4 days Mgahinga gorilla national park safari is an amazing safari that will take you to the southwestern Uganda and this park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, Mgahinga is part of the Virunga Conservation Area which spans Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo with the exceptional landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, endangered golden monkeys and mountain gorillas and is breathtaking however small. With only one fully habituated Nyakagezi family that migrates between Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Mgahinga has other animals like leopards, elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, bushbucks, giant forest hogs and duikers; bird species with 19 endemics like Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, dusky crimson-wing, regal sunbirds, blue-headed sunbirds, strange weavers and rodents away from mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, olive baboons. The trip will start from Kampala and end in Kampala.
Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Mgahinga
At the agreed spot, you will meet with our driver guide from Glory summit tours in the morning who will brief you about the trip, at which point any questions or concerns from you will be addressed. You will set off for at 7:30am Mgahinga which will take about 9 hours enjoying the great scenery, landscape and physical features of the country side. A stopover will be made in Mbarara for lunch, then you will proceed to Mgahinga where you will arrive in time for dinner and then check into your lodging for the night so you can rest and be ready for the next day.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community tour
A very early breakfast will be served and after you will be driven to the park’s headquarters for briefing about the regulations to follow during the trek, how to behave and what to expect to ensure a smooth trek. With a guide and armed ranger your trek will start and will take about 30minutes- 6hours and when the gorilla family is found you will be given an hour with them get to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, how they live, care for each other, care for their young, how and when they eat, during the trek you will be given water and a snack for when you need it. Also expect to see monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, forest hogs, bush pigs, bushbucks, porcupines and spotted hyenas. When done with the trekking, you will go back to your lodge and freshen up then have lunch. There after you will visit the Batwa people for a community tour. With the help of a local guide, you will be involved in different community activities like music, dance and drama, crafting and honey harvesting. Story telling will also be key as a way to learn the Batwa people’s history and what makes them an interesting group people. You will the return to the lodge, have dinner and then wind down the day with a relaxed evening into the night, and retire as and when you wish.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking
You will wake up very early in the morning and have your breakfast then head back to the center for briefing from the guide who will lead the trek to ensure smooth trekking, also you will be given some water and snack. Once the trek starts depending on where and when you find the golden monkeys you will have 4-5hrs to locate them and once that is done, you will be allowed an hour to watch the golden monkeys in their home feeding, singing, playing and nursing their young. They are quite restless however when opportunity comes up beautiful moments are captured. Away from the golden monkeys you will also see mountain gorillas, antelopes, buffaloes and baboons with birds like regal sunbirds, bronze sunbirds, olive pigeon, olive woodpecker, black kites, white necked raven, fly catchers and many more. After the trek you will head back to your lodge, freshen up and then have lunch. Once done, you will rest and enjoy an evening of relaxation as you share stories with your friends about the adventures had. You will retire at will.
Day 4: Checkout and departure
You will wake up to a beautiful breakfast, and then check out of the lodge and prepare for your departure for Kampala and this will take about 9hours. You will have a stopover in Mbarara for lunch and another at the equator for picture taking moments and exploring the craft village after which you will continue to Kampala and will be dropped off at the agreed upon point which will mark the end of the 4 days trip.