Overview
Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in south western Uganda, near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park is home to the Virunga volcanoes, which are shared by these two countries. It is the smallest of Uganda’s national parks, yet it is jam-packed with activities for any outdoor enthusiast. If you choose to walk any of the volcanoes, such as Sabyinyo, Gahinga, or Muhabura, you may prolong your stay; each volcano takes a day to hike to the summit. You can even stay longer if you wish to go on a gorilla trek in this park. This trip will offer you a taste of the park’s magnificence and an opportunity to remain longer.
Safari Highlights
- Golden monkey Trekking
- Batwa Trail
- Scenery
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, your driver guide will take you to Kisoro, Uganda, at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes. If you fly into Kigali, you may enjoy the winding roads of the “thousand hills” and the breathtaking vistas of the Volcanoes; otherwise, you can fly into Entebbe International Airport. You will spend the afternoon relaxing in preparation for all of the walking and hiking that will take place in the coming days.
There is the option of flying from Entebbe Airport to the Kisoro airstrip. This is purely a morning flight, giving you time at the resort to participate in community events or simply relax.
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking
The Virunga volcanoes, which are shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are home to golden monkeys. After an early breakfast, you will depart from your resort and be transferred to the briefing site where the golden monkey trekking begins. A ranger guide will greet you and provide information on what to anticipate when searching for the golden monkeys in the park. Following this briefing, you will begin your journey in quest of the golden monkeys. You are urged to bring a porter because the climb can be difficult in some places and they will be useful.
You will be accompanied by enforcement authorities in case you encounter hazardous wild buffaloes and elephants. The golden monkeys are more active than the gorillas, and you will follow them as they wander about and feed.
As with gorilla trekking, you are only permitted to spend one hour with the golden monkey before returning to the starting site and your accommodation. They enjoy eating bamboo shoots, as well as fruits, plants, and even insects.
Day 3: Batwa Trail
The Batwa are an indigenous tribe that lived in the woods of the Virunga mountains and relied on them for a living until they were converted into national parks to aid in the protection of gorillas, golden monkeys, and other animals and flora. They were hunter-gatherers who coexisted with these animals. Today you will meet members of the Batwa, who will lead you into the forest and explain how they lived, relied on the forest, and survived animal attacks.
This journey will take you on the ‘Batwa path,’ which was created in collaboration with the Uganda Animals Authority to convey their experiences of coexisting with wildlife and raising families in this bush. The money go into a fund that is used to buy property and build houses for various Batwa households.
Day 4: Departure via Kigali/ Entebbe
We hope you had an exciting time touring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. After breakfast, the driver guide will bring you to Kigali city, where you will travel to the airport for your trip home. Thank you for joining us on our trip to Uganda.
