6 Days Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

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

Today after breakfast, you will cross the boarder and transferred to Mgahinga Gorilla 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 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. Gahinga Lodge also partners with the Batwa Tribe, to offer interactive tours through the community of one of Africa’s oldest tribes.

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 7 hours. 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: 15 minutes each way

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge

Meal plan: All meals

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 liters 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

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. With 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

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 4pm or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you.

Journey Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Not included

Meal plan: Breakfast