The 3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail safari takes you to Uganda’s smallest but spectacular national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of Uganda’s two national parks where one can see the magical endangered mountain gorillas and the only place in Uganda where you can see the beautiful Golden monkeys. Mgahinga gorilla national park features three extinct and conical volcanoes and part of the spectacular Virunga conservation area which lies along the border region of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. Mgahinga gorilla national park has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmy people, home to endangered mountain gorillas and an important habitat for the rare golden monkey. This 3 Days Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail involves mountain gorilla trekking experience and Batwa cultural trail.

Day 1: Pickup from your place of residence / hotel in Kampala or Entebbe airport – Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

On this day early morning (600am) our safari guide will pick you up from your place of residence / hotel in Kampala / Entebbe or Entebbe international airport for meet and greet, brief you about your 3 Days Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail and later, start the journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park. The journey to Mgahinga gorilla seems to be so long but very amazing due to the beautiful landscapes and physical features to admire along the way. You will have a stopover Kayabwe equator line which separates the earth into northern and southern hemispheres to see the water experiment which shows the movement of forces on both sides of the planet, take some photos while at this international landmark when one leg is in northern hemisphere and another one in the southern hemisphere at the same time. After spending some time at the Equator landmark, proceed with your journey to Igongo cultural in Mbarara city to have lunch, tour the museum which is one of the richest heritage museums in Uganda with vast history and traditions of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda which takes you centuries back about the life of the Ankole people. Later, continues with your drive straight to Kisoro the district where Mgahinga gorilla national park is found. 3 Days Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail will take through the rolling terraced hills of Ankole and Kigezi regions , national parks and local people doing business along the roadside and the local farms of the long horned Ankole cattle grazing. On arrival at the park drive straight to your booked lodge to check in and spend your evening relaxing, dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options: Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Traveler’s Rest Hotel (Standard)

Meal plan: Lunch / Dinner

Day 2: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mountain gorilla trekking – Batwa Cultural Trail

Wake up very in the morning to be served breakfast, get your packed lunch and meet your safari guide to drive to the park information center for the briefing by park warden or rangers about the dos and don’ts to follow during mountain gorillas tracking, details about the gorilla groups in Mgahinga, what you need to have and how to act while with the gorillas and what to expect during mountain gorilla trekking. For the best gorilla trekking experience, we would request you to carry sturdy boots, packed energy snacks and bottled mineral water. Later, start your forest walk to search for the magical mountain gorillas, the forest walk will take you through the thick bamboo forests in areas of higher altitude than normal where you may have an opportunity to see several birds, and other primates. Mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park sometimes may involve a lot of physical activity depending on the location of a gorilla family but you will be consoled by beautiful views of the Virunga Volcanoes conservation area and breathtaking sounds of birds. The time taken while looking for the rare mountain gorilla trekking is not known however, it may be between 2 to 6 hours depending on the walking pace of the trackers. Once you meet the mountain gorilla family, you will be thrilled by the actions of everyone member of the family such as mothers breastfeeding, taking care and playing with their youngsters, juveniles playing around and climbing trees more often while Mr. Silverback is on sides observing the situation and ready to provide protection to its family, Mountain gorillas are so peaceful and dramatic creatures amongst other primate. When you are with mountain gorillas, you are advised to keep a distance of at least 6 meters. You will stay with the magical mountain gorillas for a maximum of one hour and you will be free to take as many photos as you would want to keep your beautiful memories while with the endangered mountain gorillas. After gorilla trekking, return to the park starting center to receive your certificate and drive back to your lodge to have lunch, freshen yourself, relax and later visit the Batwa pygmy community.

The Batwa pygmy people also known as “the forest keepers” used to leave in Mgahinga and Bwindi forest but when all of these forests were gazette as national parks, they were evicted out of the forest and given land outside forests such that they do not conflict with wildlife conservations mostly for mountain gorillas a thing which extremely affected their life since their lifestyle was highly attached to the forests and wildlife. The Batwa cultural trail in Mgahinga gorilla national was introduced for the Batwa to keep their ancestral culture and expose it to the entire world and it is also one way of supporting the Batwa people financially. Later in the evening, return to your lodge to relax, have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options: Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Traveler’s Rest Hotel (Standard)

Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 3:  Mgahinga gorilla national park – Transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe

After having breakfast, have all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check out of your lodge and start your journey back to your residence / hotel in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight with your camera full of great photos of the magical mountain gorillas and the Batwa pygmy people. The drive will take you through the beautiful landscapes of the Kigezi highlands that is made of valleys, forested and terraced hills and general breathtaking views of southwestern and western Uganda which will keep you engaged all the time and admiring the beauty of Uganda. On your back to Kampala or Entebbe international airport, you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural museum to have lunch, another stopover at Kayabwe equator to shop some souvenirs and gifts and later drive straight to Kampala or Entebbe international airport where you will reach late in the evening (6pm) in time for your to prepare for your return flight back home or spending a night in Kampala or Entebbe.

3 Days Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail includes;

Return airport transfers (Pick up and drop off)

Private transport for 3 days in a well-modifies safari land-cruiser /van that is (4×4 WD, air-conditioned and pop up roof)

Fuel for 3 days

English speaking safari guide for 3 days

Accommodation on full board (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner) for 2 nights

Bottled mineral waters and all en-route meals

All government applicable taxes

1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person

Batwa cultural trail

A visit to Igongo cultural museum

Water experiment at Kayabwe equator landmark

3 Days Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural trail excludes;

Entry visas and flights

Items of personal nature/tips/laundry/telephone charges

Personal insurance

Extra meals and activities

Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Beer, Sodas, special juice and coffee orders and wines)