The 3 days Uganda gorilla safari Mgahinga (2 nights/3 day Mgahinga gorilla trekking Uganda safari tour) takes you gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kampala/Kigali with Lake Bunyonyi and community tours
To start your 3 days Mgahinga Gorilla trekking in Uganda safari, you will drive from Kampala about 519km for 10 hours’ drive OR for 4 hours from Kigali Rwanda to Mgahinga gorilla park through the perfect wilderness and amazing scenery of the Virunga mountains, the local people, and a stop at the Equator if you from Kampala. The following day you will wake in the morning, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing then embark on your gorilla trek in Mgahinga National Park forest where you will find the Nyakagyezi Gorilla Family – the only habituated gorilla group that thrives in the slopes of the three Virunga Mountains in Uganda.
After tracking the gorillas, you will return for debriefing, receive your Mgahinga Uganda gorilla-tracking certificate then drive to Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxing boat cruise and relax at the lodge later on. The following morning you will enjoy a village community walk to interact with local homes, school, hospital and have a boat cruise to visit the major Historical islands of Lake Bunyonyi out of her 29 islands, take as many pictures of the most beautiful scenery in Uganda/Africa the after drive back to Kampala OR Kigali Rwanda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park established in the year 1991 stretches to 33.7km2 coming as the smallest park in Uganda. The park is notably known as the second refugium for the critically endangered mountain gorillas that are critically endangered globally. Besides the gorillas, the park is a habitat to the endangered golden monkeys which are only known to be thriving in the Virunga massif of which Mgahinga is among and the Gishwati forest in Rwanda. This makes Mgahinga a unique site where gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking take place.
The forested slopes of the three Virunga Volcanoes namely Mount Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo feature deep caves including the famous Garama Cave which was the center of the Batwa people and the residence for their chief and their heritage still lingers around and is explored by undertaking the famous Batwa heritage trail.
Sitting in silence on the cold ground of a Ugandan forest for 60 minutes will be one of your life’s greatest privileges, a rare opportunity to observe the everyday interactions of these gentle, mysterious primates.
During your 3 Days gorilla trekking Uganda safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you will stay in accommodation categories of Luxury/Upmarket, the Midrange/Standard, and Budget that have been carefully chosen by us for their location and comfort.
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Coming face to face with the rare mountain Gorillas
Scenic viewing of Uganda’s countryside during the road transfers
Enjoy local cuisines at Igongo cultural center
Photography session at the Uganda Equator point
Day 1: Uganda Equator
Day 2: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Day 3: Lake Bunyonyi & Entebbe
Day 1: Uganda Equator
Day 2: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Day 3: Lake Bunyonyi & Entebbe
After breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala at around 6.00 am, you start your 3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda by embarking on the transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 519km about 10 hours’ drive. You make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres.
You continue on the drive through the traditional rangelands of Ankole where multitudes of beautiful Ankole cows are explored grazing in their natural rangelands and if lucky you find when the Zebras and Impala from the adjacent Lake Mburo National Park grazing alongside them. You make a stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km to Mbarara town for traditional lunch at the famous Kahwa Kanuzire restaurant after which you continue on the drive to Mgahinga welcomed by the impressive Kigezi Highlands and arrive at the lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Highlight of the day: – The Uganda equator crossing experience and the impressive views of Kigezi Highlands.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Mount Gahinga Lodge
Mid-range/Moderate: – Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Travellers Rest Kisoro
Meal Plan: – Lunch en route & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 482 km or 9 – 10 hours
Activities & Services of the day:-
After breakfast at around 6.30 am, dressed in your Gorilla trekking attire you will gather at Ntebeko Visitor Center or the Muhabura side depending on where the gorillas will be that day to catch up with briefing at 8 am led by the UWA Park rangers trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla group. After the briefing, you will connect to the trailhead and start the gorilla trek passing through dense vegetation perched on steep slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shelters three (3) of the eight (8) Virunga Volcanoes namely; Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo with their peaks inside the park. You explore these impressive slopes gaining scenic views of the region, exploring flora and fauna not forgetting a myriad of birds before coming across the critically endangered apes as they forage, the young ones playing and rolling themselves on tree branches and the silverback demonstrating their mighty dominance.
The one full hour with the gorillas is a rewarding moment to explore the gorilla in detail and take as many pictures as you can. You retreat from the activity which tends to last 2 – 8 hours after which you transfer to Lake Bunyonyi 59km about 1 hour’s drive for an evening boat cruise exploring some of the main Islands out of the 29 Islands that mark the lake surrounded by magical Kigezi Highlands. The sunset views of the lake, the myriad of Islands and the surrounding hills contribute to lasting safari memories of this trip.
Highlight of the day: – The face to face encounter with the endangered Mountain Gorillas.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Birds nest @ Bunyonyi
Mid-range/Moderate: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Budget/Basic: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 59.2 km or 1 hour 19 Minutes
Activities & Services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do this day:-
After breakfast, go for a community tour in Bunyonyi and visit the local school, hospital and a boat cruise to the prominent islands then embark on the transfer back to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive / drive back to Kigali Rwanda.
You drive through the magical highlands of Kigezi covered with mist in the morning before continuing through impressive southwestern Uganda landscapes of Ntungamo with extensive banana plantation and cattle farms. A lunch stop will be made at Igongo Cultural Center and another can still be made at the Equator crossing Kayabwe to get yourself a memorabilia to carry back home
Highlight of the day: – The community tour at Lake Bunyonyi.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch en route
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 473 km or 7 hours 50 Minutes
Activities & Services of the day:-
Full time English professional safari driver guide
4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with poop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C
Full board accommodation
Gorilla trekking permit fees
Boat cruise fees
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
International &domestic flight fees
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/ drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Plenty of water
A rain poncho
Waterproof hiking boots
Gardening gloves
Long trousers and long sleeved sweaters/ shirts
A photography camera
Insect Repellent
Sunscreen and Sunglasses
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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