3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking is the main safari activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable forest are the only gorilla national parks in Uganda. Besides trekking of gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, golden monkey tracking is another tourist activity. The park is found in South Western Uganda about 14 kms from Kisoro town covering 33 sq km in the district which is a Bafumbira dominated district. The park is a home for the gravely endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda making it conducive destination for Gorilla trekking tours. Mgahinga is one of the tourist attractions in Western Uganda. Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National Park is done with the Nyakagezi gorilla group, the only gorilla family found in this park. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga forest may also be done from Kigali. Uganda Gorilla tours from Kigali are easier and cheaper since the distance is shorter as well as the trip packages themselves. For instance, one can do a 1 day gorilla safari in Uganda from Rwanda or a 2 day tour from the same city, a thing that is not possible from Entebbe.
The Detailed Gorilla Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kisoro Town
Start Mgahinga gorilla safari by driving early enough from Kampala to Kisoro which is 540 km. along the way you will see that magnificent vegetation and beautiful landscape of Uganda. Make a stop at Mbarara town for lunch and then after proceed to Kisoro arriving in the evening. Overnight at Mgahinga Safari Lodge and Travelers’ Rest Hotel in Kisoro town.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Wake up early enough freshen up, take breakfast, get a briefing and then the tour guide leads you into the Mgahinga gorilla trek in the wild. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga forest is among the most exhilarating and treasured experience, that take one through a thick jungle for the whole of the day. The tourists group (The Nyakagezi group) has got all categories of individuals like silverbacks, adult females, juveniles and infants. The tracking exercise takes between 3 to 8 hours, which is tiresome but one has to be strong enough for the trail. It is sensible that you to put on good foothold shoes appropriate for mud-spattered places and binoculars for easy visualization. Overnight at Mgahinga Safari Lodge and Travelers’ rest.
Day 3: Drive Back to Kampala
After a morning breakfast, the driver is waiting for you for your comfortable ride back to Kampala. Lunch in Masaka town. You will arrive in Kampala in the evening, marking the end of the gorilla safaris in Uganda at Mgahinga National Park. In case you want to enjoy seeing golden monkeys as well in the same gorilla park, you can book a 4 days trip in which you could do gorilla and golden monkey trekking together on different days.
Other Tourist Attractions in Mgahinga National Park
When not trekking gorillas while the park, there are many things to do in Mgahinga arising from the attractions found there. Amidst the scenic sights, sounds and adventure activities in park, the following the tourist attractions in Mgahinga including volcanoes, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, birds and the Batwa. It is on the attractions that you can freely choose to do golden monkey trekking, cultural tour experience of the Batwa, bird watching, nature walk plus volcano hiking or mountain climbing among others.
Where to See Gorillas in Africa?
Mgahinga National Park is not the only place with Mountain gorillas. The park together with Bwindi Impenetrable forest are the only two destinations where to find gorillas in Uganda. Mountain gorillas in Africa also found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorilla parks in Africa in the three countries are the basis for gorilla trekking, thanks to the gorilla conservation efforts that take place there.