December brings the short dry season and the holiday season to Buhoma simultaneously. Rainfall drops to 70 to 110 mm, trails improve, and the landscape glows green from the October-November rains. The month divides into two distinct halves: early December is moderately quiet with good availability, while mid-December through New Year brings a surge of holiday travelers. Christmas celebrations give the village a festive character unlike any other month. Trekking conditions are good and improving, making December an appealing time to visit for those who enjoy a bit of seasonal warmth — both climatic and communal.
Quick Facts
- Temperature (Day):
- 21-25°C
- Temperature (Night):
- 13-14°C
- Rainfall:
- 70-110 mm (decreasing)
- Season:
- Start of short dry season
- Gorilla Permits:
- Early Dec available; late Dec competitive
- Tourist Density:
- Moderate early, high from mid-month
- Best Activity:
- Gorilla trekking with a festive village backdrop
Weather and Landscape in December
December's weather is a welcome change after the overcast weeks of October and November. The light rainy season loosens its grip, and the familiar pattern of the short dry season establishes itself. Early December may still produce afternoon showers, but by mid-month, dry days become the norm. Morning skies clear, the sun returns to full strength, and the valley opens up with views that were hidden behind cloud for weeks.
The landscape is at a spectacular point. The recent rains have saturated the soil and driven new growth everywhere, and now the returning sunshine illuminates it all. The combination of deep green vegetation and clear blue skies creates the kind of vivid, high-contrast scenery that defines tropical East Africa at its best. The hillsides around Buhoma look like a carefully tended garden — terraces of crops, banana groves, scattered homesteads with red-earth compounds, all set against the dark green wall of Bwindi forest.
Evenings in December are pleasant — warm enough to sit outside after dinner without heavy layers, cool enough to sleep comfortably. The equatorial night sky, when clouds clear, is magnificent. Far from any significant light pollution, Buhoma offers a canopy of stars that city dwellers rarely see.
Village Life in December
December transforms Buhoma in a way no other month does. The approach of Christmas — the most important celebration in this predominantly Christian community — gives the village an energy that is part preparation, part anticipation, and part reunion. Family members who work or study in Kampala, Kabale, and other towns begin returning home in the second and third weeks. The population of the village visibly swells.
The preparations are visible everywhere. Homes are cleaned and repainted. New clothes are purchased or sewn for the holiday. Markets become busier as families stock up on food for the communal Christmas meals — rice, cooking oil, sugar, and meat that might not appear regularly at other times of year. Church choirs practice in the evenings, their voices carrying across the quiet valley.
Christmas Day itself is a community event. Church services begin early and are long, joyful affairs with singing, prayer, and celebration. Families gather for meals that represent abundance and gratitude — rice with groundnut sauce, roasted goat, matoke (steamed green bananas), and chapati. Children wear their new clothes and run between homesteads. The atmosphere is genuinely festive, and visitors who are present are almost always invited to share in the celebration.
Gorilla Trekking in December
Conditions for Buhoma gorilla trekking improve steadily as December progresses. Early December trails may still carry moisture from the November rains, with some soft sections and residual mud. By mid to late December, the paths have firmed considerably, and the walking experience resembles January conditions — manageable, pleasant, and not physically extreme.
The gorillas benefit from the combination of recent rain (which produced abundant food) and improving weather (which allows comfortable feeding and resting). Family groups are often found in mid-elevation areas where food diversity is highest. December gorillas tend to be relaxed and tolerant of visitors, well-fed and settled in productive territories.
The holiday period adds a unique dimension to the trekking experience. Visitors staying at a Buhoma lodge or the Buhoma Community Rest Camp find themselves a short walk from the briefing point and at the center of village life during the most festive week of the year. The briefing area on December 25th or 26th has a special atmosphere — travelers from around the world, many spending their first Christmas in Africa, sharing the anticipation of seeing mountain gorillas. Rangers sometimes offer holiday greetings in multiple languages, and the sense of global community among people who have all chosen this extraordinary place for their holiday is palpable. It is not a typical Christmas morning, but for many, it becomes the most memorable one.