3-day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tour
3-day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tour
The 3-day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tour takes you to Uganda’s smallest but spectacular national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of Uganda’s two places where one can spot the endangered mountain gorillas. The park covers an area of 38 square kilometers and sits on the slopes of three giant volcanoes. Fewer tourists know and visit it, in contrast with other national parks like Bwindi National Park and Volcanoes National Park. That gives it an advantage in that the Wardens and rangers will treat you with greater attention. This is because only 8 people come for the briefing and visit the one gorilla group in a day.
The Park’s Tourism Richness
Despite the rich biodiversity in the park, Mgahinga is more popular for its golden monkeys and Mountain gorillas. Mgahinga has one gorilla group but with the most Silverbacks in Uganda. The Batwa Trail in Mgahinga offers a much more interesting and quality cultural encounter than Bwindi Impenetrable forest offers. In Mgahinga, it is not just about cultural entertainment. Tourists go out into the forest with the Batwa themselves as Guides to learn about their ancient traditions, caves, traditional homes, medicines, and hunting methods.
Our 3-day Mgahinga gorilla trekking tour is especially for those who want an easier gorilla family. It is also for those who want to combine it with golden monkey trekking in Uganda. The trip starts from Kampala or Entebbe but can also start from Kigali in Rwanda to reduce the driving time.
Detailed Itinerary of the 3-day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tour
Day 1: Pickup from Entebbe or Kampala – Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Our Guide/Driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe to start the journey to Mgahinga. He will brief you about the trip and the itinerary. This is the time to ask the Guide questions about the safari and what to expect. If there is anything you left out, he can take you to a good shop to acquire them either in Entebbe or Kampala. The journey to Mgahinga will be long but with amazing scenery all the way. Be ready to admire the beautiful landscape and physical features in Southwestern Uganda.
You will bypass rolling hills, mountains, national parks, and local people doing business along the roadside. Look out for the long-horned Ankole cattle grazing close to the roadside as you approach Mbarara. You will have a stop to see how people make large traditional drums at the Mpambire royal drum makers. You will then proceed and stop at the equator crossing for photos and relaxation. The equator separates the Earth’s southern hemisphere from the north. You can spread your legs and be in two hemispheres at the same time. After spending time at the Equator, you will proceed to Mbarara town for lunch. After lunch, the journey continues up to Kisoro district.
Dinner and Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park – Batwa Trail
You will wake up and have breakfast very early as you wait for the driver to take you to the park headquarters for the briefing by the park warden or rangers. The briefing covers many issues including details about the gorilla groups in Mgahinga and what to expect. They’ll also brief you on what you need to have, and how to act while with the gorillas. For the best gorilla trekking experience, you need sturdy boots, bottled water, and energy snacks just in case the hike takes longer than expected. While at the Ntebeko Centre for Visitors, you will present your passports to ensure that you are over 13 years of age and eligible for the activity. Mgahinga National Park has only one habituated gorilla group. The only gorilla group in Mgahinga is the Nyakagezi group. The group used to migrate a lot to Rwanda and even Congo but is now permanently in Uganda.
The Trekking Expectations
As you begin the search for the gorillas, expect to see birds and smaller primates along the way. You will pass through thick bamboo forests in areas of higher altitude than normal. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga involves a lot of physical activity depending on the location of the gorilla group. However, the breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes and pristine African forest will console you. You might even get tired but will soon forget once you encounter the massive Silverback. Mountain gorillas are peaceful and dramatic primates.
You will notice every member of the group is busy with something or simply resting. The mothers will be breastfeeding or taking care of the youngsters. The juveniles are very playful and tend to climb trees more often. The Silverback is very observant and always on the lookout for any danger to the family. Meanwhile, keep a distance of at least 6 meters. You will spend only one hour with the gorillas once you find them. Take that time to take good photos for your memory while not forgetting to observe the group’s behavior.
It is difficult to predict the time you will be out in the forest looking for the gorillas. If you are lucky to find them early, you will go back to the park offices for the Gorilla trekking certificate of completion. The Driver will take you back to the hotel for lunch and refreshments. Then he’ll take you for a cultural encounter with one of the local tribes if you come back early enough. You can also choose to go for a nature walk and see some of the crater lakes in the area. Lake Mutanda is an amazing lake to visit.
Dinner and Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel
Day 3: Transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe
Wake up at your leisure and take your breakfast as you wait for the Guide/Driver to pick you up. Then, You’ll start the journey back to Entebbe. This will be a long journey but expect to see the beautiful grass plains, hills, mountains, valleys, and general panoramic views of western Uganda. Then there are the local people going about their business by the roadside or in their gardens. There will be stops at the equator and Igongo Cultural Centre in case you didn’t have the chance to visit them on day 1. You should reach Kampala by 6 pm in time for your flight back home or to your hotel in Entebbe. This will mark the end of your gorilla experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
End of Tour
