5 Days Mgahinga gorillas, Golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari
5 Days Mgahinga gorillas, Golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari
The 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari is a fascinating adventure that starts and ends in Uganda. The Uganda safari will take you to Mgahinga gorilla national park which is the smallest national park in southwestern Uganda that is known for harboring the endangered mountain gorillas and unique golden monkeys. During the safari you will get an opportunity to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitat. From Mgahinga gorilla national park you will connect to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest freshwater lake in Uganda.
Highlights of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will buy souvenirs and take photos. From the Equator you will continue the journey with another stopover at Igongo cultural centre for en-route lunch where after you will proceed with spectacular views of the countryside, terraced farmlands, beautiful landscape, hills among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
Gorilla trekking
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to go for a gorilla trekking briefing where you will be told about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trails to follow. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park takes about 3 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one area to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view different bird species, other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, view different tree and plant species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them which gives you a chance to observe their habits, lifestyle, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari. After the interesting moment with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will awarded a certificated in participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
Golden monkey trekking
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about golden monkey trekking. After the trekking you will be allocated a park guide and start trekking in the jungle in search of the golden monkeys following trails of leftover leaves and bamboo shoots. During trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, you will be able to view other primate species, listen to sweet sounds of bird species, view different plant species among others. Once the golden monkeys are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their presence which gives you an opportunity to watch them play, feed, jump up in tree branches, learn about the behaviors, take photos among others. After the one hour with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch you will either relax at the lodge or go for an optional boat cruise on Lake Mutanda where you will be able to explore the islands, enjoy the beautiful scenery, views of the Virunga mountain ranges, view variety of water birds among others. After the boat cruise you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a boat cruise
After breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest fresh water lake in Uganda and second deepest in East Africa. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive and upon arrival you will check into the lodge and have lunch. After lunch you will go for an interesting boat cruise in a dugout canoe where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands, enjoy the beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands, rolling hills, view different water birds like herons, kingfishers, interact with the local people living on the islands among others. After the canoe ride you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala
On the last day of the 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up to transfer back to Kampala. You will have en-route lunch in Mbarara and then continue the journey to Kampala arriving in the evening and upon arrival you will dropped off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or dropped off at an place of convenience depending on your schedule.
End of 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkey and Lake Bunyonyi safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Boat cruise fees
- Full time English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off to Kampala
- 4WD pop up safari vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Life insurance
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
