Track Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
From Kigali – 3-Day Exclusive Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari in Mgahinga Gorilla Park – Uganda.
A 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari in Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Uganda’s other Gorilla Trekking Park. The Park that most do not know about. Here, you experience Gorilla Trekking on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Uganda and Rwanda share some of the same Volcanoes. That means Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park is identical to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda. There is, however, one remarkable difference. Our Three-Day Luxury Gorilla Safari in Mgahinga Gorilla Park comes at a fraction of the price that a similar Luxury Safari would cost you in Rwanda.
Uganda offers what Rwanda cannot. Gorilla Permits are $700 in Uganda, and Mount Gahinga is hundreds of dollars less per night than a similar lodge in Rwanda. All that without a lesser quality of experience.
The most convenient way of getting is to Fly-In from Entebbe International Airport aboard an AeroLink Cessna Grand Caravan plane. It is a 90-minute flight to Kisoro, where our driver guide will meet you and take you to Mount Gahinga Lodge.
To take this Safari, you land in Kigali, Rwanda. On arrival, buy an East African Visa. We will meet you at the airport and take you to a luxury hotel in Kigali that we can book for you to include in your Gorilla Safari.
Your 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari Highlights
- Gorilla Trekking: On the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes. Gorilla trekking here is the same as in Rwanda but the permit price is $800 less than in Rwanda.
- Batwa Cultural Encounter: Meet the First People of the Forest in the Gahinga Batwa Village or the Heritage Trail.
- Golden Monkey Trekking: Spend an hour with the Golden Monkeys in the Bamboo Forest.
- Stay at the Luxury Mount Gahinga Lodge: This is one of Uganda’s best Gorilla Lodges.
- Porter and Walking Sticks: Are included for the Gorilla Trek.
- Land-Cruiser Safari Vehicle along with experienced Driver/Guide
Your 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda in Detail:
Arrival Day in Kigali, Rwanda
Arrival Day in Kigali, Rwanda for your Private 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari: Many flights from Europe arrive during the evening, others at night at Kigali International Airport, the Gateway not only to Rwanda but also to Southwest Uganda. We will pick you up at the airport and take you to the Value Plus Moderately priced Heaven Boutique Hotel in a residential setting with a lovely garden and a small swimming pool. Their excellent restaurant serves meals that will please you.
Alternative Arrival in Entebbe:
Fly into Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, where your driver guide will meet you and take you to your hotel in Entebbe.
The following day you take the early morning flight to Kisoro in Southwest Uganda with AeroLink Safari Airline. This is the quickest and most convenient way chosen by an increasing number of our clients, and the convenience outweighs the extra cost and will give you more time in and around Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Day 1 – Drive or Fly toMgahinga Gorilla Park:
Drive to Mgahinga Gorilla Park from Kigali-Rwanda:
Your Gorilla Trekking Safari begins as we leave your hotel in Kigali at 6:30 am or the Kigali Airport for your moderately priced Safari. The drive time to Rushaga is about 4 hours, depending on the Border Crossing.
Visa for Uganda is $50, or the East African Visa is $100 and covers entry to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Both visas must be obtained online. In addition, you will need a Yellow Fever certificate for entry into Uganda.
Usually, the border crossing is about 30 to 45 minutes, and you are in Uganda heading for the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Officials on both sides will try to ease the border crossing for Tourists.
Any inconvenience fade in the light of the shorter drive time you have before you. Please note that it takes nine to ten hours from Entebbe or Kampala to reach Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The Route you are on from Kigali to Bwindi is one of the most scenic drives in East Africa through the rolling, terraced hills of Rwanda and Uganda.
Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro – 90-minute scenic flight:
We will pick you up at your hotel in Entebbe at around 6:00 am for your 7:00 am departure with AeroLink Airline to Kisoro. Your flight time is 90 minutes, with a brief stopover at the Kihihi Airstrip. In Kisoro, you are met by your driver-guide, who will take you to your Lodge.
This is the quickest and most convenient way to reach the Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The Drive-Time from Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla Lodge is 40 minutes.
There is a 15 kg weight restriction for your flight. Excess baggage costs $6 additional payment, and you can leave extra luggage with us. To save on the weight of your bag, we suggest that you wear your gorilla wear for your flight, including the rain jacket and hiking boots.
The last 10 minutes of this flight go over some of Uganda’s most scenic sights.
Stay at the Luxury Mount Gahinga Lo
dge:
Arrive at the luxury Mount Gahinga Gorilla Lodge in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, locally referred to as the Mufumbiro Mountains, the mountains that cook.
The Lodge opened in 1997 when Gorilla Tourism was still developing. The Lodge is the perfect base for Gorilla Trekkers, and it even has a private footpath directly to Park Headquarters. It is the only luxury gorilla lodge close to Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
There is a short, private trail from the Lodge to Park Headquarters, where you go for gorilla trekking orientation.
The Lodge was refreshed and updated in 2019. Now there are eight luxury bandas or cottages and two deluxe bandas. The lounge area, the dining room, and the gardens reflect the recent updates.
The luxury Bandas reflect the magic of the aesthetic traditions of the Bufimbira people with their distinct colors. Each Banda has an ensuite luxury shower room, fireplace, and private porch.
Guests have a personal butler who attends to their well-being during their stay there. Regarding meals, our clients rave about the culinary delights served at the Lodge. WiFi access and charging stations are located in the main Lodge. Non-Premium Beverages, including local Beers, Sodas, Spirits, and House Wines, are included. You are also offered a one-half-hour complimentary massage.
Afternoon Activities are at Mount Gahinga Lodge:
Choose one of the following Activities
- Kisozi Caldera Hike:
- Batwa Heritage trail
- Gahinga Batwa Village Visit
Meal Plan: Lunch -Dinner
Day 2- Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park:
What Should I wear tracking Gorillas?
Here is practical advice about what to wear while Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Often Trekkers are not dressed right for the occasion, which can spoil your day, and your focus might not be on the Gorillas but on personal discomfort and misery. Wearing suitable clothing and footwear is about protection.
Gorilla Wear and Gear you will need:
- Daypack: Preferably a waterproof daypack, you can use it as a carry-on flying to Uganda. Pack all essentials inside of the daypack.
- Hiking Boots: Make sure that they have good treads on them. You will need ankle support, something boots give you and give you reactions on muddy trails. Have a good pair of merino wool socks.
- Long Trouser: They will protect you from nettles and thorns. Tuck the trousers into your socks for added protection from ants.
- Long-Sleeved Shirt: Neutral in color. Again, this is for your comfort and protection.
- Rain Jacket or Poncho: Pack into your daypack. You never know when it will train. You are in an Afro-montane Rainforest.
- Tough Gardening Gloves: This is to protect your hands from thorns, nettles, and sharp branches.
- Wide Brimmed Hat: It gives you protection from the Sun.
- Camera Equipment – Binoculars: Ensure extra batteries and storage devices. Put them into Ziploc bags. Binoculars are not needed if you are not a birder.
- Packed Lunch and Bottled Water: You will need your packed lunch from the Lodge and two liters of bottled water.
- Insect Repellent – Sun Lotion – Sunglasses: We recommend the effective Australian RID Insect Repellent. Good Sun blocker cream and sunglasses.
- You will need a Porter and Walking Stick: The services of a porter free you on the often-difficult trail, and a local walking stick helps you and steadies you on the often-challenging path. We supply our clients with both.
The Gorilla Trek
After orientation, you are off on your Gorilla Trek up the volcanoes. You are trekking at an elevation above 2,200 meters, which is not problematic for most. Though the Trek is
upward, it is not grueling and poses no problems for those with a moderate fitness level. The bamboo walking stick and the porter assist you in traversing the not-so-tricky trail.
You are off on your Safe and Secure Gorilla Trek with Rangers and secure escort to visit the Nyakagezi Family 10 members with five Silverbacks, which is highly unusual. The blackbacks have matured into Silverbacks, or the boys have grown into men.
Mark is the leader of the family. He is assisted by his brother Mafia and their father, Bugingo, who used to be the leader and has passed the leadership to his son and plays the role of grandpa. They are followed by the now Silverbacks Ndungutse and Rukundo. Females, Toddlers make up the rest of the family. Keeping up with Gorilla Families is not always easy. A respiratory ailment beset the family in 2019.
Intervention by the Gorilla Doctors saved the day, and they all recovered from what could have been a fatal ailment. Gorilla Trekkers need to go by the rules for Gorilla Trekking.
The length of the Trek is between four to five hours, including one hour with the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family, which is, for most, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Usually, you are back at Mount Gahinga Lodge by about 1:00 pm.
Presently, two gorilla families can be tracked here—the Nyajagezi Family and the Hirwa Family, which are visiting from Rwanda.
Afternoon: You might want to relax, reflect, and enjoy the Drink of Choice in Uganda, Uganda Waragi. We suggest mixing it with Krest Bitter Lemon Soda. Others might want to take advantage of the activities offered by the Lodge.
Lodge: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner
Day 3- Golden Monkey Trekking
Optional Golden Monkey Trekking- depending on the flight out time-$90 per person:
You embark on your Golden Monkey Trek with Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers. Hike up on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla Park to the Bamboo Forest. There are several thousand endangered Golden Monkeys found in the Park. They are beautiful and colorful monkeys, weigh about 30 pounds when mature, and are some of the liveliest monkeys you have ever seen.
The trekking group will be about 100 in size, but you do not have time to count them since they are always on the move.
The Return Drive to Kigali is about 3 hours. You gain one hour as you cross the border and switch to Central African Time. You should arrive at the airport at about 5:00 pm.
If you are flying back to Entebbe International Airport, you will leave Kisoro Airport for Kasese and on to Entebbe. The arrival time in Entebbe will be 11:55 am.
If you have an evening flight out, we can arrange for a dayroom at a quality hotel.
Add a Day – Relax and Chill Out-Unwind on one of Africa’s most scenic and Photographed Lakes:
In 2019 the scenery of Mgahinga Gorilla Park’s Volcanoes, as seen from Lake Mutanda, became the “Third in the World Must Photograph Locations.” Many of our Clients spend a day or two at the Chameleon Hill Lodge, and this is Africa’s funkiest Lodge with bright colors and Fairy Tale Castle Theme.
Chameleon Hill Lodge is an upmarket Lodge with one of the best views. It is the perfect way to end your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda. The Lodge is close to the border and just 2 1/2 hours from Kigali, Rwanda.
Lake Mutanda is a pristine Lake with emerald Isles framed by the brooding Volcanoes. One of our clients exclaimed that it was the most beautiful lake he had ever seen.
You can enjoy a Sundowner Boat ride with Uganda’s drink of Choice, Uganda Waragi, with a Krest Bitter Lemon Soda. You can try your hand paddling a dugout canoe. Birding Walk island discovery boat rides can be done here, among other things, such as village walks and nature trails along Lake Mutanda.
The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Advantage:
- $700 Gorilla Permit Price: A gorilla Safari in Uganda costs half the price it costs in neighboring Rwanda without compromising the quality of the experience.
- Luxury Gorilla Safaris at hundreds of Dollars Less: A Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari will cost you a lot less in Uganda without compromising the quality of the experience.
- More Gorilla Permits: Uganda has half of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The country has more Habituated (used to Humans) Gorilla Families, which means that Uganda has the most available permits for Gorilla Trekking.
- Safe-Secure Guerrilla-Free Trekking: Uganda is the only Mountain Gorilla Destination with no guerrilla activities in the last 20 years.
What is included in your 5-Day Fly-In Luxury Outdoor Enthusiast Adventure Safari in Mgahinga Gorilla
- Experienced Ugandan Driver-Guide:
- Full-Board Lodging:
- Toyota Land-Cruiser Safari Vehicle with pop-Up Roof:
- Gorilla Trekking: Permits are included in your Safari. Additionally, we provide porter services, a walking stick for support, and bottled water. Read our Practical Gorilla Trekking Advice:
- WiFi Internet Access: MiFi router is provided
- Your Dietary Needs can be met: Notify us if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or need a gluten-free diet.
- AMREF-Flying Doctors Air-Medivac Insurance coverage: Our clients have covered the case of with us an infrequent need for medical evacuation to a hospital that meets international standards.
Not included: Visas, Travel Insurance, Tips, drinks at lodges such as Alcoholic drinks and sodas, extra day option.
If you are interested in this 3-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari – please use the contact form below.
