The plan to do gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park takes you to one of the authentic environments where nature whispers of freshness in an untamed environment. Mgahinga National park is one of the still intact tropical rainforests in the world because it is less visited allowing nature to thrive.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is so far done with one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. Competition for these gorilla trekking permits is overwhelmingly high so advance booking is recommended.
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park is exciting as you get to watch these endangered primates hoping from one tree to another. The unique physical outlook of the golden monkeys makes them stand out that is golden brown hair on the lower bottom and a larger body compared to regular monkeys.
To do gorilla trekking or golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National park, you need to book a gorilla permit for either activities.
Itinerary Of 5 Day Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga
Highlights
Day 1 Drive to Mgahinga National park
Day 2 Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Day 3 Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National park
Day 4 Drive to Entebbe
Day 5 Visit Ngamba Island and Uganda Wildlife Education Center and Departure
Detailed Itinerary Of 5 Day Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga
Day 1 Drive to Mgahinga National Park
Get up take breakfast and start the drive to Mgahinga National park. The time to take may be 8 hours to 9 hours excluding stopovers. Along the way you take breaks and lunch enroute.
Some of the stopovers you may take enroute include equator spot at Kayabwe, ancient drum village at Mpambire and more as per your driver’s knowledge.
Arrive Mgahinga National Park late afternoon, as you pull up you notice the stunning beauty of the dense green canopy, outstanding mountains and more eye captivating surrounding.
Check into your lodge
Mgahinga Accommodation: Gahinga Lodge/ Traveller’s Inn
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking In Mgahinga National Park
Get up for breakfast and carry your packed lunch with your backpack containing gorilla trekking gears. Report to the ranger station at Ntebeko for briefing. You may find other tourists booked for the day.
Range guides explain in details the guidelines of gorilla trekking which every tourist is expected to adhere to. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates and even though they undergo the habituation process, their natural traits are not erased so abide by the gorilla safari rules.
The ranger guide leads the group via the trail heading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. Along the way, you may spot other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more.
Upon finding the mountain gorillas only one hour around them is allowed as they are habituated to be with humans for just that hour. Do utilize time with the mountain gorillas to the best of your desires without violating the rules.
Get away from the presence of the mountain gorillas without causing any suspensions the return to your lodge.
Day 3 Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga National Park
After breakfast, return to the ranger station for briefing about the golden monkey trekking safari. Golden monkeys are an endangered monkey specie but charming to be around. They enjoy the freebies in the forest so when around them expect to stay on your toes.
Enjoy the presence of these unique monkeys and take photos or film to keep memories of their presence.
If you are a keen birder, Mgahinga forest has a variety of birds living in the forest with more than 115 species recorded including Albertine rift endemics.
Day 4 Drive To Entebbe
Take breakfast and check out early morning to drive back to Entebbe or Kampala. Arrive late afternoon to rest.
Day 5 Visit Ngamba Island and Uganda Wildlife Education Center and Departure
Wake up for breakfast and drive to Entebbe to catch up with your boat to Ngamba Island the chimpanzee sanctuary. The chimpanzees at Ngamba Island are rescued from poachers, orphaned, rejected, abandoned and cannot locate their communities and more.
Return to the main land and take a tour at the Uganda Wildlife Education center the former Entebbe Zoo where the summary of Uganda National parks is preserved.
Drive to the airport to catch up with your late evening flight back home
What Are The Requirements For Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking Safari
- Book the gorilla and golden monkey trekking permits
- Pack and wear the right gorilla and golden monkey trekking gears
- Do some exercises to keep your body fit for gorilla trekking and golden monkeys because of the nature of topography of Mgahinga forest and surrounding.
- Follow the gorilla and golden monkey trekking rules as these primates are highly sensitive to intruders in their vicinity.
- Book the gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari in advance to avoid last minute disappointments when best options of safari logistics run out.
- Keep your body healthy especially treat the communicable infections like cough, covid-19, flu and more prior to travelling to avoid being disqualified from gorilla trekking or golden monkey safari. These primates are highly susceptible to human infections and these may end in massive deaths.
- The age limit for gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Uganda is 12 years and above.
Important Information To Note About Gorilla And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga
- Briefing before gorilla trekking or golden monkey trekking in Uganda is compulsory
- Time of finding and returning from gorilla or golden monkey trekking varies with factors prevailing in the wilderness that is about 2 hours or more.
- Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to do gorilla trekking per day in Mgahinga National Park
- The terrain of Mgahinga forest is quite steep due to the effects of Volcanic actions in this area.
- The ground of Mgahinga forest is highly humid most of the times no matter the season. It may rain anytime of the day without warning.
- At times the gorillas spend the day in the steep or slopes or on flat land so be ready to get to them. They are free wild animals that move in the forest with nothing to prevent their movements.
- No toilet structures in the forest so prepare for the gorilla and golden monkey search in advance. Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you atleast 30 meters deep and cover beyond recognition.
When Is The Best Time To Book Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga
The dry season that is normally June to September and December to January is preferred for golden monkey or gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park.
Even though the southwestern part of Uganda where Mgahinga forest is known for experiencing high humid conditions almost the entire year, the dry season is characterized by lighter conditions. More sunlight sips through the dense canopy in this season reducing on the succulence.
The mountain gorillas and golden monkeys spend the days of this season in spots where you can find them as there is high competition for food supplies in the tree canopies with other primates.
The forest also has better ambience in the dry season for taking great nature inspired photos. When moving on the trails, the ground is not so wet permitting you to move faster.
Gorilla and golden monkey trekking in the wet season is open too and seeing them is guaranteed too. The wet season of Uganda is normally March, April, May and November when heavier down pour is experience. Even though the weather is drizzly almost the entire day, seeing the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys is a must.
Is It Safe To Do Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga
- Gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park are safe even though it is done in the jungle. No tourist is allowed to do gorilla safaris without the company of a ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Both golden monkeys and gorillas in Mgahinga are first habituated before opening them to the public. The habituation process helps these primates to get accustomed to human presence and withstand them atleast for one hour.
- Mgahinga forest is often patrolled by a well trained and armed ranger guides to watch out for unfamiliar occurrences that may affect the forest inhabitants or visitors.
- Tourists are given guidelines to follow during gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking which every participant is expected to abide by. These instructions help to safe guard you while searching for the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys
- Wear the gorilla and golden monkey trekking gears to protect your skin and body from the rough surfaces in the jungle.
- Tourists are encouraged to stay as close to the rest of the gorilla or golden monkey trekkers to avoid getting lost in the wilderness.
In case you notice some odd behavior amongst the mountain gorillas or golden monkeys, stay calm as you wait the ranger guide to provide new instruction on how to go about the situation.
How long Is Gorilla Trekking or golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga
From the starting point, gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking may take about 2 hours or more time depending on the location of the troop.
Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are free to navigate Mgahinga forest with nothing stopping them so tourists have to follow them to the location they get to.
Each day a team of ranger guides follows the mountain gorillas or golden monkeys earlier than tourists to find their nesting spot and possible direction they may take for the day.
In order not to get bored by the long hours of searching, look out for other forest inhabitants like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more. Mgahinga forest is home to a variety of birds that roam its premises.
Upon seeing the mountain gorillas or golden monkeys, only one hour is allowed with them.
Why Do Gorilla Trekking And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park is one of the few homes of the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the world so it is a good luck if you get to secure a permit for either safari activities. World over the demand for the permits is over the top yet supply is restricted to prevent effects of mass tourism.
Visiting the mountain gorillas or golden monkeys is like resurrecting the ancient life because of the close relations they have to the characteristics of humans. Many say they are a mirror of humanity therefore proving the theory that mountain gorillas have about 96% human DNA.
From gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National park, you can proceed to do gorilla habituation experience in southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you get four hours. Scenic viewing around Lake Bunyonyo or Lake Mutanda can also be arranged
Hiking mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, or Sabyinyo while in Mgahinga National Park can be arranged. Birding in Mgahinga forest is very rewarding. This is a day’s hiking on either of the three Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga forest.
Why Do Book Gorilla And Golden Monkey Trekking In Mgahinga National Park With Arch Safaris And Tours
Arch safaris and tours has over 10 years experience in planning African safaris an achievement we pride in. For every Africa safari we plan, we look forward to making memories with our clients and turn dreams into a reality.
We have a team of experienced tours consultants who work with you to plan the gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda with your input at the forefront. Our safari consultants are ready to advise you about your choice of safari and offer possible information to the best of our knowledge.
At Arch safaris and Tours, we are your reliable ground safari handlers in Africa who are ready to lift off your shoulder the burden of having to search for fund and plan the safari at the same time. Trust us with your African safari to Uganda, Rwanda Kenya or Tanzania and we will bring it to life.