fall in the middle of it and are peak dates at full price, so we recommend booking about 6 months ahead. December to February is the second, shorter dry season. Gorilla trekking takes place year-round, so you can also trek in the wetter months.

What is the best month for gorilla trekking in Uganda?

For conditions, June to August or December to February, the dry seasons named by the Uganda Tourism Board. For price, April, May and November, when the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sells gorilla permits at $600 instead of $800. Those months fall in Uganda's rainy seasons, and UWA says its low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Our 4-day Uganda safari treks in Mgahinga or Bwindi (Rushaga or Nkuringo sector), depending on gorilla permit availability and your preference.

What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

June to mid-September, Rwanda's main dry season according to Visit Rwanda, with mid-December to mid-February as a second, drier window between the rains. The permit costs $1,500. From November to May, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) lists a 30% low-season discount if you also stay two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe National Park with a paid activity there, but it is not guaranteed, so ask us whether it can apply to your dates.

Can you go gorilla trekking in the rainy season?

Yes. Gorilla trekking takes place year-round, and our published tours run 7 days a week. Rain can make the trails more slippery and challenging, so treks may sometimes be longer or shorter depending on trail conditions and the gorillas' location. Most treks are generally manageable in duration, and rain does not necessarily mean a longer trek. We recommend proper waterproof hiking gear during the rainy seasons.

When are gorilla permits cheapest?

In Uganda, in April, May and November, when UWA's permit is $600 instead of $800, although those permits cannot be rescheduled. In Rwanda, RDB lists a 30% low-season discount from November to May for travelers who also spend two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe with a paid activity there. It depends on availability and conditions and is not guaranteed. Ask us whether a low-season rate applies to your dates.

How far ahead should I book gorilla trekking for July or August?

We recommend booking about 6 months ahead for July and August, and for peak dates generally. Rwanda has only 96 permits a day, according to Visit Rwanda. In Uganda, UWA secures permits only on full payment. Our 50% deposit confirms your booking and lets us buy the permits.

Is October a good month for gorilla trekking?

It is the weakest value. October falls in the rainy season in both countries, according to Visit Rwanda and the Uganda Tourism Board, and neither RDB nor UWA offers a low-season permit rate that month. Early September in Rwanda gives you drier weather at the same price, and November gives you similar weather with Uganda's $600 permit.

Is there a minimum age or fitness level for gorilla trekking?

The minimum age is 15 in Rwanda and Uganda, so children under 15 cannot trek. No specific fitness benchmark is required, and a porter can carry your bag. Visitors should wear masks during the trek to protect the gorillas from respiratory diseases such as coughs and flu.

Sources

Official sources checked October 1, 2026, and our tour prices October 7, 2026. Official sources first.

1. Visit Rwanda, Weather (official, RDB): https://visitrwanda.com/facts/weather/. Supports the rainy seasons (mid-February to May, mid-September to mid-December), the dry season (June to mid-September, light cloud and occasional light rain), easier roads and paths in the dry season, and the Virunga mountains being the coolest part of the country.
2. Visit Rwanda, Gorilla Tracking (official, RDB): https://visitrwanda.com/interests/gorilla-tracking/. Supports the $1,500 permit, minimum age 15, 12 habituated families, eight permits per family per day, 96 permits a day, hikes of 30 minutes to four or more hours, altitudes of 2,500 to 4,000 meters, the 7:00 AM gathering at Kinigi and family allocation by fitness, porters, and gaiters, gloves and a waterproof jacket.
3. RDB booking portal, Mountain Gorilla Tracking (official): https://visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw/rdbportal/mountain-gorilla-tracking. Supports the $1,500 foreigner rate, one hour with the gorillas, eight visitors per group, photos allowed without flash, first-come, first-served bookings, and the description of Musanze's climate as changeable, with sun and rain in the same day, and quite cold in the evening at 1,700 meters.
4. RDB booking portal, Low Season Discount (Gorilla Trekking) (official): https://visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw/rdbportal/low-season-discount. Supports the 30% discount from November to May, the two-night Akagera or Nyungwe condition (or one night in each), and the hotel receipt and paid activity requirement.
5. RDB booking portal, Golden Monkeys (official): https://visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw/rdbportal/golden-monkeys. Supports the $100 fee and minimum age of 12.
6. Kwita Izina official site (official, RDB): https://kwitaizina.rw/. Supports the September 4, 2026 ceremony in Kinigi. No 2027 date was listed on October 1, 2026.
7. Uganda Tourism Board, Explore Uganda, "About Uganda" (official): https://exploreuganda.com/about-us/. Supports the dry seasons (December to February, June to August) as the best time for gorilla trekking because trails are drier, the rainy seasons (March to May, September to November) making trekking more challenging, and rain in the west typically being followed by sunny periods.
8. Uganda Tourism Board, Explore Uganda, "Traveler Tips" (official): https://exploreuganda.com/traveler-tips/. Corroborates the rainy seasons (March to May, September to November).
9. UWA notice, "Introduction of Low Season Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permit Rates and Revised Tariff Structure," Ref TDO 93/04, February 26, 2026 (official PDF): https://ugandawildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tariff-changes-2026-2027.pdf. Supports the $600 low-season gorilla permit in April, May and November, that low-season permits cannot be rescheduled, the $800 rate continuing from January 1, 2027, and the suspension of the 7-day reservation window from March 1, 2026, so permits are secured only on full payment at booking. No end date is given for the low-season rate.
10. UWA Rates/Tariffs page (official): https://ugandawildlife.org/uwa-rates/. Supports that no newer tariff or notice than the February 26, 2026 notice was listed on October 1, 2026.
11. UWA Conservation Tariff, July 2024 to June 2026 (official PDF): https://ugandawildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UWA-Conservation-Tariff-July-2024-June-2026.pdf. Supports the $800 standard permit, minimum age 15, one hour with the gorillas, eight visitors per family, and no gorilla visits by anyone with a cold or other infectious illness.
12. UWA, Gorilla Tracking activity page (official): https://ugandawildlife.org/activities/gorilla-tracking/. Supports treks of 2 to 7 hours and Mgahinga issuing about eight permits a day.
13. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, Rwanda and Uganda historical climate data (reputable dataset, CRU TS 4.07, 1991 to 2020): https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/rwanda/climate-data-historical and https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/uganda/climate-data-historical. Supports the small seasonal temperature range: Rwanda's average monthly temperature runs from 18.6°C to 19.7°C, and Uganda's from 22.3°C to 24.3°C.
14. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Volcanoes NP," Philip Briggs (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/volcanoes/best-time. Supports that it mostly rains in the afternoon while activities are held in the morning, that visibility can be poor in the wet season, and that the park is open for gorilla trekking all year.
15. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Bwindi Impenetrable," Philip Briggs (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/bwindi/best-time. Supports rain interfering with photography, misty conditions, haze in the dry season and some access roads needing a 4×4.
16. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Nyungwe," Philip Briggs (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/nyungwe/best-time. Supports June to September as the best time for chimpanzee trekking and the wet season as the best for forest birding.
17. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Akagera," Philip Briggs (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/akagera/best-time. Supports June to September as the prime time for wildlife and mid-December to mid-February as also good.
18. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Queen Elizabeth NP," Philip Briggs (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/queen-elizabeth-np/best-time. Supports wildlife viewing being best from January to February and June to July.
19. SafariBookings, "Best Time To Visit Masai Mara," Anthony Ham (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/masai-mara/best-time. Supports the best chance of seeing the migration from July or August to October, and river crossings in August and September.
20. SafariBookings, "Gorilla Permit Uganda 2026," Heather Richardson, updated June 22, 2026 (reputable secondary): https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/gorilla-permit-uganda-everything-need-know. Supports Uganda's peak seasons (June to August, December to February).
21. East Africa Safaris tour pages: /tour/1-day-rwanda-gorilla-trekking-adventure/, /tour/2-day-gorilla-trekking-in-volcanoes-national-park/, /tour/3-day-uganda-gorilla-and-golden-monkey-trekking/, /tour/4-day-uganda-gorilla-and-golden-monkey-trekking-safari/, /tour/4-day-uganda-double-gorilla-trekking-and-golden-monkey-safari/, /tour/7-day-rwanda-wildlife-and-primates-safari-adventure/, /tour/15-day-ultimate-east-africa-safari-rwanda-uganda-kenya-tanzania/. Supports the prices (solo, two sharing and six sharing; the 7-day trip from $4,378 per person for six; the 15-day trip on request), one gorilla permit per person at the non-resident rate included (two on the double trek), year-round availability 7 days a week, golden monkey treks in Volcanoes on the 3-day and 4-day tours, the double trek in Bwindi and Mgahinga, the 7-day route (two days in Akagera, Nyanza, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe at 5:00 AM, nights on Lake Kivu and the gorilla trek), and the 15-day route through Mgahinga, Queen Elizabeth and the Maasai Mara.
22. East Africa Safaris, Payment and Cancellation Policy, Rev. September 12, 2026; Mark Axelson's answers of September 28 to 29, 2026; and Anna Axelson's answers of October 6, 2026: supports the 50% deposit, the balance at 30 days, the USD 300 per-permit rebooking fee, the 6-month lead time for July, August and peak dates, porter fees not being included in published prices, our vehicles, how rain affects treks, the 4-day Uganda safari's parks, no fitness benchmark, the minimum age of 15 on our tours, and masks on the trek.