4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari

The 4 Day Gorilla trekking – Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari takes to Mgahinga gorilla national park one of the Uganda’s most adventurous parks and Lake Mutanda unarguably the coolest Lake dotted with several islands. This 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari includes mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park, Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda excursion safari for relaxing after the tremendous mountain gorilla trekking and straining volcano hiking. Mgahinga gorilla national park is situated far Southwestern Uganda close to Uganda-Rwanda and Uganda-Congo border and adjoining with Virunga national park in the DR Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Mgahinga gorilla national park is surrounded by three virunga volcano mountains including Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo. This 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari starts and ends in Kampala city or Entebbe international airport and it can start any time of the year.

Highlights of the 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala / Entebbe international airport – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking –Explore Lake Mutanda on boat safari and visiting islands

Day 3: Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking – Spend your evening relaxing

Day 4: Return to Kampala / Entebbe international airport

Day 1: Pick up from Kampala / Entebbe international airport – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Today very early in the morning, our company representative who will be your safari guide throughout your 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari will meet you at your place of residence / hotel in Kampala or on your arrival at Entebbe international airport for meet and greet, briefing about your 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari and later start your journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park situated in southwestern Uganda across the equator in the district of Kisolo at the Uganda Rwanda and Uganda DR Congo borders. The distance from Kampala city or Entebbe international airport is quite long which takes about is 8-10 hours’ on the road. Therefore, there shall be some stopovers at different interesting place to make your tour so adventurous. The first stopover will be at Kayabwe equator line which divides the earth into two parts northern and southern hemispheres to see the water experiment which is carried out on each side of the planet to exhibit change in the movement of forces on each side of the planet and at the middle as the local guide will explain you and why it is like that, take some memorial photos, have a cup coffee and then continue with your drive to Igongo cultural museum to have lunch, visit the museum which will take you back into the ancient culture and lifestyle of the western people. Thereafter, drive straight to Mgahinga gorilla national park through the beautiful Kigezi highlands which is made up of terraced hills and valleys making the road go meandering while dodging valleys and hills. You will arrive at your booked lodge in the evening to take shower, relax, dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury) Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (standard)

Meal plan; Lunch / Dinner

Day 2: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mountain gorilla trekking – Explore lake Mutnada with a boat ride

Wake up very early in the morning (0600hrs) to prepare yourself for the mountain gorilla trekking, get all your required equipment like camera, binoculars, hat, insect repellants, have breakfast, get your packed lunch box from the lodge and meet your safari guide to transfer to the park information center where you will meet with other guests for a briefing by the park guide on mountain gorilla trekking experience, rules and regulations to follow during mountain gorilla trekking and how to behave once you meet the gorillas. You will be combined with other guests to make a group of 8 people which is a maximum number that is allowed to meet a particular mountain gorilla family per day, be allocated a park guide and ranger and then start your forest walk to search for the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Searching for the mountain gorillas may take between 45 minutes and 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family, the group walking speed, and the number of stops you make in the forest may be your guide to talk about something interesting. When you find the mountain gorilla family, you will have a maximum of one hour to stay with them from a distance of 8 meters away from them so, during this time, you will see them feeding, playing, adults feeding, grooming their babies and the Silverback watching the situation to provide protection to the family also you will be free to take photos and record videos as you would want to keep your memories with the mountain gorillas. Thereafter, return to the park information center to get your trekking certificate, have some refreshments, meet your safari guide to drive back to your lodge to have full lunch, freshen up, relax for some time and later go to explore Lake Mutanda with about riding trip which will take you to visit some of the most beautiful islands on this Lake.

Boat canoeing trip on Lake Mutanda is one of the great ways to fully explore the lake while enjoying the cold breeze and calm waters of the lake plus relaxing, spotting some water birds and visit some of the small islands in the Lake. While doing a boating canoeing safari on Lake Mutanda, you will enjoy the best views of the landscape around the Lake. The boat canoeing tour will take you to visit some islands on Lake Bunyonyi such as the skeleton Island also known as “the punishment island” which was used by the community people of the early days to punish people who did wrong in the society by dumping them to this island till death such as young girls would be  found pregnant before marriage, thieves and other unwanted people so, when you visit this island, you will find skeleton remains of the dead people at the Island as proof of the incident. Later, visit the underground Salt Springs which are found in Gihuranda village the neighboring community to Lake Mutanda. These springs have fresh water coming from underground and the places, got unique clay soil that is used by the local people to make pots and charcoal stoves and others without using improved technology. Go back to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation options; Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury) Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking – spend the evening at your leisure

Wake up early in the morning to organize yourself for yet another adventurous safari od hiking mount Sabinyo one of the eight volcanoes found in the Virunga massif and spread in three national parks in three countries, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch from the lodge and meet your safari guide to drive to park information center for a briefing about the day Mount Sabinyo hike by the park guide, get allocated a guide and ranger and start your hike. Mount Sabinyo is located on the Uganda Rwanda board and Uganda DR Congo border therefore while at the summit, you be in three countries at the same time but using one visa. During Mount Sabinyo hiking, you may have a chance to encounter some wildlife species such as mountain gorillas, the beautiful golden monkeys, forest elephants among others since the hiking will take you through Mgahinga gorilla national park. Hiking Mount Sabinyo may take 8 hours ascending and descending depending on your hiking speed. While at the summit, you will be rewarded the beautiful view of the crater lakes, you will be able to clearly have the breathtaking view of the Virunga massif in the three countries including Uganda, DR Congo and Rwanda plus other features around the area. Later, descend to the starting point to meet your safari guide to go back to your lodge to freshen yourself, have dinner and relax after the adventurous tiring day.

Accommodation options; Lake Mutanda Resort (Luxury) Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (mid-range), Lake Chahafi Lodge (standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Return to Kampala city or Entebbe international airport

On this day have, wake up very early in the morning to pack your bag, have breakfast, check out of your room and start your journey back to your residence / hotel in Kampala or Entebbe international airport for return flight. On your way back to Kampala or Entebbe international airport, you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center to have refreshments, lunch and thereafter, proceed with your journey straight to Kampala or Entebbe and this 4 days gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari.

The 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari includes;

Pick up and drop off (Return airport transfers)

Professional English speaking safari guide for 4 days

Private Luxury / Mid-range/Standard accommodation for 3 nights on full board meal plan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Private transport for 4 days using a well-modified safari van / Land-cruiser (4WD and air-conditioned)

Fuel for 4 days

All en-route meals and mineral water throughout your 4 days safari

1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person

Exploring Lake Mutanda and boat canoeing

Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking

En-route stop at Equator point and Igongo cultural center

The 4 Day gorilla trekking – Sabinyo volcano hiking and Lake Mutanda safari excludes;

International and Domestic flights

Country entry visa

Personal travel insurance

Souvenirs and gifts

Tips

Alcoholic and soft drinks (Beer, wine, sodas, whiskies, juice)