September is often overlooked in favour of July and August, which are more prominently marketed as Uganda’s peak gorilla trekking months. But September has qualities that make it one of the best months of the year for the experience. The long rains have fully ended. The forest is lush and green from months of rainfall — more so than the hotter, drier June-July period. Permit availability is marginally better than peak summer. And the combination of post-rain freshness with dry-season trail conditions creates a forest environment that experienced trekkers often prefer to any other month.
September Conditions
September falls at the tail end of Uganda’s long dry season. The trails are firm. The weather in the mornings is clear and cool. The forest, refreshed by the April-May rains that preceded the dry season, is at its most biodiverse in terms of fruiting trees and insect activity — which in turn makes the gorillas’ feeding behaviour more varied and interesting to observe. The light in September, with the sun at a higher angle than the summer solstice months, produces different photography conditions that many visitors prefer.
The gorilla permit costs $800 USD for international visitors in 2027. September demand is high but slightly lower than July and August. Booking two to three months in advance — by June or July — is sufficient to secure most September dates. Contact us to check September 2027 availability and to plan the itinerary for what may be the most underrated month in the Uganda gorilla trekking calendar.
