5-Day Luxury Fly-In Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari-Mgahiganga-Bwindi Forest

Posted by on August 9, 2019

  Trek Gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

5-Day Luxury Fly-In Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari in both Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda

One of a Kind Twice Gorilla Trekking Luxury –This 5-Day Fly-In Luxury Two Times Gorilla Trekking  Safari begins in Entebbe where you fly to Kisoro along Lake Mutanda with easy access to both Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which are located in the Southwest Corner of the County. 

It is only in Uganda where you trek Mountain Gorilla in two different Terrains, the Volcanoes which replicate Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that is not as Impenetrable as it sounds.

On this 5-Day Safari, you get the best of both Volcano Trekking and Rainforest Trekking all while staying in comfortable Luxury Lodges in both Park plus there are no longer drive times but a scenic flight across western Uganda that in itself is memorable

Trek Gorillas in two of the worlds most picturesque locations. Mgahinga Gorilla Park was declared the 3rd best “Must Photograph Location in the World” in 2019. CNN Travel named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, “the most beautiful place in the world.” 

Combine two stunning scenic locations in one Safari. It is only in Uganda, where you can trek the gentle giants of the forest in two distinct and different habitats. No wonder that Uganda has emerged as the Premier Mountain Gorilla Destination in Africa.

Highlights of Your  Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari

  • This Luxury Safari combines the Virunga Volcanoes of Mgahinga Gorilla Park and the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that was declared in 2019 by CNN to be the most beautiful place on earth.
  • 2-Gorilla Treks – 1 one on the Ugandan side of Virunga Volcanoes-Mgahinga Gorilla Park, and 1 in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
  • Cultural Encounters with the Batwa People – the first people of the forest
  • Stay in two Luxury Lodges
  • Toyota Land-Cruiser plus Driver with Luxury Safari Experience
  • Porter-Walking Sticks & Bottled Water for Gorilla Treks
  • Optional Volcano Climb – Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura-Mount Sabinyo
  • Optional 4-Hours with a Gorilla Family in Rushaga – Bwindi Forest on a Gorilla Habituation Experience
  • Add a Day at Chameleon Hill Lodge overlooking scenic Lake Mutanda- one of Africa’s most scenic lakes.

Below is what you will need to pack and bring for your Gorilla Trek

Gorilla Gear & Wear:

Your Luggage Weight Limit is 15 kg. We recommend that you wear your trekking clothing on the flight. Excess baggage costs $6 kg. A soft duffle bag is recommended but not mandatory.

Waterproof Daypack, worn-in Hiking Boot, thick socks, long trousers (tuck them into sock on the day of the trek), long-sleeved shirt, light rain jacket, hat, sturdy gardening gloves.  Good Insect Repellent (flies, ants, even wasps which are rare), sunscreen, some granola or energy bars.

Protect Camera lenses in Ziploc bags or a shower cap. Unless you are a birder, there is no need for binoculars. You will not miss the Gorillas.

Have a Sweater or Sweatshirt for the cooler evenings and mornings.

The Clothing we recommend is for your protection as you hike through Bwindi. Nettles are standard, thorny bushes, brush that can scratch you are part of the Encounter with the Gentle Giants of the Forest.

Wear the right stuff and enjoy your Time with the Gorillas instead of worrying about personal discomfort.

Your Detailed Fly-In Gorilla Safari Itinerary:

Day 1 – Fly to Mgahinga Park from Entebbe:

Your 5-Day-Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari begins as we pick you up at the Hotel in Entebbe that w can include in the Safari at 6:30 am.  We proceed to Entebbe International Airport where you board your Aerolink Grand Caravan Airplane for Kisoro.  Your flight saves you from long drive times. Your flight is 1 1/2 hour long. You have one stop at Kihihi in the north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.  The trip from Kihihi to Kisoro is the most scenic portion of the flight.

Upon your arrival in Kisoro, you are met by your driver-guide who will take you to Mount Gahinga Lodge, one of the best lodges in Uganda where you will be welcomed by the friendliest Satt that have your comfort in mind. Your private Butler will get you settled into your Cottage, called Banda here.

In Mgahinga Gorilla Park, your best luxury Lodging Choice is the exclusive Mount Gahinga Lodge which comes at a reasonable price for a luxury Lodge in this area.

Afternoon Activities:   Mount Gahinga Lodge offers quite a few activities to their guests such as a Caldera Walk, a visit to the Batwa Village that they recently completed, a visit to a Batwa Vocational Center, A Batwa Heritage Forest Walk.

We recommend a Visit to the Gahinga Batwa Village, a village that has been built by Mount Gahinga Lodge for about 130 Batwa.  The Batwa, the original People of the Forest today are Conservation Refugees after being evicted from the parks of Uganda and Rwanda.  The activities provided for by Mount Gahinga Lodge give you insight as to how they once lived in harmony with nature including the Mountain Gorillas and their present plight.

If you are looking for authentic Cultural Encounter the best place to stay ii is Mount Gahinga Lodge.

Others choose to get settled in Africa with a book, a Ugandan Waragi with a Krest Bitter Lemon enjoying the foothills of the brooding Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.

Meal Plan:  Lunch – Dinner

Lodge the exclusive Mount Gahinga Lodge in the Shadows of the brooding Volcanoes

Mount Gahinga Lodge – Mgahinga Gorilla Park

This is an exclusive luxury Lodge with an added plus, and that plus is affordability. It is at least 1/3 less in price than what other exclusive Luxury Lodges go for per night.

Why an exclusive Lodge at an affordable price? The answer is a simple one – Traffic. The Lodge is at the entrance to Mgahinga Gorilla Park, and the park attracts a fraction of the visitors that made their way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. In other words, Mgahinga Gorilla Park is off of the beaten tourist path and the reason Mount Gahinga Lodge represents value Plus.

From the Lodge, you have incredible views of the Virunga Volcanoes and Lake Mutanda which is one of Africa’s most scenic Lake.

In July of 2018 – a new Premium deluxe Cottage is being offered – there are now 7 Bandas, Cottages in total.

Suggestion:  Be sure to pack a sweater; the temperature here at night is 10-degree Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Day 2- Gorilla Trekking

An early Breakfast –bring our packed lunch, we give you water, a walking stick and a porter for the trek.

After the orientation, Your driver gets you a porter and walking stick – and off you go on your Safe and Secure Gorilla Trek with Rangers and security escort to visit the Nyakagezi Family – 10 members in the group.  What makes this gorilla family unique is that there are now five Silverbacks in the Group.  That five silverbacks can coexist in the same gorilla family is remarkable.

This is a 4 to 5-hour trek for most, a one-of-a-kind experience. The cost of the porter is included in the safari price. A moderate level of fitness is required.

Should you finish early in the day – a Cultural Visit to the Batwa Community that Mount Gahinga Lodge supports can be arranged.

The Lodge offers a wide array of activities for its guest. You can even have a courtesy massage after the trek.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner

Lodge: Mount Gahinga Lodge

Day 3 – Golden Monkey Trekking-Mgahinga Gorilla Park – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:

Breakfast and it is off to the Golden Monkey Trekking orientation, and then you are off into Bamboo Forests where the Golden Monkeys make their home.  They weigh about 30 pounds, are quite beautiful to see, and you will hear them screeching long before you reach their site.  You spend about one hour observing a group of over 100 of them as literally flit about the bamboo forest near you, above you and around you.  They are an endangered species, some of it is because of the loss of habitat and their lack of reproduction.  The largest Golden Monkey Population is found in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.  You can only see them in the Virunga Volcanoes. After the trek, we move to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where we check you in at either the exclusive Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or the Upmarket Gorilla Safari Lodge.   The drive to either Gorilla Safari Lodge or Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge will take about 1 1/2 hours

Late Lunch at either Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge

Dinner

Meal Plan:  Breakfast  – Lunch – Dinner

Lodging: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge

 

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge – Nkuringo Bwindi:

This exclusive Luxury Lodge overlooks Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Volcanoes in the distance. It ranks as one of the Best Lodges in Uganda and the southern area of Bwindi Forest. From here it is a short distance to Gorilla Trekking in the Nkuringo area or a 45-minute drive to the Rushaga area Trailhead.

The lodge exudes class throughout including in your private River Stone Cottage. 24/7 Butler and Maid Service are available to you. The views from your bedroom balcony are uplifting, and the patio is the perfect setting or the early morning Ugandan Arabica Coffee grown in some of the nearby fields.

Authentic African Art is found throughout the lodge, including in your cottage, and the Meals are delightful. Many of our Clients have loved their stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Gorilla Safari Lodge – Rushaga:

This upmarket lodge near the trailhead for your Gorilla Trek. If you choose the Gorilla Habituation Experience which means 4-hours with a Gorilla Family, the distance is a bit longer.

Gorilla Safari Lodge has great Cottages including one Family Cottage, which is also suitable for a group of 4 such as Friends. The cottages have a fireplace which in this colder region of what is referred to in Uganda as the Gorilla Highlands the temperature at night drops to 10 Degrees Celsius or 50 Degrees Fahrenheit. Hot water bottles are supplied at bedtime to keep you warm as you go to sleep.

The lodge serves quality food, which is a fusion of Western – Asian and African Dishes. The experienced staff here has your comfort in their mind, and they are a service orientated lodge.

The Closest Lodge to Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience Trailhead.

Day 4 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Gorilla Trekking – Rushaga or Nkuringo:

Breakfast and you are off for your second Trek – 45 minutes to 1-hour scenic drive from Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and 10 minutes from Gorilla Safari Lodge if the Gorilla Trek takes place in Rushaga.

This one will be either in the Nkuringo or Rushaga Area of the Park.   The Nkuringo Group is the toughest group to trek in this part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.  There are easier treks that can be taken that cover a more natural terrain and are shorter in length.

The routine and clothing are the same as it was for your first trek. The porter that we provide will be different as well be the group that you will track.

Trekking is different in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – it can mean going up and down on trails until you meet your group.  The experience, however, is the same as in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.

Exclusive Option:  Instead of one hour with a family, you can be for four hours family on a Gorilla Habituation Experience.  The Permit Cost is 1500 USD.  There are only four visitors allowed per group, and it is an all-day trek.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 5 – Return to Entebbe:

Breakfast and your Driver Guide will take you to Kisoro Airport where you board your Aerolink flight bound for Entebbe. You arrive before noon in Entebbe.  We will coordinate with you and adjust the itinerary to meet your needs.

Make your Fly-in 5-Day Luxury Twice-Gorilla Trekking Safari a Reality:

This is the perfect Gorilla Trekking Safari for Primate Lovers.  You have choices of some of the best Lodges in Mgahinga Gorilla Park and the south end of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

You have an experienced Driver Guide – a sound Safari Vehicle. You will enjoy the scenic drive from Kigali into the Ugandan Gorilla Highlands and the quality of Lodges on the Ugandan side.

Two Gorilla Treks – one in Bwindi Impenetrable that ranges from easy to severe or trek the Gorillas on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes that straddled the border with Rwanda in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Please plan six months due to limited permits that are on hand during the peak seasons and lodging availability.

Practical Gorilla Trekking Information:

Useful Gorilla Habituation Experience Information:

Gorilla Safari Add-Ons:

More Luxury Fly-In Safaris in Uganda

 

Please Note: The above Private Safari includes all activities and permits needed as described. It is a full board, water in the vehicle. It does not include tips, drinks at lodges, laundry.

Please contact us if you are interested in this 5-Day Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari using the Below Contact Form.