Equatorial Uganda enjoys a tropical climate which is tempered by altitude and shows very little variation throughout the year. Due to the rather high average altitude of 1000m temperatures range between 21 to 28 degrees however this may increase slightly from December to February. There are two wet seasons in Uganda and these vary depending on the region. In the south the wettest month of the year is April with the rainy seasons stretching from April to May and October to November. The wet season in the north is from April to October with the rest of the year being fairly dry. The best times to visit Uganda are December-March and June-September but be prepared for rain throughout the year.
Getting to Uganda is easy, with regular flights from Europe landing at Entebbe International Airport, just 40km from Kampala. Alternatively you can fly into Nairobi and take a connecting flight or a direct coach which runs on a daily basis.
To get to the gorillas and explore the game parks you will require a vehicle. Mahlatini will provide you with an excellent driver / guide who will privately transfer you to each destination in your itinerary. On any trip to Uganda you can expect to experience road conditions that range from excellent to very poor. Some of the drives to the various destinations are very long, for example from Entebbe to Bwindi it is around 10 hours. To avoid feeling like your holiday is being spent from a vehicle Mahlatini will advise on breaking up journeys with exciting stops along the way. We often find that people want to fly in, see the gorillas and fly out and where possible we will try to dissuade you from this. The reason being that Uganda is such an incredible beautiful country which so much more to offer than gorillas and we want you truly experience the country and its friendly people for as long as possible.
There are also group trips which run throughout Uganda. These can be more reasonably priced than the private trips. Chat to Mahlatini's Uganda experts who will refer you to a group trip which will suit you best.
Gorilla tracking is usually the most important component of Uganda itineraries. Generally Mahlatini arrange the tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. In the park there are currently 3 groups of habituated gorillas which can each be tracked by a group of 8 humans. In order to see the gorillas you are required to obtain a gorilla permit. These are currently $500 per person which Mahlatini will arrange for you and include in your price.
Accommodation in Uganda varies from luxury lodges to comfortable camp sites and guest houses. Mahlatini's Uganda experts have visited a large majority of these accommodations and will be able to provide you with personal opinions on what to expect.
Whether it is game viewing, gorillas, chimpanzees, birds, culture or adventure you are after Uganda has it all. Click here to be taken to our specialist site dedicated solely to Uganda. Once you had a look through this site, give Mahlatini a call and either Sarah or Laura will talk you through your options and design you a dream trip to the land of the gorilla.
For more comprehensive information on Gorilla Trekking visit our site dedicated to Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.