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- Grumeti River
June 6, 2023 - Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Gorillas
June 6, 2023 - The African Great Lakes
May 31, 2023
Volcanoes, Gorillas and Great Lakes
Travel to the farthest corners of Uganda where towering volcanoes mark the border between the thick jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the untamed vastness of central Africa. After trekking the gorillas in Mgahinga, head inland for a couple of nights relaxing lakeside amongst the almost unimaginable beauty of Lake Mutanda.
Few places are as picture perfect as Lake Mutanda.
Lake Mutanda’s still waters are great for canoeing.
The Gorillas roam in small familial groups.
The starlight by the shores of Lake Mutanda.
The Lake Mutanda Resort is the perfect place to relax after a gorilla trek.
Lake Mutanda is surrounded by stunning natural beauty.
Gorilla trekking is hard work, but the rewards are immense.
The landscapes inspire the design of many Ugandan lodges.
Mother keeping watchful eye on her young.
Trek the mountain gorillas. The volcano-laced border of western Uganda is home to a number of habituated gorilla families. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a fantastic spot for gorilla trekking. A true wilderness destination, this is for the adventurers.
Relax amongst stunning scenery at Lake Mutanda. The landscapes around Lake Mutanda are almost too picturesque to be believed. The waters are still, the horizons are broken by distand volcanos framing your view, and the lakeside resort is the perfect spot for relaxing after a gorilla trek.
Itinerary
Day 1: Entebbe
International flight into Entebbe Airport. Upon landing, clear Immigration and collect your luggage before leaving the airport to meet your driver by the terminal doors. 10 minute transfer to your hotel where you will spend the night.
Overnight: Hotel Number 5
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Up early for breakfast and your transfer to Entebbe International Airport for a domestic flight into western Uganda departing at 07.00 or 07.45 hr to Kisoro Airstrip (expected arrival at 08.45/09.30 hr). Your driver will meet you upon arrival.
Drive one hour to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, home to the mountain gorillas. Check in at the lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch and have a relaxed afternoon. Later on in the day, head out on then Mgahinga Batwa trail to visit the Batwa community. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in the forest in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only. Previously they had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. The tour gives the Batwa a way to earn a living and they will show you the forest and how they used to live their lives without it. It’s an activity well worth supporting.
Return to the lodge for sun downers as you prepare for the big day tomorrow.
Overnight: Mount Gahinga
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The Big Day arrives! Wake up early for a nourishing breakfast (you will need the energy) and then a short transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family and a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing on the ecology and history of the gorillas, as well as appropriate safety precautions, you head out by road to the trail-head for the start of your adventure.
The trek begins. Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions, with showers often appearing. The trek can be tough and requires a degree of (average) fitness. When contact is made with the gorillas, you will be able to spend up to one hour with them. Watch them feed, move, play and wrestle. When the hour is up, return through the forest to your vehicle and the lodge for a second night stay.
Overnight: Mount Gahinga
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Today you will trek to Mgahinga’s other charismatic resident: the Golden monkey. In the afternoon, you can relax or go for an optional (guided) forest walk to discover the flora and fauna of Mgahinga beyond the gorillas. Community walks around Mgahinga can also be organised through the lodge.
Overnight: Mount Gahinga
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Lake Mutanda
Time for a change. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, check out and take the 1.5 hour transfer down to Mutanda Lake Resort. This is a place of almost unimaginable beauty. It is the perfect place for relaxing after the gorilla trek and closing out your trip. You can also take a boat out on the Lake Mutanda for some light adventuring.
Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Lake Mutanda
As your time in Uganda comes to a close, you will be transferred back to the Kisoro airstrip for a scheduled morning flight to Entebbe where you will connect with your international flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
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Not Included
