5 Day Primate Trekking and Hiking Mgahinga
5-Day Primate Trekking and Mgahinga Hiking safari starts in Kampala/ Entebbe and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. It involves meeting eye-to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas and the elusive golden monkeys in their natural habitat. You will also have the opportunity to have a clear, stunning view of the three extinct Virunga Volcanoes, creating breathtaking scenery and thrilling hikes, including hiking the most spectacular Mount Sabinyo, reaching its summit offers you the chance to stand in 3 countries at the same time, including Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga Gorilla Park is located in south-western Uganda, established in 1991, and covers an area of 33.9 km². It is Uganda’s smallest park with magical wonders, from the endangered mountain gorillas to the elusive golden monkeys. Beyond its rich biodiversity, including over 29 mammals, 250 bird species, several plants and trees, among others. The park carries deep cultural significance since it was once home to the Batwa pygmies, the forest’s original inhabitants.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport- Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
Upon arrival, you will receive a warm welcome from our company representative and your assigned English-speaking driver guide, meet and greet, and after the transfer, you will be taken to your hotel to freshen up. After your safari driver will brief you about your 5-day gorilla, golden monkey trekking, and hiking Mount Sabinyo. Start your drive southwards to Mgahinga National Park, one of the only two gorilla parks in Uganda, where one can meet the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga National Park is the only park in Uganda where you can meet both the giant mountain gorillas and the beautiful golden monkeys. The park distinguishes itself from other gorilla parks by having three volcanoes, namely Gahinga, Sabinyo, and Muhabura, and is the best destination to meet the Batwa people. It is a scenic journey that will offer you green vegetation cover and breathtaking landscapes along the Masaka- Mbarara to Kabale Kisoro Highway. The journey takes about 9-10 hours from the capital Kampala, but expect to have some stops at Kayabwe Equator and at Igongo Cultural Centre for Lunch. After you proceed with your journey up to your booked hotel/ lodge, check in and relax. Dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Meal Plan: Lunch/ Dinner
Day 2: Mgahinga Gorilla Park- Gorilla Trekking-Experience- Relaxation
Following 5 Day Primate Trekking and Hiking Mgahinga, wake up early in the morning (0530am) to organize yourself, arrange the necessary equipment in preparation for mountain gorilla trekking such as camera, binoculars, insect repellents, get well- dressed in a recommended style for mountain gorilla trekking like long khaki /jean trouser, long sleeved shirt, water proof hiking boots, a rain jacket, heavy duty gloves and round hats, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes, get enough drinking water and meet your safari guide to be transferred to the park information offices to join other guests to be briefed about mountain gorilla trekking dos and don’ts, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas and the expectations. The family to be tracked is called the Nyakagezi gorilla family, which is unique and reliable for tracking, accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger and a forest guide. We would recommend that you hire a porter to help you carry your packed bag and your other items you will need during the mountain gorilla trek. After a pre-mountain gorilla briefing session, start your forest walk in search of the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
The time taken before encountering your allocated mountain gorilla family is not known however, it may be between 45mins to 2 hours, depending on the movements and location of gorilla family therefore, you should be physically and mentally prepared to trek through the forest which is made of hills, depending on the direction that can easily lead you to the location of the gorilla family. That is why it is recommended to carry enough water to keep you hydrated and energy snacks to keep you with enough energy, since you use a lot of energy when walking through the forest in search of the mountain gorillas.
Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat will outweigh the hardship you went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made up of several members, such as the giant silverback, who is always the head and protector of the family, mothers, infants, and juveniles. The time you will spend with the mountain gorillas, you get to know much about their behaviors, how they socialize, and be excited by their actions like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies, and the silverback watching the situation silently as he is ready to protect the family from any kind of attack. You will spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas, and you will be free to capture as many photos and record videos as you want to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle. After, return to the trekking start point to receive your mountain trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Have refreshments and lunch, and then drive to the lodge to relax. Dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation option:
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner
Day 3: Mgahinga Gorilla Park-Golden Monkey Trekking- Optional Batwa Experience
Following your 5-day primate trekking and hiking in Mgahinga, rise early in the morning to prepare your self in a recommended style while tracking primates such as the rain jacket, waterproof hiking boots, cameras, binoculars, heavy duty gloves, wipes, and other necessary equipment, have breakfast, get your packed snacks and meet your safari guide and then drive to the park information centre of Ntebeko to meet other guests to attend the pre-golden monkey tracking briefing by the park ranger guides and the administrators to guide you about the rules and regulations during the tracking exercise, such as how to behave in the presence of thge golden monkeys and what to expect while searching for these beautiful primates and set for your forest walk in search of the golden monkeys. While searching for golden monkeys, there are higher chances of seeing other wildlife species such as forest elephants, bush pigs, buffaloes, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and several bird species, and on a lucky day, you may have a mountain gorilla experience, and your park guide will give you much information about everything you will encounter.
Once you meet the golden monkeys, you will stay with them for a maximum of an hour while enjoying their exciting stubbornness as they are swift in their movement, unlike the giant mountain gorillas. During your time with mountain gorillas, you will keep following them as they feed on vegetables and fruits in the bamboo forest of the park. Feel free to take as many photos as you can and record videos as well, while asking the park guide as many questions as you wish. After exploring the golden monkeys, return to the park starting point to meet your safari guide and enjoy your packed lunch, relax for some time, and return to your lodge. In the evening, you will have an optional Batwa experience for your great, memorable cultural experience. The Batwa people used to stay in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park before both places were made national parks to protect mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and other wildlife species by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. So, this left the Batwa people homeless and living unhappy lives because they were not used to life without forests, where they used to practise hunting small animals for meat and gathering fruits. Therefore, the Batwa Trail was established to demonstrate the Batwa lifestyle to the entire world and to preserve it for the Batwa’s future generation to know their ancestral origin. After, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner
Day 4: Mgahinga National Park- Hiking Mount Sabinyo (Volcano)
Following your 5-day primate trekking and hiking in Mgahinga, wake up early and prepare yourself with all the necessary equipment, have breakfast with a packed lunch, and after your driver guide will transfer you to the park offices for the briefing about the dos and don’ts of the hiking experience. Before the hike, one needs to register at the park office, sign the guest book, and clear any payments. Hiking Mount Sabinyo begins with a briefing. The Guide and Rangers will let you know what to expect, the history of the mountain, and what to carry along. If you don’t reach the park offices on time, you are advised to descend back because it will be too late to complete the activity on time. All hikers are given a walking stick – take it like gold. Porters are available for hire for those who have heavy equipment, such as cameras. You will be escorted by at least three locals. Apart from the official Guide, an armed ranger is always part of the team to scare away large mammals such as elephants that graze on the slopes of the mountain. Upon reaching the summit, you will have once in a lifetime experience with unique panoramic breathtaking views of the Virunga Massif, viewing three countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo from one position. Retire and descend to the bottom of the volcano, meet your driver guide, and return to your lodge. Relax as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner
Day 5: Return to Entebbe to meet your return flight
Inclusion
• All airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
• All ground transport for 5 days
• 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
• Bottled drinking water for 5 days
• Fuel for 5 days
• Service of an English-speaking professional driver/guide during the safari
• A (4×4 WD) safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up
• A visit to Kayabwe Equator Landmark/experience
• Evening: A visit and boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
• All park entrance fees and government taxes as per the itinerary.
Exclusion
• Visa ticket
• International airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Extra Meals, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks such as sodas, juice, wine, etc.
• Tipping
• Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
• Items of a personal nature, i.e., telephone/internet usage, laundry, etc.
• Change in itinerary, in park fees, or other charges beyond our control.