When to see the gorillas (and when we'd wait)

Every enquiry we receive eventually arrives at the same question: when should we come? For gorilla trekking the honest answer is less dramatic than the internet suggests. The gorillas do not migrate. They are in Bwindi's forest in February and they are there in November, and your permit is valid rain or shine.

What changes is the walking. In the two dry windows — roughly June to August and December to February — the trails firm up, the treks run shorter, and photographers get cleaner light through the canopy. This is peak season, and permits for July can sell out months ahead.

The rains (March to May, and again around October) bring harder walking and lower prices at the lodges. They also bring the forest at its most alive: everything dripping, everything green, and treks that feel earned. Some of our favourite client photographs were taken in April mist.

Our advice, plainly: if your dates are fixed, don't fear the calendar — book the permit early and pack for mud regardless of month, because Bwindi is a rainforest and it does what rainforests do. If your dates are flexible and walking matters more than budget, aim for June through August. If you'd trade some mud for a quieter forest and better rates, the shoulder months are a genuinely good deal.

One practical note that outweighs all seasonality: permits are limited to eight visitors per gorilla family per day. Whatever month you choose, the permit — not the flight — is the thing to secure first. We hold nothing until dates are confirmed, so tell us your window early and we will tell you exactly what is available.