Gorillas Golden Monkey & Sabinyo Hike Experience.
The 5 Days Gorillas, Golden Monkey & Sabinyo Hike Experience will take you a scenic drive from Kigali to Uganda through the border with photographic views of the virunga massif. Your visa can be obtained from the border before you cross over to Uganda.
The safari will take you into the jungles in search of the mountain gorillas while staying near Lake Mutanda that offers excellent views.You will enjoy a hike to Mount Sabinyo as you enjoy the views when you reach to the top.
- 5 Days 4 Nights
- Uganda, East Africa
- Family, Private Safari
- Can start anyday
- Suitable for solo travelers
- 6+ years
Cost includes
- Transport in a 4wd mini bus with pop-up roof for excellent safari view All fuel for the tour;
- English speaking Ugandan driver/guide;
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary;
- Breakfasts & dinners inclusive;
- Packed lunch for the gorilla trekking;
- Park-entrance fees and activities according to the itinerary;
- 1 Gorilla permit Uganda per person (USD 600).
Cost excludes
- International air fares;
- Entry visa Uganda;
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation;
- Drinks;
- A porter for during the gorilla trekking (someone who carries your daypack);
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc;
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.).
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kisoro via Cyanika
You will meet up with you guide in Kigali and you will be transferred to Mutanda Lake Resort in Uganda (about 4 hours) for your 5 Days Gorillas Golden Monkey & Sabinyo Hike Experience. Departure from Kigali is at midday latest.
Your visa can be obtained from the border, please remember that you will be needing a Rwanda visa and one Uganda visa OR an East African single tourist visa costing USD 100 which allows you to move freely within Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Mutanda Lake Resort offers one of the best views in Uganda! Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda, isolated in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, this lodge offers comfortable accommodation in a very unique corner of the country. With small islands dotting the surrounding lake and a backdrop of misty volcanoes this setting never fails to impress visitors.
Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort makes a perfect base for a gorilla trekking, volcano hikers, bird-lovers as well for those looking for a secluded magical place in nature. Don’t forget to take your chance to dip in the lake as it is Bilharzia free, so safe to swim, peddle board or canoe amongst the locals going about their daily business on the lake! The sunset scenes are spectacular so make sure to be on one of the verandas (with a sundowner drink in hand) at that time.
From here you depart on your gorilla trekking early morning. Make sure your camera is fully charged and your day pack is well prepared with all necessary items packed.
Journey time: 4 hours
Accommodations:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today is the big day! Are you ready for where you will have your very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ moment. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a very important and famous park as this is where people can visit the home of the critically endangered gorillas. Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests lies on the mist-covered hillsides in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley.
This magnificent forest dates back over 25,000 years, even surviving the last Ice Age (most forests disappeared). Bwindi forest has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is the only forest in Africa which can make claim to host both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, half the worlds’ population of gorillas live here, divided over nine habituated family groups. Also 5 other primate species, 120 species of mammal, over 220 butterflies and 360 birds species call Bwindi Impenetrable Forest their home.
Accommodation:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Today you track the rare and endangered Golden Monkeys. Despite the prolific number present, Golden Monkeys are shy, very quick and known to hide in the tops of the trees. Keep your cameras and binoculars ready!
Sometimes the hike to the Golden Monkeys is easy, sometimes tough. It might take you 2 hours or even up to 6 hours; every tracking is different.
Accommodation:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Hiking Mount Sabinyo
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m.Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda.
Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.
Mt. Sabyinyo (3645m), ‘Old man’s teeth’; Like an old man, time has eroded Mt. Sabyinyo’s crown. This volcano offers 3 challenging peaks to climb. A climb up the mountain takes one up a ridge along the eastern side of the climb to peak. If you are to continue, the climb to peak 2 involves walking a ridge with breath-taking drops into gorges of Rwanda and Uganda, a dual experience you will achieve here. Finally, the hike up to peak 3 is steep with several ladders and mush scrambling. You are guaranteed to get your hands dirty en-route to peak 3!
Once on top, you will be in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda, what a triple experience this is!!! The journey takes about eight hours round trip to cover the 14 km stretch.
Accommodation:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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Day 5: Return to Kigali
After breakfast you return to Kigali, your driver/guide will take you to your accommodation in Kigali or to Kigali Airport.Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the itinerary. In case you wish us to include one (or more) nights in Kigali, please let us know.
Journey time: 4 hours