Plan your Hiking – Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking Wildlife Safari
Practical Ways for Planning Your Hiking Safari in Uganda
Practical Advice – Tips for Planning Your Hiking Safari in Uganda – Rwanda. You will find helpful information to help you plan a Hiking – Walking Safari in Uganda and Rwanda. There are many challenging Trails, Climbs in Uganda and Rwanda, and beaten Tourist tracks.
Kabiza Wilderness Safaris specializes in Hiking Adventures, Walking, and Climbing Safaris that take in some of the most scenic sights in the heart of Africa. We will assist you in every possible way to make your time in Africa a success.
When it comes to Trekking and hitting the Trails – we know the best ones and the ones that are just right for you. We see the clothing and equipment you need as we plan your hikes – Climbs – Walking Safaris with you.
Planning your Hiking Safari
Decide what time of the year is best for your hiking Safari in Uganda:
Uganda, because of the Rwenzori Mountains, the Great Lakes such as Lake Albert and Lake Victoria offer you a temperate climate with Holiday Weather all year long. The best to visit Uganda months can be broken down into High Seasons, the dry season, and low Seasons, which are the rainy seasons.
The Time of year is a key to a successful Safari in Africa. Two main seasons will affect your safari planning, dry and rainy. During the dry season, rainfall is rare except in Uganda’s Rainforests. The air is dry, and temperatures vary widely between hot and cold. Savannah vegetation will be sparse, and animals must fight for survival.
While the heat during the day may make your Safari uncomfortable, it’s important to remember that this is the Best Time of the year to spot wildlife. With little water, animals concentrate around riverbeds, lakes, and watering holes, giving you more chances to see wildlife readily.
It is easier to spot wildlife during the dry season since there is less foliage on the trees and bushes. However, temperatures will rise in Savannah Parks to above 30°Celsius, and Kidepo Valley Park will be hotter during its dry season.
On the other hand, the rainy season will be cooler, and the landscape will be green and lush. The rainy season is usually the off-season or shoulder season for safaris. It is much harder to spot game as the animals now have a surplus of water and don’t have to travel to riverbeds and waterholes to drink.
The rainy season is also when the state of the roads degrades. However, if you time it right with the shoulder season, you can find fewer crowds and lower prices because luxury lodges reduce their rates.
Month by Month – High Seasons are the Dry Seasons of the Year
The busiest seasons of the year are from Mid-June to September. October is the shoulder season’s transition month, moving toward the rainy season. September and October have fewer tourists.
The Other High-and Dry Season is from mid-December to March, and March is the transition or shoulder season month.
Low Seasons – Rainy Seasons of the Year
April to Mid-June is part of the rainy season. Luxury Lodges lower their rates during those times, but dates vary lodge by lodge. The benefits for some are fewer people, and the Savannah parks begin to bloom afresh.
November into Mid-December is the other rainy season. Rainy Season in Uganda does not mean Monsoon like the weather. Most rain falls at night, and the sun still comes out, but the trails are muddy.
Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking take place in Rainforests. There it can rain anytime. However, most rain falls at night or during the early pre-dawn morning hours.
Safaris occur all the year, and Safari-Goers always have an extraordinary time.
Decide what activities you want to include in your Hiking Safari:
The activities and locations you include in your Hiking Safari determine the number of days required for your time in Uganda. Seven days or longer are ideal and will allow you to add Gorilla, Golden Monkey, Chimpanzee Trekking, Wildlife, and cultural encounters along with the climbs and hikes you want to include.
Below you can see various activities that fit perfectly into a hiking safari.
- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park – usually, this is a 5-hour trek and, depending on the gorilla family, can be physically challenging.
- All Day Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari – Trek in and out of Bwindi – spend 4 hours with a Gorilla Family being habituated – this is usually an all-day trek.
- Walking – Hiking Safaris in various parks of Uganda and Rwanda, including hiking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Nyungwe Forest including the famous Canopy Walk. Volcanoes National Park and the extended Nile-Congo Trail in Rwanda.
- Chimpanzee Trekking-Habituation is best done in Rwanda in Kibale Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, Semliki Valley, and Nyungwe Forest.
- Golden Monkey Tracking – Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Volcanoes National Park
- Canoeing Safaris in a dugout canoe on Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda
- Interactive Forest Walks with the Batwa People –the first people of the forest – these are 2 to 5 hikes nature-walks
- Volcano Climbing – Virunga Volcanoes – Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Rwanda Volcanoes National Park.
- Rwenzori Mountains – Foothill hikes.
The right things to wear for a Hike – Climb:
Hiking and climbing in Uganda wear the right clothes to protect you and keep you comfortable on your one-day hike or climb. The link above will also show you what to wear on forest and savanna hikes.
The best insect repellent that works with Mosquitoes and Tsetse Flies is the Australian product “RID.”
When going on a Nature Walk, Hike, Gorilla Trek, or Volcano Climb, the terrain matters, and a walking stick that often can be purchased locally will come in handy. These are sticks that are usually taller than a person and give good support on slippery slopes such as in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and the Rwenzori Mountains Foothills.
It is suggested that you have a daypack where you put a light rain jacket, packed lunch or snacks, drinking water, and most often, you will need at least 2 to 3 liters. Read more here.
Planning Your Hiking Safari in Uganda-Rwanda – If you have any questions, please contact us with the form below.
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