4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey trekking tour
This 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey trekking tour takes you the far South Western part of Uganda close to Uganda-Rwanda border and Uganda-Congo border. Mgahinga national park is located in the Virunga Mountains adjoining with the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and it is the only park in Uganda where we find the mountain Gorillas and the Golden monkeys hence its described as a place where “Gold meets Silver”. The park has only one gorilla family called Nyakagezi and the experience is the same as that of any other gorilla trekking destination in Bwindi national park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park. This trip combines an amazing safari experience where visitors will trek the mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys and at the same time enjoying the Volcano hike with views of the forests, different bird species, views of the Volcano Mountains and on a lucky day you may also sight the Nyirangongo Volcano.
Note that given the long distance drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Mgahinga national park which is 8-9 hours drive, you may opt to fly to Kisoro airstrip in Kisoro town which is the closest to the park. Flying to Kisoro airstrip takes 2 hours and from Kisoro to Mgahinga national park, is about 40 minutes’ drive. Alternatively, this trip can also start in Kigali-Rwanda given that it is closer to drive from Kigali to Mgahinga national park taking about 4-5 hours driving through the rolling hills of Rwanda and Uganda. Booking the 4 days Mgahinga national park tour now and have a lifetime primates’ experience.
Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Kisoro
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 3: Golden Monkey trekking and Batwa Community tour
- Day 4: Return to Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey trekking tour: Transfer to Kisoro
Depending on your location in Kampala/Entebbe, you will be met by our company representative who will also be your safari guide throughout the trip. He will introduce and brief you about the whole itinerary before you embark on your journey to Mgahinga national park located in Kisoro district in the far south west of Uganda close to the Rwanda and Congo borders. Since it is quite a long drive, you will enjoy en-route stops at the Equator and in Mbarara town which is the largest and urban town in the western part of Uganda for lunch and refreshments. On reaching, Kisoro town in the evening, proceed to your accommodation. Check-in, refresh as you wait for dinner and overnight rest.
Accommodation and meals (Full board)
- Luxury option: Gahinga lodge
- Mid-range option: Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
- Budget option: Travellers’ Rest Hotel
Day 2 of 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey trekking tour: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides before entering the forest in your trekking gears including trekking sticks, good hiking shoes and stocking for tacking-in, long sleeved shirts and long trousers and a rain coat or jacket to mention but a few. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is no different from other trekking parks that is trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas as they roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day however the rangers will be able to find them as they tracked daily.
On finding them, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour as you view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back to meet your driver/guide and transfer back to your lodge. Relax as you enjoy the views of the Virunga Mountains, dinner and overnight stya at accommodation as above
Day 3 of 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey trekking tour: Golden Monkey trekking and Batwa Community tour
After breakfast, drive back to the park with your packed lunch in your trekking gears. It is the same procedure of trekking as of the previous day. Gather at the park head offices with other tourists for briefing about the Golden monkeys before you enter the forest, hiking through the trial that leads to where the Golden monkeys could be. On a lucky day you may encounter the gorillas again, different birds and forest animals. Trekking may take 2-5 hours depending on their location. On meeting them, you will spend an hour in their presence before you return to meet your guide.
You will later afternoon connect for a Batwa community tour. The Batwa people are the ethic group who occupied forest before it was gazetted as a national park. They are the pygmies of Uganda with a unique lifestyle. Visiting this community will remind you of the olden days of an African siting where food was got through hunting, gathering from fruits and honey, disease treatment using medical plants to mention a few. Later evening return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Return to Entebbe
After early morning breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe with en-route lunch and refreshments. Depending on your flight arrangements, you will be dropped at a location you will advise including airport drop off if you have a flight on this very day. End of Safari
