3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour
Customized 3 Days Mgahinga gorilla tour to visit the one and only Nyakagyezi gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Located in southwestern Uganda in Kisoro district, Mgahinga is one Uganda’s National park and a sister gorilla destination to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The park covers 33.9 square kilometers making it the smallest park in Uganda bordered. Mgahinga gorilla national park covers Uganda’s share of the Virunga conservation Area bordered by Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Congo’s Virunga National Park. Over 40 mountain gorillas are believed to live in this small park habituated into one family (Nyakagyezi). In the past, mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was uncertain because Nyakageyzi gorilla family was no settled. It would cross over to the neighboring Rwanda and Congo. However today, the family has fully settled in Mgahinga and it’s a sure deal for those who want to visit it. Also, the park is home to the endangered golden monkeys and hence the slogan “where gold meets silver”. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also home to three extinct volcanoes, which are Mount Gahinga, Mount Virunga and Mount Muhabura all available for hiking. Volcano hiking is therefore another interesting adventure not to miss in this Park. 8 gorilla permits are issued out each day for the fist come travelers visiting mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The 3 Days Mgahinga gorilla tour also entail a visit to the batwa pygmies who initially lived with wild animals in the forest before the introduction of gorilla tourism and conservation in the Park. For birders, Mgahinga is home to over 130 bird species some of which are endemic to the Albertine region. The summit of Mount Sabinyo is shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. This gives anyone who hikes this volcano chance to stand in all the three countries at the same time. However, the volcano is hiked from the Uganda side. The 3 Days gorilla safari in Mgahinga starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe
Trip summary
Day 1: Pick up & transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking & cultural tour
Day 3: Departure
Trip day by day
Day 1: Pick up & transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The driver guide representing our company will pick you up from either your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe or the airport for a 3 Days tour to Mgahinga. Have a brief take through the itinerary, refresh and start off a full day drive to Mgahinga National park located in the far southwest part of Uganda. You will have an enroute lunch in Mbarara
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking & cultural tour
After morning breakfast, transfer to Ntebeko visitor Information where registration and pre trekking briefing takes place. Together with other travelers you find on a trip, you will be allocated armed park rangers to escort you on the gorilla trek. At 8:00am, start off a hike up hill in search of Nyakagyezi family. The trek is quite strenuous and the actual time to spend in the jungle is not predictable but the whole experience is worth your effort and time. On a good day, you may encounter other wild animals, which live in this forest such as forest elephants, buffalos, golden monkeys, and baboons plus birds of different species. Spend an hour with the gorillas, take pictures, learn their social behaviors and enjoy this lifetime experience! Do not miss seeing mother’s breastfeed their little one s as silverback jealously guards his family. Hiking time lasts between 2-6 hours but the actual time allowed with the gorillas is strictly an hour. For some travelers who are not steady, an hour feels like few minutes but if you are careful an hour will be enough for you to enjoy this magical experience. In the evening, visit the batwa pygmies to learn and experience their traditions, norms and customs. The batwa cultural trail in which travelers are guided into the forest to learn the traditional forest life of batwa is the best cultural experience. Also, a visit to batwa is an indirect support of these poor people’s livelihoods and standards of living
Day 3: Departure
Wakeup very early to have breakfast at your lodge, check out and embark on a drive back to Kampala for your departure flight. The drive via kig3ezi rolling hills and Ankole cattle farms is enjoyable worth it. You will arrive in Kampala in the evening and connect to the airport for your connecting flight
End of the tour
Tour Inclusions
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit
- Packed lunch
- Accommodation & meals
- Bottled drinking water
- Full time English speaking guide
- Ground Transport
- All activities included in the itinerary
- Government taxes
- Miscellaneous
Tour Exclusions
- Porter’s fee & tips
- Personal expenses (phone calls and shopping)
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide tips