4 days gorilla and golden monkey tracking Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers an opportunity to see two unique primate species: the Virunga Mountain gorilla and the golden monkey. Both dwell in one park and that’s why it was nicknamed a place where gold meets silver. In addition to gorilla and golden monkey trekking, another activity you can add is the Batwa trail. It is not only an easy hike along the lower slopes of Sabinyo volcano, but also a cultural interaction with Batwa pygmies.
Highlights for 4 days gorilla and golden monkey tracking Mgahinga
- Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga
- Golden monkey tracking
- Batwa cultural trail
Detailed 4 days gorilla and golden monkey tracking Mgahinga itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kisoro town
Meet and greet in Kampala city with your tour guide and set off early in the morning. Along the Kampala-Masaka highway, you will make stopovers, one at Equator monument and another for lunch en-route in Mbarara city. The final route from Mbarara takes you through Kabale municipality, where you will stop for refreshments and proceed to Kisoro. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Make sure to have enough rest and arrange all the necessary items that you will need to use during gorilla trekking.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast at 6:00am, you will depart from the lodge with packed lunch. Drive to Mgahinga gorilla national park visitor center at Ntebeko. Attend a briefing on gorilla rules from 7:30am – 8:00am. Listen carefully to the words of the park warden. He gives you all the tips that are necessary for a successful gorilla trekking experience. When he tells you to hire a porter or take a walking stick do so.
You will be accompanied by knowledgeable UWA trackers and armed rangers in search for the gorillas. The trek can take 1 to 5 hours depending on the location. Once the primates are found, spend 1 hour observing the Nyakagezi gorilla family led by silverback Mark. Thereafter, sit back and have lunch in the forest before returning to the visitor center. You will be awarded with a Uganda Wildlife Authority Gorilla Tracking Certificate. Leave the park and drive back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation for the rest of the day. Those intending to go to Kisoro town can go there on their own means. Have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 3: Golden Monkey tracking and Batwa cultural tour
Again, you leave the lodge early morning and drive to Mgahinga this time round to track the golden monkeys. The primate species reside in the bamboo zone between 1,800- 2,800 meters above sea level. Hiking to see them is quite less challenging given that the you follow the trails straight to the location. Golden monkeys live in social groups of 20 to over 60 individuals led by an alpha male.
Chances are high that you might see as many as monkeys as possible during the 1-hour limit session. The feeding habits of golden monkeys are fascinating, which makes the experience so rewarding. The primates tend to swing swiftly amongst trees while munching on the young shoots of bamboo. Once the viewing is done, you will return to the visitor for a certificate. Then have a time to relax and eat your packed lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for a cultural walk along the Batwa trail which may last for 2 hours. The hike takes along the edge of the park on the lower slopes of Gahinga volcano. The Batwa will evoke their former hunter gatherer lifestyles showing you how they make fire, collect wild food, and sleep in tree huts. The next phase of the walk is much more entertaining. Once you reach the Garama cave, one of the ancient homes of the Twa kingdom, the pygmies will honor their ancestors with energetic traditional dance performances. The walk ends and you will hike to the trailhead and drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Return to Kampala city
After breakfast at the lodge, leave Kisoro early morning so that by noon you will be in Mbarara city for lunch en-route. Continue on the last leg of the journey hoping to be in Kampala city in the early evening. You will be driven to the airport or your preferred place accordingly. End of 4 days Mgahinga gorilla and golden monkey tracking safari.