This 4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Safari and Batwa Trail Experience is an ideal safari for mountain gorilla encounter and cultural experience in Uganda. Mountain gorilla trekking safaris can only be done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo on the entire planet. Uganda has half of the world’s existing population of the mountain gorillas with an estimated figures of 504 individuals which are found in both Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. This safari also includes cultural experience of the Batwa pygmy people commonly known as the “Forest keepers”. The Batwa trail experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a unique cultural experience that cannot be found anywhere else apart from Mgahinga gorilla national park. The Batwa pygmy people are one of the most minority tribes in Uganda but with very authentic and unique culture and lifestyle. The Batwa pygmy people used to live within the forest alongside the Mountain Gorillas before Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga forests were gazette national parks therefore, their life and forests are inseparable. This 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience start and end in Entebbe international airport or Kampala Uganda’s capital, it can also be customized as per your travel needs, time and budget and can be booked any time of the year.

Safari highlights of 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla and Batwa trail experience safari

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala or Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking – Evening boat canoeing

Day 3: Batwa trail experience – Transfer to Lake Bunnyonyi – Spend your evening relaxing

Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi – Morning boat canoeing – Return to Kampala / Entebbe airport

Detailed itinerary

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

On the first day of your 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience, after having an early morning breakfast at about (06:00 am) at your place of residence or on your arrival at Entebbe international airport with an early morning plane latest (10 am) you will be met by your safari guide from Africa Adventure Vacations for meet and greet, short briefing on your 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience and later embark on the road drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park found in southwestern Uganda on the Uganda Rwanda and DR Congo border across the equator line.

On your way to Mgahinga gorilla national park, you will have stopover at Kayabwe equator line which is about 80 Km from Kampala. While at Kayabwe equator line, you will see the amazing water experiments which are done on both sides of the equator and at the equator line, take some memorial photos while at this international land mark, have a cup of coffee to feel the aroma and sweetness of Ugandan made coffee and then continue with the drive to south western Uganda with another stopover at Igongo cultural museum for refreshments, have lunch, tour the museum and later the drive continues to Mgahinga gorilla national park with arrival in the evening. On arrival, you check in, freshen yourself, and have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation Options; Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Lake Chahafi Resort (Standard)

Meal Plan; Lunch / Dinner

Day 2: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mountain gorilla trekking safari – Evening boat canoeing

Wake up early to have breakfast (0600 am), have your packed lunch and then be transferred to Mgahinga gorilla national park information offices to meet other guests for briefing on the guidelines to follow during mountain gorilla trekking, get allocated a safari guide and an armed park ranger and by 8:00 am start your mountain gorilla trekking walk through the Mgahinga forest. Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most wonderful experience that will bring you closer face to face with a well habituated Mountain Gorilla family. Mountain gorilla trekking takes several hours of time that can’t be predicted with about 1 – 6 hours or more depending on the movements of the mountain gorilla family you are tracking and your walking speed plus stopovers made during the forest walk. One you encounter your allocated mountain gorilla family, you will spend a maximum of 1 hour in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas while seeing how they spend their day, younger ones playing and Mr. Silverback resting in the thickets, you will be free to take as many photos as you would want and asking questions about mountain gorillas.

After spending a 1 hour seeing the mountain gorillas, return to the park information center to pick your certificate for completing the trek and as a recognition for your support towards the conservation of mountain gorillas in Uganda, enjoy your packed lunch plus other refreshments, meet your safari guide and return to your lodge to freshen yourself, relax and later go for an evening boat canoeing on Lake Mutanda, Lake Mulehe, Lake Chahafi depending on your booked lodge. Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation Options; Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury), Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Lake Chahafi Resort (Standard)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Batwa trail experience – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Rise up very early to have breakfast, get all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check and go for Batwa trail experience one of best tribe in Uganda due to their unique culture and lifestyle. One of the most interesting things about visiting Africa is the people, there is a lot of diversity. The Batwa trail experience tour starts with Batwa guide typically dressed in their indigenous wears kneeling down to their god who is known as Biheeko that is believed to have powers and protecting them from death when they go for fruit gathering, hunting and raiding. During Batwa cultural trail experience your local guide will exhibit to you their hunting techniques, how to use different plants and roots to make healing medicine, how to make handcrafts like bamboo cups and making fire from woods. The trail will also take you through the former home of the Batwa king known as Nagarama cave where you will enjoy the women performing their traditional music and the Batwa cultural dances. After the Batwa trail experience, have lunch and drive to Lake Bunyonyi the Africa’s second deepest lake and the coolest place to relax after your mountain gorilla trekking either in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, check in at your lodge and relaxation through the evening. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation Options; Birdnest Resort @Bunyonyi (Luxury), Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Mid-range), Bunyonyi View Resort (Standard)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi – Morning boat canoeing – Return to Kampala / Entebbe International Airport

On the last day of your 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience have breakfast and go for the morning boat canoeing safari on Lake Bunyonyi one of the most interesting activity to do on Lake Bunyonyi. Boat canoeing safari on Lake Bunyonyi will take you to visit some of the 29 small islands on Lake Bunyonyi such as the Akampene Island also known as the punishment island. Your local canoe guide will give you all the interesting information about Lake Bunyonyi which will make it so adventurous. After the morning boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi, return to your lodge to check out, get all your luggage packed in the vehicle and then embark on the 7 hours’ road drive back to Kampala or Entebbe international airport. On your way back to Kampala, you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center to have lunch, relax for some time and then proceed with your journey to Kampala staright to your place of residence or Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. This will mark the end of the 4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience.

4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience includes;

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

English speaking safari guide for 4 days

Pick up and drop off (Before and after the tour)

Fuel for 4 days

Private accommodation for 3 nights on full board meal plan (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)

Bottled mineral waters and all en-route meals

All government applicable taxes

1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person

Evening boat canoeing (Lake Mutanda, Lake Mulehe, Lake Chahafi)

Batwa trail cultural experience

Morning boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi

A visit to Igongo cultural museum

Water experiment at Kayabwe equator landmark

4 Days Mgahinga gorilla safari and Batwa trail experience 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)