4 Days Mgahinga Culture and Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking safari will take to visit Mgahinga gorilla national park. It involves visiting the Batwa pygmy local community who were the early inhabitants of Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable forests before they were gazetted as national parks for the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife species. Batwa pygmy people are one of the Africa’s Bushmen who used to survive on hunting and gathering fruits. So, their life is highly attached to the forests. Mount Sabinyo is one of the three an extinct volcano found in eastern Africa in the Virunga Mountains and the oldest volcano of the range. Mount Sabinyo standards at 3645m above the sea level at the connecting point of the three countries Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo.

Safari highlights of 4 Days Mgahinga Culture and Mount Sabinyo Volcano Hiking Safari

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala / Entebbe international airport – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Day 2: Full day Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking

Day 3: Batwa trail experience – Boat canoeing on Lake Mutanda

Day 4: Return to Kampala or Entebbe international airport

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pickup from your hotel in Kampala / Entebbe international airport – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

This day very early in the morning, you will be met by our company representative who will be your safari guide at your place of residence / hotel in Kampala or on your arrival at Entebbe international park for meet and greet, be briefed about your 4 Days Mgahinga Culture and Mount Sabinyo Volcano Hiking Safari and later start your drive to Mgahinga gorilla national park found in southwestern Uganda. On your way, you will have a stopover at Kayabwe equator landmark the line which divides the earth into two parts northern part and southern part to do water experiment which shows difference in the movement of forces on each side of the earth, take some memorial photos and then proceed to Igongo cultural center to have lunch, visit the Igongo cultural museum and then proceed with your journey while enjoying the scenic view of Kigezi highlands that are made of forested and terraced hills and valleys. On arrival, drive to check in at your booked lodge to freshen up, have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation Options: Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Luxury / Dinner

Day 2: Mgahinga gorilla national Park – Mount Sabinyo Volcano hiking

Wake up very early in the morning to prepare for your great day of hiking the mount Sabinyo, have your camera, binoculars and other required equipment, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch from the lodge and meet your safari guide to drive the park information center for the pre-hiking briefing guide the guidelines to following while hiking the Mount Sabinyo, what you should expect during the hiking and later your day adventure of hiking the mount Sabinyo. Mount Sabinyo is one of the three inactive volcanoes found in Mgahinga gorilla national park and amongst the 8 volcanoes which are found in the Virunga massif that are spread within 3 countries. Mount Sabyinyo is the best to hiking amongst the three volcanoes but it needs one to be physically and mentally fit to be able to reach at the final summit. Hiking mount Sabinyo will take you through several vegetation covers of Mgahinga gorilla national park such as bamboo zone between 2400 – 2800m where you may have a chance to spot some wildlife species like L’hoest monkeys, golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, forest elephants, caped buffaloes, bush pigs plus several bird species like the famous Rwenzori Turaco. Hiking Mount Sabinyo, may take approximately 8 hours whereby 4 hours are used to ascend to the summit and 4 hours to descend, however, this highly depend your physical fitness, hiking speed and weather conditions. Mount Sabyinyo is rocky natured with terrains along the Sabinyo’s slopes and many craters with sharp ridges. Once you reach at the highest summit of mount Sabinyo, you will enjoy the beautiful sceneries of three countries that is; Uganda, DR Congo and Rwanda as well as being in these countries at the same time. While standing at the summit, you see all the 8 volcanoes of Virunga massif, viewing Mgahinga national park in Uganda, Viringa national park in DR Congo and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. Later, descend to the starting point to meet your safari guide and return to your hotel to freshen up and spend your evening relaxing, dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation Options: Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast/Luxury / Dinner

Day 3: Mgahinga gorilla national Park – Batwa trail experience – Explore Lake Mutanda

Wake very early in the morning to have breakfast and meet your safari guide to drive to the Batwa pygmy people community for your trail experience. The Batwa pygmy people are an indigenous tribe that lived in the forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi before they were made national parks for the tight protection of the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other wildlife species. The life of the Batwa people depended so much on the forests were they used to hunt small animals and gather fruits and they used to call themselves the forest keepers. The Batwa trail was developed created by the Batwa communities together with Uganda wildlife authority to enable the Batwa people to share their experience on how they co-existed with the wildlife without any conflict and raised families in this jungle. On the Batwa trail experience, you will interact with the Batwa elders of the community who will share with you more information about their history, lifestyle and culture. During the walk, you will visit the community herbal healers to learn how to pick different herbals in the forest and use them to heal themselves, demonstration of their unique hunting skills, visit the Garama caves which were used to be their hiding spots during wars and palace of their king and be entertained by local dances and songs by the community groups. After Batwa trail experience, return to your lodge to have lunch, relax and later go for boat canoeing on Lake Mutanda to visit some the beautiful island on the Lake like the skeleton island which was used to punish the criminals in the community and enjoying the cool breezes of the lake. Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation Options: Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast/Luxury / Dinner

Day 4: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Return to Kampala or Entebbe international airport

On this last day after having breakfast, have all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check out of your room and start your drive back to your residence / hotel in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. On the way, you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural museum to have lunch and refreshments and later proceed with your journey straight to Kampala or Entebbe. So, this will be the end of your 4 Days Mgahinga Culture and Mount Sabinyo Volcano Hiking Safari.

The tour includes;

Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)

English speaking safari guide for 4 days

Private luxury/mid-range/standard accommodation for 3 nights on full board meal plan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Private transport for 4 days using a well-modified safari /Land-cruiser (4WD, air-conditioned)

Fuel for 4 days

All en-route meals and mineral water throughout your 4 days safari

Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking

Batwa trail experience

Lake Mutanda tour

Stopover at Kayabwe equator landmark

A visit to Igongo cultural museum

The tour excludes;

Domestic and international flights

Travel visa

Travel insurance

Souvenirs and gifts

Tips

Alcoholic and soft drinks

All items that are not included on the list of inclusions