Twice Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
5-Day Luxury Twice-Gorilla Trekking Safari in both Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda
On this 5-Day Luxury Twice-Gorilla Trekking Safari, you fly into Kigali-Rwanda and Trek Gorillas in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park in the Virunga Volcanoes and then in the ancient Rainforest Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, plus it wa named by CNN in 2017 as being one of the best parks in Africa. Lonely Planet placed it on its out of the ordinary Honeymoon Destinations all making Uganda the Premier Gorilla Destination in Africa giving you two different Trekking Experiences, tracking Gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes and in the Ancient Rainforest of Bwindi. You can only do this in Uganda where the Permit Prices remain at 600 USD per Gorilla Trek and allows you Trek Gorillas in two different settings, two Gorilla Treks where the combined Permit price is 1,200 USD, 300 USD less than one Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda.
Highlights of the Safari
- This Safari combines the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gori
lla Park and the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- 2-Gorilla Treks – 1 one on the Ugandan Side of Virunga Volcanoes-Mgahinga Gorilla Park, 1 in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
- Buniga Forest Walk with the Batwa Pygmies – the first people of the forest
- Sabinyo Gorge Hike in Mgahinga Gorila Park
Day 1 – Journey to Mgahinga Park:
Your 5-Day-Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari begins as we pick you up at your Hotel at 7 am or the Airport in Kigali or your Hotel and begin the 3-hour plus journey to Mgahinga Park. This includes the border crossing which is a cultural experience in itself.
You will need an East African Visa that is obtainable from the first East African Country that you Visit (Kenya-Rwanda – Uganda are participants in the East African Visa Program). You will need a Yellow Fever Certificate in both countries. Change your watches to one hour forward since Uganda is on East African Time.
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.
Lunch
Afternon Take a hike through the Sabinyo Gorge which is a scenic hike with wildlife, birds, chameleons coming in various shades and shapes and the vegetation found in the foothills of the Volcanoes. There is also the border trail along the border with the DRC. Rwanda, Uganda the Congo share the Virunga Volcanoes which are often in two countries in some cases three.
All hikes are safe and secure with Uganda Wildlife Rangers who will show you things that you just might miss on your own.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Lodging Choices:
Day 2- Gorilla Trekking
An early Breakfast – the right equipment and clothing for your Trek. We suggest a day pack, packed lunch from the lodge, two liters of water, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, hat, boots, thick socks and tough gardening gloves. All this is not for a fashion statement but your protection against nettles, thorns, brush,
After the orientation, pick a porter and a walking Stick – the best investment you can make on this day 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. This is a 4 to 5-hour trek for most, a-one-of-a-kind experience.
Should you finish early in the day – a Cultural Visit to the Batwa Community that Mount Gahinga Lodge supports can be arranged.
Dinner
Suggestion: Be sure to pack a sweater the temperature here at night is 10-degree Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meal Plan: Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Golden Monkey Trekking – 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. If you are staying at Chameleon Hill Lodge there is no need to move lodging on this day.
Late Lunch
Dinner
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Lodging:
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 – 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 an easier terrain and are shorter in length.
The routine and clothing are the same as it was for your first trek. The porter that you use will be different as will 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. This is a pilot program in Uganda, there are only 4 visitors allowed per group and it is an all-day trek.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5 – Return to Kigali
Breakfast
Buniga Forest Walk with the Batwa Prgmies:
We enter teh world of the first People of the Forest – the Batwa Pygmies who were the first people of the forest and lived here for thousands of years before the Bantu Tribes migrated here. They will show you as to how they lived in harmony with nature and their surrounding by hunting and gathering only what they needed
The Forest Walk is one way the Batwa People keep their tradtions and ways alive and pass it on to future generations. This is a 2 to 3 hour activity and at the end you van visit a Batwa Village that is neary, dependnig on your schedule.
The 5-Day Luxury Twice-Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park Bwindi Forest is coming to its end. Our Departure for Kigali depends on your departure time from Kigali Airport.
Make your 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 in 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 tough or trek the Gorillas on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes that straddled the border with Rwanda in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Please plan due to limited permits that are on hand during the peak seasons and lodging availability.
Practical Gorilla Trekking Information:
Practical Gorilla Habituation Experience Information:
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.