5 Days Bwindi & Mgahinga Double Gorilla Safari
The 5 Days Bwindi & Mgahinga double gorilla trekking tour offers a thrilling mountain gorilla encounter from both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Mgahinga National Game Park. This itinerary allows you to track mountain gorillas in Uganda twice. You will have an hour for magical encounter with these large apes in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and then also with Mgahinga gorillas. Beyond gorilla encounters, expect to also explore the breathtaking landscapes and other abundant wildlife.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park is experienced from any of the 4 sectors: Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. In each of these regions, there are habituated gorilla groups to visit, and each takes up to 8 (eight) pax. Bwindi alone hosts a total of about 24 habituated mountain gorilla groups, while in Mgahinga, you can visit only one group i.e. Nyakagezi gorilla family. The 5 Days Bwindi & Mgahinga double gorilla trekking will begin with a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable, and you will end with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe/Kampala & Travel to Bwindi with an En route stop at the Equator
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking plus the Batwa community visit & Relax
Day 3: Pick up from Bwindi & Travel to Mgahinga National Park, visit Lake Mutanda
Day 4: Gorilla trekking with Mgahinga park ranger guide& Relax.
Day 5: Depart from Mgahinga for Kampala/Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
The special day that you have been waiting for has arrived. This will be a day for you to officially transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is about 8-9-hour drive by road. Being a long journey, you will need to depart early and en route, expect to have a stopover at the Equator crossing. After the Equator crossing photography experience, you will proceed to the Igongo Cultural Center/a hotel to have lunch. Leave for a final journey to Bwindi, driving via the lush countryside characterized by spectacularly rolling hills and vast banana plantations.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman/Bwindi Backpackers Lodge
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
- Luxury: The Luxury Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Silverback Lodge.
Meals: Lunch plus Dinner
Travel time: 8-9 hours
Today, you have a chance to be part of an adventure that takes you on a complete immersion into the jungle to witness the rare mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking session in Bwindi begins early with a briefing on the guidelines or rules & regulations. Then you get assigned to one of the park ranger guides and gorilla groups still in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
You will be escorted by an experienced guide, and this will be around 8:00 am. Trekking with the Bwindi gorillas will take you about 2-6 hours as you wind through the jungle. But when you come across the majestic mountain gorillas, you have a maximum of 1 hour to observe these species and to take pictures.
It will be after the one-hour magical encounter that you begin returning safely to the park offices. At the park offices, the officials will award each of you a gorilla trekking certificate then you continue to the pre-booked accommodation to chill. Later in the afternoon, there will be another chance to experience something unusual that is the Batwa cultural tour/visit. With the Batwa cultural experience, you have a chance to meet the Batwa pygmies –these are among the very few indigenous people who reside in Uganda. The Batwa hold unique stories worth sharing, but most importantly, learn more about their lifestyle, traditions, cultures, and practices as ancient forest dwellers, hunters, and fruit gatherers. Get to explore how the Batwa and gorillas plus other wildlife lived peacefully for decades till the 1990s when Bwindi & Mgahinga were declared as National Parks.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman/Bwindi Backpackers Lodge
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
- Luxury: The Luxury Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Silverback Lodge.
Meals: Lunch plus Dinner
Today, you will leave Bwindi for Mgahinga, which is found in Kisoro District. But before you reach Mgahinga National Park, you will pay a visit to Lake Mutanda. This scenic Lake lies in the region where you have a chance to view the spectacular Virunga Mountains and also to connect with ease to lush Bwindi & Mgahinga National Parks for gorilla trekking. At Lake Mutanda, you have a canoe ride awaiting you, and after, proceed to Mgahinga National Park to relax in the lodge.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Golden Monkey Guesthouse or Amajaembere Iwacu Community Camp
- Midrange: Mucha Hotel or Travellers Rest Hotel
- Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge/Mutanda Lake Resort
Wake up early to begin your colorful day with breakfast, and then, meet the park official at the Ntebeko area. Get briefed on the pre-gorilla trekking regulations and also have a ranger guide to lead you. At Mgahinga today, you have the Nyakagezi gorilla group to visit and expect to spend about 2-6 hours in the jungles.
Another one hour will be spent face-to-face with Mgahinga mountain gorillas, then you return to the lodge. Have a long evening for relaxation and sharing stories of the day at the lodge.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Golden Monkey Guesthouse or Amajaembere Iwacu Community Camp
- Midrange: Mucha Hotel or Travellers Rest Hotel
- Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge/Mutanda Lake Resort
Have a delicious breakfast and then check out of the lodge. After, exit the lodge for Kigali or back to Kampala/Entebbe. If you cross to Kigali (via Katuna/Chanika border crossing), you have a chance to explore the Kigali memorial site and some local markets/craft shops, etc. With a lot of vibrancy and much to explore, Kigali promises you a great experience, but today marks the end of your 5 Days Bwindi and Mgahinga double gorilla trekking safari.
End of the safari
Inclusions
- Transport with driver guide services.
- All meals & lodge services as per the itinerary.
- Valid gorilla permits for Bwindi & Mgahinga.
- A free bottle of drinking water.
- Airport transfers.
Exclusions
- Airfares.
- Tipping expenses.
- Telephone costs.
- All optional activities on a tour.
- Laundry plus other personal expenses.