A trip that allows you dive in to Uganda’s remote culture, trek the might apes of the forest; the mountain gorillas as well as tracking the impressive golden monkeys, is the 4 days Mgahinga tour. Mgahinga national park is located in south western Uganda at her border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its Uganda’s smallest national park yet with lots of beauties to feed the eyes.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Travel to Mgahinga national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking
Day 4: Departure
TRIP DETAILS
Day 1: Travel to Mgahinga national park
Early morning, the driver guide picks you from the hotel after your breakfast and transfers you to Mgahinga national park. This is a 10 hour journeys that is travelled with eyes wide open because you might miss out on something very magnificent in just a blink of an eye. The first stopover is at the Uganda equator in Kayabwe. Today you experience the water experiment and also take many pictures as you want. Proceed to Mbarara town for lunch and drive to the park. The rest of the journey is filled with awesome views of the beautiful landscape, kigezi highlands and the Virunga ranges. The journey is simple an experience of its own. Reaching will be in the evening just to check in, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community
On a having a delicious breakfast at the lodge, set off to the park headquarters to catch up with a simple orientation about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park. The local park ranger takes you through the dos and donts of gorilla trekking. You will be divided into groups of eight trekkers to see a single gorilla family in a day. Now enter into the forest to hunt for these mighty apes. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga takes about 1 – 6 hours depending on the luck of the trekkers and the movement of the gorillas. You will spend an hour with the apes on meeting them, watch them conduct their daily lives. Nothing thrilla like watch a silverback directly in its red eyes. After an hour, slope back to the park station and to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
In the evening, visit the Batwa community for a cultural encounter with the ancient forest pygmies. You will see the way of life of these local people. You will also enjoy the traditional performances and taste the local cuisines.
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking
Today, still waking up is very early in the morning, have breakfast and travel to the park headquarters for golden monkey trekking briefing. Unlike gorilla trekking, golden monkeys are not so hectic to trek the fact that they stay in one location for some good time. So the driver guide will just lead you to the location. On meeting these impressive primates, you wont need to be told, the forest immediately becomes active, with monkeys jumping from tree branch to the other, at times some even jumping unto you. You are free to take many pictures but the camera doesn’t have to be with a flash. Spend an hour in their presence and then slope back to the headquarters and to the lodge for lunch and relaxation till dinner time and overnight.
Day 4: Departure
Having had breakfast, start travelling back to Kampala, getting more scenic views of Uganda’s countryside. This journey marks the end of our four days trip in Mgahinga national park.
