Our 6-Days Mgahinga mountain gorilla –Golden monkeys- Batwa trail experience and Mount Sabinyo hiking safari will take you Mgahinga gorilla national park in the southwestern Uganda for mountain gorilla encounter, golden monkey trekking and The Batwa trail experience in the wilderness. Mgahinga gorilla national park is found in Virunga Mountains and surrounded by the three inactive volcanoes, these are; Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura. It is attached to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Drive to Kampala city

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by Lobelias safaris  driver guide and then transfer you to your booked hotel in Entebbe or Kampala for checking in, briefing about your safari. Depending on your arrival time, you may go for an evening Kampala city tour to visit some historical places in Kampala such as the Uganda national museum, Twekobe Kabaka’s palace and Amin torture chambers and finally old Kampala mosque. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation options:

Meal plan; Dinner

Day 2: Kampala city – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Today in the morning after your breakfast meet your driver guide at the reception to embark on your magical drive to Mgahinga gorilla national park based in virunga volcanoes found in the southwestern part of Uganda. This Park is a mixture of bamboo and rain forests, mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Therefore, correctly defined as the habitat where Gold meets Silver. The Mgahinga forest also used to be a home to the indigenous Batwa Bushmen so, this makes it the best destination for the Batwa trail experience.  On your way to Mgahinga gorilla national park, you will have an en-route stop at the equator cross point so, here you will be thrilled to step one foot on the northern hemisphere and one on the southern hemisphere and also to watch the water experience which shows the movement of forces on the northern and southern hemispheres later continue with your drive with another en-route stop for lunch from Mbarara city and then drive straight to check in at your reserved lodge to relax, dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Mount Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Travelers Rest Hotel (Mid-range), Kisolo tourist hotel (Budget)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch /Dinner

Day 3: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Morning mountain gorilla trekking

After your morning heavy breakfast, transfer to the park information center to meet other guests for briefing about how to behave during gorilla trekking walk and thereafter start your forest walk to look for the mountain gorillas under the guidance of your UWA ranger guide. The time taken during gorilla tracking is not known; however, it is expected to be between 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on the movements of the gorilla family that you are tracking. During your gorilla tracking walk, you might encounter other wildlife species such as different bird species, other primates like black and white colobus monkeys and other mammals, your ranger guide will be able to give information on everything that you will meet. Once you meet mountain gorillas, you will have a maximum of one hour to watch them, following their movements, capturing memorial photos and learning more about their behaviors. After your one hour has ended, return to the information center to

pick your tracking award, have some refreshments and go back to your lodge to have lunch and later spend your evening relaxing. Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Mount Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Travelers Rest Hotel (Mid-range), Kisoro tourist hotel (Budget)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch /Dinner

Day 4: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Golden Monkey tracking – Evening Batwa trail experience

After having your early morning fantastic breakfast, you get your tracking equipment such as tracking shoes, rain coat and your camera and meet your driver to transfer to the park information center again to meet other guests for briefing regarding the dos and don’ts of golden monkey tracking. Golden monkeys are not so popular primates but they are extremely unique and surely rare to meet.  These monkeys are one of the most endangered primate species in Uganda and other parts of Africa where they are found. They are so attractive with their gold color mixed with orange which makes them worth a special visit. Golden monkey tracking secessions normally take 4 hours and once you meet them, you will spend one hour of observing them and watching their actions. When the one hour of watching them has ended, return to your lodge to have lunch, relax and later go for your evening Batwa trail experience. The Batwa people who are known as the Twa in Rwanda are one of the indigenous groups of people around Mgahinga gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks who initially lived in the ancient Bwindi and Mgahinga forest before they were gazette as a National parks. The Batwa people take themselves to be “the forest Keepers”. This Batwa Trail is only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which

offers the best Community tours in Uganda, this cultural trail experience was designed for visitors who like to meet the real Bushmen of Africa and to understand the life of living in jungles only surviving on the forest both economically and socially and life without modern technology. So, at the end of this trail, you will already be knowing why the Batwa people are still unsuccessful to get a feel free with life outside the forest. After your evening interaction with Batwa people, return to your hotel to relax, have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Mount Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Travelers Rest Hotel (Mid-range), Kisolo tourist hotel (Budget)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch /Dinner

Day 5: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mount Sabinyo hiking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Early in the morning after your breakfast, your driver guide will take you to the park headquarters to meet your UWA ranger guide for briefing about your hiking trip and what you should expect to meet and later start climbing walk of Mount Sabinyo.  Mount Sabinyo is found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and is one of the best mountains for the best climbing experiences in Uganda. It starts with passing through a flat area and several swamps later you start ascending to areas with a thick vegetation cover for the first 2390 to 2800 meters. The area is made up of bamboo forest cover which are the most favorite habitats of golden monkeys and you might meet mountain gorillas around or other mammals such forest elephants, buffaloes and many others. The most unique experience of climbing Mount to its summit is to get a chance to be in three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Congo) at the same time and getting the best views of each country such as viewing the gorgeous Lake Kivu in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lake Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda plus the Rwenzori mountain ranges and many other

features such Virunga region. After enjoying all these nice views, slope down and return to your lodge to pick your bags and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Dinner and an overnight.

Day 6: Lake Bunyonyi – Morning boat riding – Return to Entebbe International Airport

After having your breakfast, drive to the meeting point for briefing by your local canoe guide and then start your 2 hours canoeing trip. It will take you to visit Akampene Island which was used as the Punishment Island by the       indigenous Bakiga communities where they take girls who was found pregnant before marriage and left them there die to teach a lesson to others to treasure their virginity and to prohibit them from sex until marriage. After discovering this island, return to your lodge to pick your bags, check out and embark on your return drive to Entebbe international airport, before reaching the airport you will have lunch en-route and later drive straight to the airport to end your 6 Day Mgahinga Gorillas and Golden Monkeys – Batwa trail.

The 6 Day Mgahinga Gorillas and Golden Monkeys – Batwa trail includes;

6 days transportation from Entebbe/Kampala to Mgahinga gorilla national park and back in 4WD, air-conditioned and pop up safari vehicle (Safari land cruiser/Van)

Return airport transfers

Fuel for 6 days

English speaking driver guide for 6 days

All en-route meals

Full board meal plan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Accommodation for 5 nights

Bottled water throughout your tour

Return airport transfers

1 gorilla permit per person

1 golden monkey tracking permit

Batwa trail experience

Mount Sabinyo hiking

Boat riding on Lake Bunyonyi

An en-route stop at Equator cross line

4G internet connection through out

The 6 Day Mgahinga Gorillas and Golden Monkeys – Batwa trail excludes;

Travel visa

Travel insurance

Souvenirs and gifts

Tips

Alcoholic and soft drinks

chimpanzee and gorilla safaris