Overview.
A double gorilla trekking tour for 4 days can be done in both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in southwestern Uganda. This is a massive opportunity to see the endangered mountain gorillas in the only places in Uganda where you can see them. Gorilla trekking involves locating a habituated gorilla family and spending an hour to observe their natural behavior.
Uganda is blessed with a half of the global population of mountain gorillas and Bwindi alone has around 459 individuals. This makes Uganda the best place to see gorillas in Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that covers about 321 square kilometers in size. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is only 33.7 square kilometers in size.
In this 4 days Bwindi and Mgahinga double gorilla trek, you will also enjoy the equator crossing experience, road trips and the Batwa trail experience. Road trips can be enjoyed on a 4-wheel drive safari vehicle. Other options are also available at Monteero Safaris and include drones, minivans and saloon cars etc. Your trip begins and ends in Kampala/Entebbe.
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Equator experience
Our driver will meet you at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport after your flight. Briefing about the 4 days Bwindi and Mgahinga double gorilla trek will be done by the driver to clarify on your trip. You will start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is scenic road trip that will cover 520 kilometers from Entebbe.
You will have to pause at Kayabwe in Mpigi district to enjoy the Equator crossing experience. Take photos, see exciting experiments and buy souvenirs sold in the gift shops. Continue to Mbarara city where you will have an enroute lunch in Igongo Cultural Center. You will reach Bwindi, drive tour your booked lodge, check in and have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla trek in Bwindi and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After you wake, you will take your early morning breakfast. Your will pack a picnic lunch. At 7:00 AM, your driver will ensure that you are at the trailhead. A ranger from the park will meet you and other visitors for a briefing. This is to equip you with essential information for a peaceful and successful gorilla trek. You will be told which habituated gorilla family to track.
An experienced ranger guide and armed ranger will lead you into the dense forest to track the gorilla family. After finding the gorilla family, the ranger guide will offer you a precious hour for observing the mountain gorillas in the wild. Photographing is allowed but after instructions from the ranger guide.
Overall, the gorilla trek may take 4-6 hours depending on the location of the apes and your fitness level. After the hour return to the starting point for a nice certificate of completion. Your driver will meet you and take you to your lodge. Freshen up and head to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is a 58.5 kilometers journey on the road.
Arrive at your booked lodge and check in. You will have dinner and overnight stay here.
Day 3: Gorilla trek in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Batwa trail
Wake up for an early morning breakfast in the lodge. Your dedicated driver will ensure that you are taken to the trailhead at Ntebeko at around 7:00 AM. Here, you and other visitors will gather around a park staff for a briefing. This is so important because you are offered necessary information of how to move along the gorilla trails safely and securely.
The information is also significant in ensuring that you move without disrupting wildlife behavior and survival. Then you will be led by an experienced ranger guide and armed ranger into the forest. You will locate the only habituated gorilla family—Nyakagezi—in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Along the gorilla trails plenty of flora and fauna can be seen.
Finally, when you locate the mountain gorillas, the ranger guide will ensure that you get a full hour in the presence of the gorillas. Observe them and take the photos of them in their natural home. Return to the trailhead. After being awarded your certificate of completing the activity successfully, you will be taken back to your lodge. You will freshen up and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will be taken for the Batwa trail experience. This is a chance to explore the lifestyle of the Batwa Pygmies. With a Twa guide, you will learn plenty of their cultures, tradition and survival. They will lead you to explore the lower slopes of the forest and towards the captivating Garama caves.
The Batwa trail experience is also a chance to know how the Batwa lifestyle was linked to the forest they inhabited. They will even demonstrate to you how they used to hunt, gather food and medicine to survive. Entertainment through music and dance will be done for your own amusement. After, your driver will bring you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Return journey to Kampala/Entebbe
On this day, you wake up and take your morning breakfast at the lodge. After checking out of your lodge, your driver will take you back to Kampala. This is a 502.2 kilometers journey with an enroute lunch provided for you at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara. You will continue to Kampala and arrive in the evening.
If you wish, the driver will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport or your accommodation. This is the end of your 4 days Bwindi and Mgahinga double gorilla trek in the Pearl of Africa.
