5-Day Mgahinga Primate Trekking and Hiking Adventure

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our company representative or your English-speaking driver guide. After you will be transferred to your hotel to freshen up. Your safari driver will then brief you on your 5-day Mgahinga primate trekking and hiking adventure, golden monkey trekking, and hiking Mount Sabinyo. You will then drive south to Mgahinga National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. This park is unique for having 3 volcanoes: Gahinga, Sabinyo, and Muhabura, and it offers a chance to meet the Batwa people. The scenic trip lasts about 9-10 hours from Kampala, with stops at the Kayabwe Equator and Ishanyi Food Store for lunch, before checking in at your booked hotel. Have dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel (Luxury), 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Mid-range), Papyrus Guest House (Budget)

Meal Plan: Lunch/ Dinner

After a 5-day adventure in Mgahinga, wake up early to prepare for mountain gorilla trekking. Gather your equipment, including a camera and insect repellent, and dress appropriately in long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, waterproof boots, a rain jacket, gloves, and a brimmed hat. Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack your lunch, and bring enough drinking water. Meet your safari guide to go to the park’s information offices for a briefing on rules and regulations during the trek, and how to behave around the gorillas. You will track the Nyakagezi gorilla family with a UWA ranger guide. It’s recommended to hire a porter to help you carry your belongings.

Start your trek through the forest in search of the endangered gorillas. The time it takes to reach your assigned mountain gorilla family can vary from 45 minutes to 2 hours, based on their movements and location. You should be physically and mentally ready for trekking through hilly and slippery forests. It is important to bring enough water to stay hydrated and energy boasting snacks to maintain your energy while searching for the mountain gorillas.

Upon seeing a mountain gorilla family, the joy of seeing them in their natural home will make the journey worthwhile. A mountain gorilla family includes a silverback leader, mothers, infants, and young gorillas. During your time with them, you can observe their behaviours, social interactions, and the playful actions of the baby gorillas. You will spend an hour with the gorillas, and you can take as many photos and videos as you want to remember the experience. After visiting, return to the starting point to get your mountain gorilla trekking certificate for your support to conserve these endangered gorillas. Enjoy refreshments and lunch, then head to your lodge to relax, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Lake Mutanda Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Travellers Rest Hotel (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

After your 5-day adventure in Mgahinga, start your morning by getting ready with the necessary gear for primate tracking. This includes a rain jacket, waterproof boots, cameras, binoculars, gloves, wipes, and snacks. Have breakfast, then meet your safari guide and drive to the Ntebeko park information center. There, you will join other guests for a briefing led by park rangers, where they will explain the rules for tracking golden monkeys and what to expect during the search. While looking for golden monkeys, you may also see other wildlife species, such as forest elephants, bush pigs, and various birds, such as the Regal Sun Bird, Shelly’s Crimson-wing, among others. Your guide will provide valuable information about your encounters.

You will spend an hour with the golden monkeys, observing their lively movements. When with the mountain gorillas, you will follow them as they eat fruits and vegetables in the bamboo forest. You can take several photos and videos, and ask the park guide any questions you have. After your time with the monkeys, you will go back to the park’s starting point to meet your safari guide for a packed lunch and some relaxation before heading to your lodge. In the evening, you can choose to experience the Batwa culture. The Batwa once lived in the forests, now protected as national parks, but were displaced when these areas were made conservation sites. The Batwa Trail was created to share their traditional lifestyle with others and to preserve it for future generations. Finally, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation option: Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Lake Mutanda Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Travellers Rest Hotel (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

After your 5-day adventure in Mgahinga, wake up early and get ready with the necessary gear. Have breakfast and boxes of packed lunch before your driver takes you to the park offices for a briefing about the hiking rules. You need to register, sign the guest book, and settle any payments before starting the hike on Mount Sabinyo. The guide and rangers will explain what to expect, the mountain’s history, and what to bring. If you arrive late, you must turn back because you won’t finish the hike in time. Each hiker gets a walking stick, and porters are available for heavy gear like cameras. You will have a team of at least 3 locals and an armed ranger to ensure safety from large animals. When you reach the summit, enjoy stunning views of the Virunga Massif and the three countries—Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Afterwards, descend, meet your driver, and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.

Accommodation: Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Lake Mutanda Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Travellers Rest Hotel (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 5: Return to Entebbe to meet your return flight

Inclusions:

• All airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
• 1 Gorilla trekking permit per person
• 1 golden monkey trekking permit per person
• All activities in the itinerary (except those mentioned as optional)
• Full Board accommodation whilst on safari
• All ground transport and Fuel for 5 days]
• A visit and boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
• All park entrance fees and government taxes as per the itinerary.
• Bottled drinking water for 5 days
• Service of an English-speaking professional driver/guide during the safari
• A visit to Kayabwe Equator Landmark/experience

Exclusions:

• Visa ticket
• International airfares
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Items of a personal nature, i.e., telephone/internet usage, laundry, etc.
• Extra Meals, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks such as sodas, juice, wine, etc.
• Tipping
• Change in itinerary, in park fees, or other charges beyond our control.