It warms the heart of a traveler to go gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda in April. In either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you can experience this. In April, the parks typically receive substantial amounts of rainfall, peaking at 152.7 millimeters. Frequent afternoon showers and occasional thunderstorms are a characteristic.
The heavy rainfall presents a challenge for gorilla trekking safaris in April, as they cause the forest grounds trails to become muddy and slippery. This hiking adventure dares you to have superior levels of physical fitness. Despite these challenges, April offers unique opportunities for those courageous travelers who desire a more daunting experience in the mountainous forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks. So do not forget to bring along with you waterproof clothing or a raincoat or poncho, and a pair of hiking shoes or boots to have a successful gorilla trekking experience.
What is the Location of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda
Bwindi impenetrable National Park in Kanungu district, southwestern Uganda, covers a total land area of 331 square kilometers. Bwindi is situated close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and within geographical coordinates of about Latitude 1.0521° South, and Longitude 29.6201° East. To reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road, you will cover approximately 480 kilometers on road from Kampala, and about 168 kilometers from Kigali city. With altitude ranging from 1,160-2,607 meters above sea level, Bwindi is covered with dense, ancient rainforests and is home to over 400 mountain gorillas, with 24 habituated gorilla families.
With only one habituated gorilla family, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in Kisoro district. The park is situated on geographical coordinates of approximately 1.3614o South and longitude 29.5874o East. Mgahinga shares its ecosystem with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Virunga Massif. this is home of several iconic peaks of Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount. Sabinyo. Mgahinga’s total land area is 33.7 square kilometers, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has varying altitudes that range from 2,227-4,127 meters above sea level.
Vegetation at Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in April.
Precipitation, including high rainfall in April causes both destinations to have extravagant and diverse vegetation. This creates cover for its inhabitant wildlife species, including the mountain gorilla. These parks are also home to bird species such as the Rwenzori batis, African blue flycatcher, African green broadbill, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, Chapin’s flycatcher, great blue turaco and Shelley’s crimson-wing among others. In April, vegetation cover range from montane and lowland rainforests to bamboo forests and open grasslands.
Plant species comprises albizia, Newtonia, pine, mahogany, and star apple among many others. Such vegetation are sources of fruits, leaves, buds, stems for mountain gorillas to feed on. Since the dense vegetation during April provides cover for the gorillas, this makes the gorilla trekking safari fun and full of mystery as you will wonder how long it will take to find them.
Additionally, the increased amount of rainfall in April influences the behavior and movement patterns of the mountain gorillas. Though they are adapted to the wet conditions, and may continue their daily activities despite the heavy rains, their location might be quite irregular. This is because the mountain gorillas can seek shelter in the denser regions of the jungle, thus making it more difficult to locate. But this is part of your thrilling adventure, since encountering them will make you happier than you should have been if you located them in less than an hour.
Temperature conditions at Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in April
During the month of April, temperatures are relatively cooler, with average daytime temperatures at around 20-25oC (68-77oF). At nighttime temperatures are of of about 10-15oC (50-59oF). These can also significantly influence gorilla behavior in either national park. They can warm up during the day, so can be seen, however, rainfall might restrict their movements. Again, this may also reduce their foraging or movement behaviors. This might make it relatively difficult to locate but once encountered, you will not be more excited. Hence find it to be the most memorable trek of your life.
How gorilla trekking safaris are done in Bwindi and Mgahinga Parks?
You must start early in the morning, and latest is 8:00 a.m. This implies that you must be at the park headquarters by 7:30 am for briefing. While gathered at the designated briefing site, a knowledgeable park guide will brief you. His talk is about the proper code of conduct of conducting a successful gorilla trek. Get quick explanations about cautions to conserve both the forests and the wildlife species. After this session, you will be divided into groups of 8 individuals. Each of which is accompanied by a park guide and armed guard to follow specific forest trails.
Along the trails, your group will seek for a habituated gorilla family-familiar to human presence. Meanwhile you should expect to spot a variety of mammals, rodents and some beautiful insects and plant species. The duration of a hike varies, from an hour to six, depending on the location of your gorilla family. See the encountered gorilla family for a a good hour. This plays a huge role in avoiding them from being stressed of uncomfortable. After this it is better to return to the park headquarters. This is where the Uganda Wildlife Authority staff will award you with a certificate. It is to indicate successful completion of the gorilla trekking adventure.
