A 3 days gorilla trekking & boat cruise tour at Mgahinga National Park is one you should do. It also offers canoeing on Lake Mutanda and Batwa experience. Encounter the beauty of this destination in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda by trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural home. This is in one of the remaining populations in the world found on the foothills of Virunga mountains.
And also, visit Lake Mutanda, a crater lake formed through volcanic activity, millions of years ago. This is an amazing safari that take you to the Batwa pygmies’ community. There, explore their culture through dances, music, and food. Start in Entebbe, and then end in the same place.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Mgahinga NP from Kampala
Travel to Mgahinga National Park after a pick up from the hotel or Entebbe international airport. A briefing from the driver guide elucidating about the entire safari is done. This national park is one of the parks in the world that shelters the remaining mountain gorillas. It is also the smallest national park in the country, with an area of 33.7 square kilometres.
Also the park is a home to over 180 species of birds. Some of these include Rwenzori night jar, speckled mouse bird, black kite, white-napped raven among others. Mammals present include duikers, bushbucks, elephants, jackals, leopards, warthogs among other. It’s also a place where you can trek the golden monkeys, and hike the three Virunga volcanoes. The 3 are Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabinyo.
The journey to this national park is rewarding because it involves passing at the Uganda equator in Kayabwe. Stopover to take photos and buy some souvenirs. Also pass in Mbarara, Lyantonde and Ntungamo that are land for Banyankole known for keeping the long horned cattle. On arriving, you will check in the booked accommodation and prepare for a day of full adventure the next morning.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa experience
An early breakfast will be served to you and head for briefing at the Ntebeko park headquarters. Here, the warden or ranger guide will take you through the precautions or dos and don’ts to follow. You will also be assigned to a habituated gorilla family and group of people to trek with. While trekking, learn a lot about the gorillas in this park and conservation efforts taken to raise gorilla numbers.
Trekking will start immediately with the help of the armed park ranger. Upon locating them, you will be allowed only an hour with them. This is to see actions of different members in the group. Actions include mothers breast feeding, the juveniles playing and climbing trees. Expect to see other primates and bird species while in the forest. Trekking time cannot be predicated but it can depend on where you find them, but usually takes 3-8 hours.
After, return to the lodge for lunch and head for Batwa cultural experience in the afternoon. Learn about the traditional music and dance. Witness traditional food, their local herbs and the disease that they can cure by resident traditional healers. In the evening, return to the lodge for dinner and prepare for the following day’s departure.
Day 3: Visit Lake Mutanda and travel back to Kampala
Visit Lake Mutanda after a heavy breakfast and take a boat cruise using a motor boat. This exposes you to the beautiful scenery, while you learn more about this lake. It takes 2 hours and after transfer to Kampala. Pass through the rolling hills of Kigezi, cattle farms full of long horned cattle and the Uganda equator. Arrive in Kampala city where you will be dropped at the hotel room or Entebbe airport. You can end this 3 days gorilla trekking & boat cruise tour.
