7-Day Uganda Gorilla And Golden Monkey Trekking | Mgahinga

A Detailed 7-Day Uganda Gorilla And Golden Monkey Trekking

Day 1: Entebbe — Shoebill tracking

After a short (15-minute) ride, our driver will get you from Entebbe International Airport and drop you off at your hotel in the city. Prior to supper, you will have a meeting with your trip expert.

If you want to be active and arrive early, there are optional activities surrounding Entebbe. Those interested in birds can see ancient shoebills in places like the Mabamba marshes or the world-famous botanical gardens. The local markets and shopping malls are both great places to go for a peaceful stroll.

You’ll stay at: Boutique Hotel Number 5 (Luxury) or Papyrus Guesthouse (Comfortable)

Day 2: Fly Entebbe to Kisoro – Canoeing

The aircraft from Entebbe to Kisoro will depart early in the morning. In Kisoro, you can go on a stroll with a local guide past picturesque terraced gardens and quaint village homes before arriving at the serene shores of Lake Mutanda.

Canoeing across the volcanic lake in traditional dug-out boats is an adventure you may share with the fisherman at Lake Mutanda. After a leisurely ride, you’ll be dropped off for another stroll through the garden to meet your driver higher up.

Staying at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Excursion

At seven in the morning, your butler will make sure you’re ready to go with a picnic lunch, appropriate hiking gear, water, and a walking stick. At the visitor center, the gorilla trekking expedition briefing begins at 7:30 in the morning.

A habituated gorilla group will be located in the rainforest, and you and six other visitors will be led there by your gorilla tracking guide and two rangers armed with guns at 8:00 in the morning. You will be able to view a family of mountain gorillas for approximately one hour from a distance of ten meters once you locate them. A gorilla habituation permit, on the other hand, will allow you to see the monkeys for roughly four hours.

You can’t plan ahead for how long you’ll spend in the forest because each day is unique. Nonetheless, the majority of hikers emerge from the forest by two o’clock in the afternoon, smiling broadly.

Indulge in a soothing massage at the lodge spa upon your return and unwind for the night.

Staying at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed), and Dinner.

Day 4: Optional Activities

The fourth day of this Uganda gorillas & walking safari adventure has some optional activities to keep you active. On the other hand, you can spend the day lounging around your cottage in the woods.

Unwind at the lodge with a good book, sign up for a cooking lesson, go for a stroll around the grounds, and strike up a conversation with some of the locals.

Return to the mystifying bush for a second encounter with the gorillas. Consider going on the Gorilla habituation experience with the rangers to spend more time with the gorillas. Keep in mind that the hiking permit needs to be pre-booked.

Along a short forest route, you can see the Batwa people perform traditional medicine, dance, drama, and other arts that have been passed down through generations.

Take in breathtaking views of the surrounding hills as you enjoy a picnic while the sun sets from atop a mountain. You can reach it on foot from the lodge.

Staying at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 5: Bwindi to Mgahinga – Walking Safari

Embark on an early morning drive to Rubuguri junction after breakfast, bringing a packed lunch. From there, you have the option to walk the 9 kilometres to Lake Mutanda, passing through communities and planted gardens. In this section, you can get a feel for the layouts of rural communities while taking in the picturesque countryside.

Either go canoeing with the fishermen on Lake Mutanda again or get in your driver’s car and head to Kisoro town. We will visit the cultural center and local fresh-food markets in Kisoro town before making the drive to Gahinga Lodge, located at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes, just outside the park entry. At Gahinga, you’ll have a lovely cottage to yourself for the next two nights.

You’ll stay at: Gahinga Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Packed), Dinner

Day 6: Golden Monkey Trekking

If you want to be at the briefing point by 7:30 in the morning, you’ll need to be up by 7:00. Just ten minutes away on foot from Gahinga Lodge is the Ntebeko tourist center, which doubles as the headquarters of Mgahinga National Park. To begin your experience, you have the option of taking a short walk or having your driver transfer you.

A lead tracker guide and two rangers armed with firearms will embark on the golden monkey expedition at approximately 8:00 in the morning following the briefing. Within a two-hour timeframe, you will ascend the slopes to the bamboo forest zone, a habitat frequented by golden monkeys. You may expect to spend around an hour observing their social behaviours and antics after you meet them.

Inquisitive and mischievous, golden monkeys will jump up trees or get much closer to you than you would think. Just remember to listen to your lead guide and savour the experience.

You’ll stay at: Gahinga Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Packed), Dinner

Day 7: Fly Kisoro to Entebbe

On the seventh day of your trekking safari through the picturesque rural terrain, you will see mountain gorillas and golden monkeys for the last time. The good news is that you’ll have at least an hour to admire the breathtaking hilly landscape below.

From 30 minutes away at Kisoro Airport, you can take a domestic aircraft for an hour to Entebbe International Airport.

Feel free to arrange your return flight for a later time that day, or perhaps spend another peaceful night in Entebbe at our charming boutique Papyrus Guesthouse. The next day, you might fly back home after doing some souvenir buying.

Accommodation (Optional): Papyrus Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed)

End of the 7-Day Uganda Gorilla And Golden Monkey Trekking