Twice Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
5-Day Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari in the Virunga Volcanoes & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from Kigali-Rwanda
5-Day-Luxury Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari where you fly into Kigali-Rwanda and Trek Gorillas in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park where you track Gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes and one of the Best Parks in Africa, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which was named by CNN in 2017 as being one of the best parks in Africa. In 2019 CNN Travel called it the most beautiful place in the World.
This one-of-a-kind-Safari gives you two different and distinct GorillaTrekking Experiences in Uganda. Track the Gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes and then in the Ancient Afromontane Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest with its ridges and steep valley. Your accommodation is in two fabulous lodges. This, for lack of better terms, is a once in a lifetime Gorilla Dream Safari.
It is only in Uganda where you can trek the Gentle Giants of the Forest in two different habitats. Most trekkers are not aware that in Uganda, you can track Gorillas on the sides of the brooding Volcanoes and in a Rainforest.
The best part for some is that the cost of a luxury twice Gorilla Trekking Safari is thousands of dollars less than in neighboring Rwanda. No wonder that Uganda has become the Premier Primate Destination in Africa.
Safari Highlight
- Fly into Rwanda Trek Gorillas in Uganda
- Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
- Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park in the Shadow of the Volcanoes
- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Visit with the Batwa Community
- 4×4 Land-Cruiser Vehicle with Luxury Safari Experienced Driver
- Services of a porter and walking sticks for your comfort Gorilla Trekking
- Safari can be extended to include Wildlife and Chimpanzees.
- Add a day to relax and chill out along Lake Mutanda, one of Africa’s scenic wonders.
- Arrival and Departure Hotel, along with Airport Pickup and Dropoff, can be added.
Your Luxury Gorilla Safari in Detail
Day 1 – Journey to Mgahinga Park
Your 5-Day-Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari begins as we pick you up at your Hotel in Kigali Rwanda at 7:00 am and start the 3-hour journey to Mgahinga Park. This is a scenic drive through what is known here as the Gorilla Highlands of Rwanda and then Uganda.
You will need an East African Visa that is obtainable from the first East African Country that you Visit (Kenya-Rwanda – Uganda are participants in the East African Visa Program). You will also need a Yellow Fever Certificate. Change your watches one-hour forward since Uganda is on East African Time.
Check into Mount Gahinga Lodge
Afternoon Activities: We see two kinds of Gorilla Trekkers on a safari., those that want one activity after another and those that want to relax for an afternoon and take in their surroundings, even read a good book like a novel based in Uganda. That is great. Others can take Caldera Hike near Mount Gahinga Lodge, visit the Batwa Village that Mount Gahinga Lodge is in the process for the original people of the forest, or visit the Batwa Vocational Project sponsored by the Lodge.
Dinner – at Mount Gahinga Lodge evening Traditional Batwa Dance and Music is often provided – their songs, if you understood them, most often are about their mourning the loss of the Forest from which they were evicted 1991 to clear the way for Gorilla Tourism.
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Mount Gahinga Lodge
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Mount Gahinga Lodge – Affordable Exclusive Lodge:
Mount Gahinga Lodge is an upmarket – luxury lodge that is located just outside of Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The lodge is merely fabulous from the natural setting that it is in, the Virunga Volcanoes’ foothills to the closeness to the Park. From the exquisite private cottages with a bath and a fireplace to take the chill off during the Gorilla Highlands’ cold nights.
There are 6 Bandas as cottages are called here in this part of Africa, plus one double-deluxe cottage that recently opened.
The meals served by competent, service orientated staff are a delight and something to look forward to after a day of trekking, hiking, climbing in Mgahinga Gorilla Park, paddling across Lake Mutanda, or tracking Gorillas in nearby Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Mount Gahinga Lodge is simply Class and Style and a good choice for Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
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Gorilla Gear Needed for your Gorilla Treks:
Many Gorilla Trekkers are not properly dressed for the Trek. The right Stuff protects you from thorns, nettles, brush, insects. Comfort and protection are the aims of our recommendations and is based on years of experience.
Ir starts with a waterproof daypack, your packed lunch from the lodge you are staying at, and two liters of waters we supply you with. You need waterproofed boots worn in thick socks and long-trousers that you can tuck into your socks, long-sleeved shirt. The long trousers and shirts protect you from nettle stings, thorns, thick brush, even from wasps.
You should have some sturdy gardening gloves. They come in handy when there is no trail, and you have to pull yourself up on branches. They also protect your hands from nettle burns. Before the Trek, use some useful insect unscented insect repellent and sunscreen.
Protect your Camera Equipment with Ziploc Bags. You can even use a shower or bathing cap to cover vital camera equipment: Pack extra batteries and storage discs.
We supply you with bottled water, bamboo walking sticks, and the services of a porter. The Walking sticks steady you on the trail. The porter lightens your load and assists on the path. You should be moderately fit to do both treks.
Day 2- Gorilla Trekking in the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
An early Breakfast, and you can take the short walk from the lodge to park headquarters for the orientation, where you are told the trek rules for the day.
After the orientation, we provide a porter and a Walking Stick and bottled water. Off you go on your Safe and Secure Gorilla Trek with Rangers and security escort to visit the Nyakagezi Family – 10 members (5-silverbacks) in the group.
It is unusual for a gorilla family to have five silverbacks and maintain peace in the group. Mark, the leader of the group, has done a remarkable job maintaining harmony,
The typical habitat of the Nyakagezi Family is quite open and allows you to get some tremendous up-close photos.
This is a 4 to 5-hour trek for most, a one-of-a-kind experience. Afterward, you return to the lodge where you can do one of the activities offered by the lodge, such as the Batwa Heritage Walk.
Meal Plan: Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Day 3- Golden Monkey Trekking
Golden Monkey Trekking:
You embark on your Golden Trek with Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers. This is a hike up on the sides of the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla Park to the Bamboo Forest. There are several thousand of the endangered Golden Monkeys found in the park. They are beautiful and colorful monkeys, weigh about 30 pounds when mature, and some of the liveliest monkeys you have ever come across.
The group you are trekking will be about 100 in size, but you do not have time to count them since they are always on the move.
The trek is about 4 hours long, after which you return to Mount Gahinga Lodge, the only luxury lodge near the park where you can enjoy views of Mount Gahinga and even Lake Mutanda in the Distance.
After the Golden Monkey Trek, we drive to the Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and you can check into Gorilla Safari Lodge or the Exclusive Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge. Drive-Time is 1 1/2 hours depending on road conditions, which can change with heavy morning rain.
Meal Plan: Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or upmarket Gorilla Safari Lodge
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Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge –Exclusive Luxury:
Ultimate Luxury on top of the World at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge combines its surrounding natural views and splendor, gorillas-birds-wildlife with guests’ luxurious comfort.
Clouds Mountain Lodge is simply a luxurious experience in the Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
From here, you can see both the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest below and the Virunga Volcanoes.
The cottages are suites and in the sitting area is a fireplace for your comfort.
There is one Family Cottage with two bedrooms and two bathrooms that will sleep 4. This is the lodge that we recommend. It is one where memories are made, and like with Mount Gahinga, there never complaints from Clients.
The Lodge is close to the Nkuringo Trailhead but 45 minutes from the Rushaga area.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is simply one of the Best Lodges in Uganda.
Gorilla Safari Lodge – Upmarket:
The upmarket Gorilla Safari Lodge – quality and comfort in the Rushaga Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest,
It is the only up-market Lodge in the Rushaga Area at an affordable price and a great place near the park headquarters. You can track gorillas or spend 4 hours with them on a Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Each cottage comes with a bath and a fireplace to take the chill off of those colder Bwindi Nights. It is a short ride to the trailhead in Rushaga from here.
There is one Family Cottage that has two bedrooms and where four can stay together.
We use this lodge extensively for our upmarket Clients since it is the only upmarket lodge in the Rushaga Area. It is close to Rushaga Gorilla Trekking start point and the Gorilla Habituation Experience Trailhead.
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Day 4 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Gorilla Trekking – Rushaga or Nkuringo:
Breakfast and you are off for your second Trek – 45 minutes to 1 hour scenic Drive – this one will be either in the Nkuringo or Rushaga Area of the Park. The three Nkuringo Families are the toughest to trek because, in the beginning, you are dealing with hiking down 600 meters. That same 600-meter uphill climb awaits you at the end of the Trek.
There are easier treks that can be taken that cover a more natural terrain and are shorter in length.
The routine and clothing are the same as it was for your first trek. The porter provided by us will be different, as well be the group that you will track.
Trekking is different in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – it can mean going up and down on trails until you meet your group. The experience, however, is the same as in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Exclusive Option: Instead of one hour with a family, you can be for four hours family on a Gorilla Habituation Experience. The Permit Cost is 1500 USD. This is a pilot program in Uganda, there are only four visitors allowed per group, and it is an all-day trek.
Meal Plan: Breakfast -Lunch – Dinner
Lodge: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or upmarket Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 5 – Return to Kigali
Activities this morning, depending on your departure flight time in Kigali. Kigali’s drive is 4-hours, but you gain 1-hour crossing the border back into Central African Time.
We can be in Kigali in Time for Lunch at Hotel Rwanda, take in the Genocide Memorial, and visit other sites in Kigali before your flight out.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Add a Day – Relax and Chill Out-Unwind on one of Africa’s most scenic and Photographed Lakes:
In 2019 the scenery of Mgahinga Gorilla Park’s Volcanoes, as seen from Lake Mutanda, became the “Third in the World Must Photograph 
Locations.” Many of our Clients spend a day or two at the Chameleon Hill Lodge. This is Africa’s funkiest Lodge with its bright colors and Fairy Tale Castle Theme.
Chameleon Hill Lodge is an upmarket Lodge with one of the best views anywhere. It is the perfect way to end your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda. The lodge is close to the border and just 2 1/2 hours from Kigali, Rwanda.
Lake Mutanda is a pristine Lake with emerald Isles framed by the brooding Volcanoes. One of our clients exclaimed that it was the most beautiful lake he had ever seen.
You can enjoy a Sundowner Boat ride here having Uganda’s drink of Choice, Uganda Waragi, with a Krest Bitter Lemon Soda. You can try your hand paddling a dugout canoe. Birding Walk, island discovery boat rides can be done here, among other things such as village walk and nature trails along Lake Mutanda.
Please Note: The above Private Safari includes all activities and permits needed, as described. It is full board, water in the vehicle. It does not include tips, drinks at lodges, laundry. Mount Gahinga Lodge does offer complimentary non-premium beverages to their guests.
Please Note: The above Private Safari includes all activities and permits needed, as described. It is a full board, water in the vehicle. It does not include tips, drinks at lodges, laundry.
Please contact us if you are interested in this 5-Day-Twice Gorilla Trekking Safari.
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