Bwindi’s erratic weather

There is barely any other national park in Uganda where weather is more critical to the trip than in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. First of all, it is a rain forest so weather changes are erratic and unpredictable. One minute it is bright and warm, the next it is dark, wet and cold.

While you could easily take a trip to any other national park in Uganda on the fly, doing so on a trip to Bwindi could easily send you to hospital. Bwindi is probably a lot colder than any location in Uganda and when it rains, the trails get extremely muddy slippery.

Village Walk in Ruhija Sector

The extremes

Temperatures in this high altitude rain forest range from 7°C to 30°C. That’s how extreme the weather can be in Bwindi. The nights are the most treacherous. This means that warm clothing is extremely essential when traveling to Bwindi. In comparison to the rest of the country, these extremes are out of this world. And keeping that in mind is essential for a tourist’s comfort.

The heavy rains

The National Park receives up to 2390mm of rain each year, the wettest seasons being March to May and September to November. If your goal is to experience extreme conditions as you track for gorillas, these are the months for you. At the peak of the rainy season, it can drizzle for 24 hours straight. For the tourist that can’t stand too much rain, the dry months are June to July and December to February. But don’t be fooled. The tracks in Bwindi are almost always muddy and slippery so the right boots must be chosen for the job at hand. Warm clothing and a rain coat are a must too. While the park provides boots and rain coats before the trek, choosing to come with your own may be your best chance for ultimate comfort.

Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge

Talking about comfort, one of the best places to seek comfortable accommodation in Bwindi is at Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge. The newly opened luxury lodge was designed to let you soak in the elements while enjoying the highest comfort possible. There are fireplaces everywhere, both indoor and outdoor. Wherever you choose as your relaxing spot in the hotel, whether outside for the best views or in the bar or the restaurant or in the bedroom, there are fireplaces to keep you warm at all times.

And on the days you are not tracking gorillas or birding, the lodge offers you a mountain bike ride to stay fit while sight-seeing and soaking in the raw beauty of the rain forest. Smells of mushroom and fern and tree bark will escort you along the narrow paths of the forest before returning to the lodge feeling rejuvenated.

Eco diversity

Bwindi Impenetrable forest boasts of a very rich eco systems with 120 species of mammals, of which gorillas and bush elephants are among. There are over 350 bird species, 310 species of butterflies, 51 species of reptiles, 1000 flowering plant species and 104 species of ferns. All these play a huge role in ensuring that your experience is special no matter how many times you have visited.