Gorillas, Monkeys & Volcanoes
Explore the Virunga Volcano massif in the south western corner of Uganda. Spend a day tracking an endemic golden monkey troop through the rainforest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, hike to the summit of one of the three iconic conical volcanoes either Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhavura or Mt Sabyinyo and meet the friendly giants living on the slopes of the this transnational park, the rare mountain gorillas! Your lodge has been chosen for its interesting history and proximity to the mountain gorillas.
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Itinerary - Gorillas, Monkeys & Volcanoes [TACP1-004]
Day One
To The Virunga Massif
Transfer from Entebbe to Kisoro.
Estimated journey time: 10 hrs
[scheduled flight available to reduce travel time]
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Travellers Rest Hotel, room
Day Two
Golden Monkey Habituation Exercise
Transfer from Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla NP.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
Spend a day on Mount Sabyinyo (locally known as ‘old man's teeth on account of its shape) with an endangered troop of old world monkeys. Until recently not much was known about the golden monkeys so a team of scientists set about to learn more on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. The activity can last for up to six hours as you walk and watch with the habituation team who are preparing these monkeys to be comfortable with humans. These monkeys can travel in groups of up to 60 and live in the highland forest. You can sit and observe the monkeys for up to four hours whilst they socialize, eat, nurse and play,then you will leave them to climb up into the bamboo and make their beds for the night.
Estimated excursion time: 6 - 8 hrs (including 4 hrs viewing)
Transfer from Mgahinga Gorilla NP to Kisoro.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Travellers Rest Hotel, room
Day Three
Volcano Hiking
Transfer from Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla NP.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
[Today you can choose from one of the three hiking options below]
Option 1: Hike to the peak of Mount Gahinga, an extinct volcano and one of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Massif mountain chain. Gahinga translates as ‘the small pile of stones’, many of which you’ll spot scattered around the lower slopes as you begin your hike. These stones were heaped together when clearing the land to make way for farming on these fertile volcano slopes. Your route then passes on through the bamboo zone through the dense bamboo thickets towering above you with glimpses over the rolling farmlands below. As you hike out of the bamboo zone the climb will become steeper, with ladders in some locations as you clamber higher and the clouds sweep around the highest reaches of the volcano. Your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, who will be accompanying you will also be happy to give a helping hand if needed! On reaching the summit at 3474m with the clouds swirling around you, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views over the highlands covered in a mosaic of farmlands, forests and highlands lakes, stretching up to the rainforest hills of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rest at your lunch stop beside the luminous green swamps and moors of the park, where plants such as alchemilla, senecio and lobelia thrive in this other worldly environment. You’ll then descend the back down the volcano slopes, the route typically taking around 6 hours to complete the 15km trail. Back on the lower slopes set amongst the many lava tubes you’ll find Garama Cave, a site of significant cultural significance amongst the Batwa. Your guide will explain to you the history of the cave and its association with the Batwa, before you complete your hike back to the boundaries of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Estimated excursion time: 6 hrs
Option 2: Hike to the peak of Mount Sabyinyo, an extinct volcano and one of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Massif mountain chain. Sabyinyo translates as ‘old man's teeth’, an apt name as the jagged volcano peaks reach into the skies, peaking at 3669m. This hiking route typically takes around 8 hours to complete the 14km trail to the peaks and back down to the boundary of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The trail begins by winding through grasslands at the volcano base, before entering the bamboo zone and then rainforest covering the volcano's slopes. This is where the climb becomes steeper, as you trek through the thick cloud drenched forests to catch your first peek at the summit peeking out of the swirling mist ahead of you. Continue by climbing a series of steep ladders and observe the stark change in vegetation as you hike over carpets of moss, pass under ‘old man’s beard’ cascading from overhanging branches and meander between other worldly giant lobelia to reach the peaks. The summit of Mount Sabyinyo marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. So get your camera ready for that shot of yourself straddling three countries, on the top of an extinct volcano, it’s more than worth the effort! After a rest at the top of the volcano you will make the steep descent down the slopes to complete your hike before dusk.
Estimated excursion time: 8 hrs
Option 3: Hike to the peak of Mount Muhavura, an extinct volcano and one of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Massif mountain chain. The mountain's name translates as ‘the guide’, is the third highest peak in the Virunga volcano chain and highest to its immediate neighbours meaning it can be spotted from a great distance, aiding local navigation. This is a challenging trek and the most difficult in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, so you’ll need to be in good shape to complete the trail to the summit and back. Your trail begins by winding through forest covering the base of the volcano, with a variety of monkeys scampering through the trees to be spotted. The landscape then thins as you climb a stepper ascent, with ladders in places, to more rugged scenes of trees draped in moss and finally old world low shrubs adapted to growth in the black volcanic rock. On summiting the peak at 4127m, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic vistas of Uganda's Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains far in the distance. Then enjoy a very well deserved rest with picnic lunch beside a small yet beautiful black and glassy crater-lake, 39m in diameter. You will then descend down the side of the volcano to reach the boundaries of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, arriving by dusk.
Estimated excursion time: 9 hrs
*Please note if you don’t reach the summit by 2pm then you’ll be required to turn around and start the descent so you return before dusk.
Transfer from Mgahinga Gorilla NP to Kisoro.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Travellers Rest Hotel, room
Day Four
Gorillas In The Mist
Transfer from Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla NP.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
Experience Uganda’s greatest natural wonder, an intimate meeting with the Nyakagezi gorilla family, the only habituated group of gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park! This is Uganda’s smallest national park, which protects the Ugandan section of the Virunga mountain range including the volcanic slopes of Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo. The park is part of a wider protection over the Virunga volcano range as it also connects as transnational park with Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo and Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda. The park is incredibly diverse and an important conservation area. The rangers accompanying will be able to identify for you the local plants, birds and wildlife as well as the general ecosystem of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as you trek.
From the trailhead into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you will receive an orientation on tracking the gorillas from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers who will then guide you through the dense forest. The trek length varies, depending on where the gorillas spent the night, ranging from thirty minutes to seven hours. Once you find these incredible creatures you will spend one hour with them. We think you’ll agree - to experience this unique family feed, socialise, nurse their young, patrol and display their prowess - is the most magical experience you can see in nature. After tracking you will make your way back to the edge of the rainforest where you’ll meet your driver guide.
Estimated excursion time: 2 - 8 hrs (including 1 hour viewing)
Transfer from Mgahinga Gorilla NP to Kisoro.
Estimated journey time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Travellers Rest Hotel, room
Day Five
Journey Home
Transfer from Kisoro to Entebbe.
Estimated journey time: 10 hrs
[scheduled flight available to reduce travel time]
Meals: Breakfast, PackedLunch
Accommodation: Not Included
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