The overview
3 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK.Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwest Uganda is a small park, yet it is one of the most important reasons to visit Uganda. It’s the Ugandan park where you can look for Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys, two critically endangered species. Mgahinga National Park features one habituated gorilla group called Nyakagezi, which is made up of 9 members and moves around most of the time, as well as some bog wildlife such as buffalos, forest elephants, leopards, jackals, bush pigs, duikers, and bushbucks, and birdlife. This three-day gorilla safari tour begins and ends in Kampala and takes you to Mgahinga to hike the gorillas, with stops at the Equator and the Igongo Cultural Center, as well as boat cruises to explore the islands in Bunyonyi Lake and partake in other activities.
The safari highlight
- Gorilla tracking
- Boat cruise in lake Bunyonyi
- Stop overs at Equator and Igongo cultural center
The detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mgahinga national park
After breakfast at your Kampala hotel, you will depart for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is approximately 530 kilometers long and takes 10 hours to reach, with a stopover at the Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that demonstrate the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres, and a stop at Igongo Cultural Center, which is approximately 14 kilometers to Mbarara town for traditional lunch. After that, continue on the drive through the traditional Ankole rangelands, where you will see a plethora of beautiful Ankole cows foraging in their native rangeland, before arriving at Mgahinga National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Lake Bunyonyi Island exploration on boat cruise
Have an early breakfast before heading to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for an orientation by the ranger guides on the regulations and rules that need to be followed while trekking. Following the briefing, you will begin trekking into the jungle with an expert park guide who is familiar with gorilla trekking tracks and is informed about gorillas. Other primate species such as l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, different bird species, and vegetation can be seen during the trekking, locating the gorillas may take last from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Once the gorillas are located, you are permitted to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, where you will be able to learn about their behaviors and routines, as well as see them feed, breastfeed, and groom their young ones, as well as capture photos and video the magnificent moments to show folks back home after the safari.
After the gorilla trekking experience, which typically lasts 2 to 8 hours, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi, which is approximately 1 hour’s drive from Mgahinga, for an evening boat cruise visiting some of the main Islands out of the 29 Islands that mark the body of water surrounded by the magical Kigezi Highlands. Enjoy the stunning sunset views of the lake, the numerous islands, and the surrounding hills, which will leave you with long-lasting safari memories of this trip. Check into a lodge near Lake Bunyonyi in the evening for leisure, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3: Transfer back to Kampala for departure
On the final day, have a leisurely breakfast, check out of the lodge, and meet the driver and guide to begin the journey back to Kampala, passing through the magical highlands of Kigezi covered in fog in the morning before continuing via the impressive southwestern Uganda landscapes of Ntungamo with extensive banana plantations and cattle farms, with a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center. Then drive subsequently towards Kampala, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or airport for your scheduled departure back home, putting this safari to a close.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch