6 Day Mgahinga Gorilla Park and ‘Islands in the sky’ hike Via Kigali
Highlights of the 6 day safari
- Gorilla Tracking
- Volcano climb safari
- Batwa trail
Day 1: Kigali airport arrival and pick up
A representative of Flame tree village will be at Kigali airport to pick you up from your flight.
Depending on your arrival time you may be able to visit some of Kigali’s craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to use your haggling skills! All activities and purchases today are at your own cost.
Your accommodation is in a quite suburb of Kigali in the newly build Flame tree village. This hotel will make you feel right at home
Journey Time: 15 minutes from airport
Accommodation: Flame Tree Village
Meal plan: No meals inclusive today
Day 2: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Today after breakfast, you will cross the boarder and transferred to Mgahinga Gorilla national park.
This is a tiny little park in the far southern regions of Uganda, south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is a mere 33 sq km (13 sq mile) in size and lies 14km (8 miles) from the town of Kisoro. It is also located on the northern slopes of the three northernmost extinct Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Gahinga and Mt. Sabinyo. Mgahinga shares its borders with Rwanda and DRC Congo both of which protect their own piece of the Virunga Volcanoes, in the Parc National des Volcans and Parc National des Virunga respectively. Collectively this creates the 434 sq km (167 sq mile) Virunga Conservation Area.
The size of the Park is very deceptive because it is packed with adventure attractions.
It is famous for gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking and Batwa trail
Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Mount Gahinga Lodge (Luxury)
Nestled in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, Mount Gahinga is an exclusive Uganda adventure lodge that has the impressive backdrop of three of the volcanoes themselves. Its rustic charm creates an absorbing atmosphere of tranquility and history. The lodge was built to echo local techniques and design.
Day 3: Gorilla Tracking
Today is the day. You will encounter one of Mgahinga gorilla Park’s endangered mountain gorillas. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
The gorillas you track are habituated and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.
The time taken to track the gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 5 hours since Mgahinga is a small park. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Journey Time: 5 minutes each way
Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Day 4: Visit a Batwa (‘pygmy”) Hideout at Garama Cave
Today you learn of the ancient ways of the Batwa, as they lead you into the forest and show you as to how they once lived before they were evicted from the forests in 1991
Nearly a century ago there was a conflict among the people in the area. The Bantu tribes lived in villages and practiced farming, while the Batwa remained in the forest as hunter-gatherers.
Sometimes, the Batwa warriors would raid the villages and disappear once again into the forest. The Bantu had no idea there was a hidden cave in the forest and therefore could not find the crafty Batwa.
The cave is 343m long and 14m deep, and is now inhabited only by bats, but your guide will explain how the Batwa lived and fought from this cave. The walk to and from the cave passes through montane woodland with plenty of opportunities for birdwatching and a beautiful scenery. The Batwa Trail is also one way where the traditional cultural ways are kept alive for the next generation. The walk also produces needed income for the Batwa Community in the area.
You will need two litres of bottled water, packed lunch and some snacks for you.
The trail ends up in the Garama Cave where you hear the mournful cries of the women as they lament what has been lost.
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Distance: 3 km
Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Day 5: Volcano Climb
Today after breakfast, with your packed lunch, day pack, 2 litters of water and snacks, you will start your climb to one of the three volcanoes below
Mount Sabinyo:
Should you choose to try your climbing luck on this volcano, this can be demanding and sometimes difficult, so you need to be fit for a good long climbing session. The volcano is about 3.645 meters high and the climb may take 7 to 8 hours.
Mount Muhabura:
This is the second highest of the volcanoes and represents the border region between Rwanda and Uganda. It offers fantastic views of at least 5 of the volcanoes in the area and the climb itself is considered demanding, is often very steep and may take a day to achieve.
Mount Gahinga:(Small pile of stones)
Mount Gahinga is located next to Muhabura and Sabinyo. At 3.474m Gahinga is the smallest of those three volcanoes and therefore suitable for those who don’t want to climb up the highest peaks of the Virunga Volcanoes. It is also a unique experience and once you are back at the base you will not believe that you have climbed up this impressive mountain
Day 6- Return to Kigali:
You will have early breakfast and return to Kigali. Depending on your departure flight you can visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre, which opened in 2004. It’s a dignified tribute to the victims, including a poignant Children’s Memorial, and a detailed description of the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history in time to catch your flight back home.
Your guide will take you to the airport in time for your flight home.
Note: This is only possible when your flight departs from Kigali at 5 p.m. or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you.
Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodation: Not included
Meal plan: Breakfast
Extension Tours
If you want to extend your tour to one of our other destinations or if you’d like to add a few side trips to the itinerary, kindly let us know.
Dates
Because this is an individual tour, it can depart any time of the year subject to vehicle and accommodation availability.
Accommodation:
You sleep in mid-range accommodation nicely located close to the national parks. The rooms are spacious with en-suite bathrooms. However do not expect luxury.
With 2, 4 or 6 people you will have 1, 2 or 3 double/twin rooms (shared).
With 3 or 5 people you will have 1 or 2 double/twin rooms + 1 single room.We retain the right to substitute the accommodations mentioned with suitable accommodations if there is no availability, and we retain the right to run aspects of the itinerary in a reverse direction if necessary.
This itinerary also tailored made to suit budget and luxury clients
Meals:
Most meals during the tour are inclusive. Please see the day-to-day programme for the details.
In case you have a dietary restriction or preference, please let us know and we will inform the accommodations accordingly.
| Number of people | USD per person |
| 2 | 2,923 |
| 4 | 2,443 |
Included
- Transport in a 4WD safari van
- All fuel for the tour;
- English speaking driver/guide;
- Accommodation as per programme;
- Meals according to the programme;
- Park entrance fees according to the programme;
- All activities described in the itinerary;
- Volcano hike
- Batwa Trail
- 1 gorilla permit per person.
Excluded
- International air fares;
- Entry visa Rwanda
- All drinks;
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation;
- All activities that are not mentioned in the program or activities that are mentioned in the program as optional activity;
- A porter for during the gorilla tracking (someone who carries your daypack);
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc;
- All expenses of a personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, souvenirs etc.)
When you book your trip with Gorilla Link Tours to any of our destinations, Gorilla Link Tours will donate US$ 5 per person to persons with Albinism.