5 Days Uganda golden monkeys and Lake Mutanda tour

Overview

In 5 days, tour southwestern Uganda to see Lake Mutanda and the golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This tour combines the thrill of tracking and watching the rare old-world monkeys with the warmth of interacting with rare cultures. This 5 days Uganda golden monkeys and Lake Mutanda tour also offers boat cruises, cycling tours, and exploring beautiful islands. Capture unforgettable views of the raw vistas of Uganda’s diverse landscapes.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to Mgahinga NP. Sleepover in Kisoro town

Our driver will pick you up from wherever you spent the night in Kampala or after your arrival flight in Entebbe. You will then be transferred to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is about 498.7 kilometers to the southwest. Enjoy a scenic enroute lunch in Mbarara, where you will savor local dishes before proceeding with your journey. You will have dinner and spend the night in Kisoro town. This is just 12.7 kilometers from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Day 2: Go to Mgahinga park headquarters for a briefing. Do golden monkey trekking. Batwa community tours in the afternoon

After an early morning breakfast, drive to the Mgahinga Gorillas National Park headquarters for a golden monkey trek. Venture into the bamboo forest, guided by seasoned park rangers to track a habituated golden monkey troop. Once located, dedicate 1 hour to observing the golden monkeys in their natural habitat quietly. As their behaviors unfold before your eyes, capture them on your camera. Return to the starting point for debriefing.

Have lunch served at your lodge and refresh. Visit the Batwa community in the afternoon. They will welcome you with powerful local music, dance, and playing musical instruments. Listen as they share insight about how they survived in the forest. They will recount and demonstrate strategies such as hunting, food gathering, and the art of fire-making. Afterwards, you will go back to your lodge to enjoy a hearty dinner. This will be followed by a peaceful overnight stay.

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mutanda. Boat cruise to visit the islands

Have a fine morning breakfast and prepare yourself for a transfer to Lake Mutanda. The distance of the lake from the headquarters of Mgahinga Gorilla NP is roughly 26.8 kilometers. So, you will check out of your lodge and head to the lake, and subsequently check in at your pre-booked lodge. This is where you will get lunch. Seize the afternoon opportunity to cruise on Lake Mutanda on a motor boat.

A boat cruise is a guided activity where knowledge of the freshwater lake is abundant. For example, you will learn how Lake Mutanda was formed following volcanic activity. But you will also have to enjoy a guided view of the abundant local wildlife there. While on the motorboat, you will have the possibility of seeing the grey crowned cranes, pied kingfisher, black-headed heron, African kingfisher, and black kite.

But this is not all, because you will step out of the boat to explore at least one of the islands on the lake. There are actually 15 of them, including Buhungiro Island, Kabaya Island, Kabaya Island and Mutanda Island, etc. You will meet people from the unique Abagesera clan. Interact with them to learn about their rich history and cultures. Learn and appreciate many things about the folklore of the Island. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Spend the day at Lake Mutanda, relaxing, sightseeing, and cycling around the lake

Awaken to a nourishing breakfast at the lodge to enjoy the thrilling adventures ahead. You will setout on a walk around the lake to get views of the landscape. Interesting vistas of some Virunga volcanoes will be observed. Capture them on camera for your future memories. You will go for a guided cycling tour around the lake. This is an alternative way of seeing the pretty landscape and wildlife around Lake Mutanda. You will have lunch at the lodge.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. Swim at the lodge’s poolside to cool your body. Sunbathe to soak in the warmth and serenity of the afternoon while lying on a well-cushioned lounger. If engaging in conversations appeals to you, interact with fellow guests to share the wonders you have experienced while exploring Uganda. You will also have a fun time watching the sun go down on the horizon. Have dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala

From Lake Mutanda, Kampala is around 493 kilometers long through the countryside, vibrant towns, and rolling hills. So, as soon as you wake up, have breakfast and check out of your lodge. The driver will transfer you to Kampala, with enroute lunch in Mbarara. After arriving in Kampala, drop-off will be at any location of your choosing. This ends the 5 days Uganda golden monkeys and Lake Mutanda tour.

Top Uganda Safari Packages 2026/2027

Uganda Safaris are highlights of all safaris in Africa. Being the pearl of Africa, the country has so much to satisfy almost all needs of adventurous and relaxed, old and young, plus solo and group tourists, there is nothing that Uganda cannot offer, ranging from gorilla trekking safaris, wildlife expeditions and cultural tours. See some of our top Uganda safari tours below.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.