4 Days Uganda gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari
On your 4 Days Uganda gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari you will visit Mgahinga gorilla national park which is another destination harboring the endangered mountain gorillas and the unique golden monkeys. Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in south western Uganda in Kisoro district bordering Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park is one of the smallest protected areas in Uganda and harbors 2 habituated gorilla families namely Nyakagezi and Hirwa. The national park is a home of other primates like the golden monkeys, baboons, volcanic mountains such as Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhavura.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking
Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Depending on your location the driver guide will pick you up brief you about you 4 days primate safari and then start your journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park. It’s a 9 hour drive to the park and on the way you will have a stopover for lunch and then continue. Though it takes a full day you will have great views of the landscape, farmlands, hills, homesteads, local people among others on the way. On arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
You will wake up have an early breakfast and with your packed lunch you will meet up with your driver guide and then transfer to Ntebeko park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people to trek each habituated gorilla family and grouping is done according to age, physical fitness and personal preferences therefore in case you are not physically fit, you are advised to communicate to your driver guide so as to allocate you a gorilla family that is near to trek.
At around 8:00am you will start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorillas and once they are found, you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat taking photos, recording the videos and learning ,more about their behaviors, habits among others. After the one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and then transfer back to the lodge.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking
You will wake up have an early breakfast at the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the starting point for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow when trekking the golden monkeys. After the briefing you will be grouped and then start trekking in the jungle with a park guide. During golden monkey trekking you might spot other animals like the buffaloes, bushbucks, bush pigs, forest elephants among others. Golden monkey trekking takes several hours because the golden monkeys like to move from one area in search of food which is bamboo shoots, fruits, leaves among others and once they are found you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. After the one hour with the golden monkeys, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and then transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala
You will wake up have breakfast and check out of the lodge to start your journey to Kampala via Kabale with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch. After lunch you will continue the journey via the equator where you will take some photos and take some refreshments and then proceed to Kampala and the driver guide will drop you off at any place of convenience or at the airport for your next flight.
You can also depart through Kigali where by the driver guide will drive you from the park via Cyanika border to Kigali international airport and the journey takes about 4 hours’ drive.
End of 4 days Uganda primate safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- An English speaking driver guide
- Golden monkey trekking
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
What to carry on your Uganda primate safari
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Hiking shoes
- Garden gloves
- Long sleeved shirt and trouser
- Insect repellent
- Water proof rain jacket
- Warm sweaters
- Cotton stockings
- Water proof back pack to carry your equipment’s
- camera
- Drinking water and packed lunch from the lodge
- Hiring a Porter who will help you to carry your equipment’s and also give you a pull and push in steep and slippery areas.
