Located in East Africa, Uganda is one of the leading safari destinations on the continent. This 3 Days Mgahinga Gorillas and Monkeys Tour takes you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, found in the southwestern part of the country. The park is known for hosting mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkeys.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only place in Uganda where golden monkeys can be tracked. These monkeys live in the bamboo forest zones and are not found in any other national park in the country. The tour also gives you the chance to track mountain gorillas, one of Africa’s most well known primates, within the same park.
Other activities on this tour include guided nature walks, photography, and cultural performances by the Batwa pygmies. The safari begins and ends at an agreed pick up and drop off point in the Mgahinga area.
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Meet, Greet, and Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
Your driver guide will meet you at the pre arranged pick up location. After a short briefing and a glass of juice, begin the 9 to 10 hour drive to southwestern Uganda. The journey follows a paved road through towns and countryside, where you can see local communities going about their daily life. You may also see Ankole herdsmen with their long horned cattle along the way.
There will be a lunch and refreshment stop during the drive. On arrival in the Mgahinga area, check in at your lodge. Spend the evening resting, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight at the lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Pygmies Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for registration and document checks. You will attend a briefing by park rangers and receive trekking guidelines. You will also be assigned a ranger guide and porters if needed.
In a small group of not more than eight people, you will begin tracking one of the gorilla families in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The ranger guides lead you into the forest while explaining rules to follow during the trek. Tracking is done by following signs such as footprints, broken branches, and feeding remains.
Gorilla trekking is done on foot and can last between one and six hours. Once the gorillas are found, you are allowed one hour to observe and take photos. You may see mothers caring for young ones, silverbacks watching over the group, and younger gorillas playing nearby.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the evening, enjoy a cultural performance by the Batwa pygmies, who share songs, dances, and stories about their forest life. Dinner and overnight stay follow.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking and Departure
After breakfast, head back to the park headquarters for a briefing on golden monkey trekking. The ranger guide will explain how the trek is conducted and what to expect. Golden monkeys are active and move quickly through the trees, making them interesting to watch.
The trek usually lasts between two and six hours, including time for photography. After the activity, return for lunch. Later, begin your journey to Kigali in Rwanda.
This marks the end of the 3 Days Mgahinga Gorillas and Monkeys Tour.
