3 Days Mgahinga National Park Gorilla Tour Package Itinerary and Planning Tips

This tailored 3 Days Gorilla tour to Mgahinga National Park is a quick gorilla trekking package to the smallest primate National park of Mgahinga National Park tailored for travelers with a short time in Kigali-Rwanda but interested in watching Mountain gorillas.

This short and highly scenic gorilla trekking itinerary this itinerary is tailored to start and end in Kigali, Rwanda because Kigali International Airport is only a 4-hour drive across the Chanika border to Mgahinga compared to the 9-10 hours drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Mgahinga. Starting and ending this tour from Kigali is the most popular way to maximize your time. 

Mgahinga National Park has one habituated gorilla group called Nyakagezi which tends to move around most times made up of 9 members and also has some of the big game including buffalos, forest elephants, leopards, jackals, bush pigs, duikers, and bushbucks. Birdlife in the park is also quite impressive with about 178 to 184 recorded species of specie. While on this Mgahinga Gorilla Tour, you will also enjoy an authentic Batwa/Pigmies experience. The Batwa people are one of the smallest tribes with very authentic and very unique pasts. They lived with in the forest alongside the Mountain Gorillas before they were pushed out for gorilla conservation efforts.

Day 1 and Day 3 are reserved for transfers to and from Mgahinga while Day 2 is the day for Gorilla Trekking and visit to the Batwa community.

Please Note that If you are comfortable with long drives, you can start your Mgahinga Gorilla Tour from Entebbe or Kampala.

3 Days Gorilla Tour to Mgahinga Starting & Ending in Kigali
Silverback Gorilla at Mgahinga National park

3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour Itinerary: 

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park

From your hotel in Kigali or on arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet and greet with dedicated English speaking driver who will welcome you to Rwanda and later transfer you to Mgahinga National park in southwestern Uganda through the Chanika border crossing. En-route, you will have stops to take pictures of the beautiful landscapes. 

Accommodation Options : Travelers Rest Hotel ( Budget) Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge ( Mid-range), Mount Gahinga Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 : Gorilla Trekking Experience and Village Walk

You will be up early morning about 6-7AM for breakfast after which you will transfer to the park center and attend a 30 minutes briefing on rules and regulations of seeing gorillas. You need to hire a porter if you are not fit enough because some trails are challenging and hiking in the forest may take 3-5 hours before you locate the gorillas. You will enjoy an hour with gorillas once they are found which will be exciting to take memories with photos. Discover plants, wildlife and learn about the ecosystem of Mgahinga as you return back for lunch at the lodge. In the evening, you may take a walk to the community to see how locals live including Batwa pygmies and learn about their traditional customs and culture. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Accommodation Options : Travelers Rest Hotel ( Budget) Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge ( Mid-range), Mount Gahinga Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 : End of the 3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour and Departure 

Enjoy breakfast and after drive back to Kampala/Entebbe arriving in time for your onward flight.

End of Tour

CONTACT US for information or to Book this package

Tips for a Better Gorilla trekking experience

Book your Tour and Secure the Gorilla Trekking permits early

Uganda has the cheapest gorilla permits prices at USD 800 compared to Rwanda. This means the competition is quite high for the few gorilla permits in Uganda and it becomes hard to secure gorilla trekking permits a few days to your Uganda gorilla tour although you might get lucky sometimes hence a need to book your tour or gorilla trekking permit fully latest 3 months in advance.

Know your fitness levels before the Gorilla Trekking experience.

Finding the Gorillas is not predictable meaning you might walk for long hours before finding them hence a need to be moderately fit and prepared for the longer treks.

Get the help of Porters for the gorilla trek

If you are not moderately fit, we recommend you get the help of a porter so that you can track without having to carry the few essential items listed below in your day pack. The porters are from the local community and very used to the local conditions and can assist in pushing, pulling and supporting you during your trek to the gorillas. They usually come at an additional fee over and above your safari cost ranging from approximately USD15-20 per porter per day as a fee with additional tipping being optional.

What to pack for a Successful Gorilla Trekking Experience

  • Plenty of water – 1-2 liters per person (most lodges provide the water, but we also have it in the car)
  • High energy snacks in addition to your packed lunch provided by the lodge/camp
  • Spare film and batteries for videos and cameras
  • Gloves (gardening type are good)
  • Waterproof bag to protect photographic equipment
  • Hiking gaiters
  • A hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and band-aids might be useful
  • A lightweight waterproof jacket/poncho
  • Walking sticks are made available at the start of the trek for some of the steeper and more slippery tracks and may prove to be very handy.

Allowed Uganda Gorilla Trekking Age Limits

The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years and the authorities are very strict on this! With special written permission, however, a 14yr old might pass.

What is the Best Time to go for the 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda

The best time to visit Uganda is late December to late February, and from June to September, as the weather at this time of year is generally dry, and warm. Temperatures average at around 25 degrees Celsius. Visitors should however note Gorilla Trekking in Uganda can be done all year around.

How to make bookings with Engabi Tours and Travel 

  • To make gorilla safari bookings with Engabi Tours and Travel, contact us on WhatsApp at +256-757341593 Or send us an email at info@gorillasafaridiscovery.com
  • Our payments are preferred in US Dollars
  • Currency exchange rates vary daily based on the current international banking data available.
  • We accept wire transfers and credit card payments.
  • Payment by credit card is subject to a surcharge of 3.5%.

2027 Estimated Tour price for the 3 Days Silverback Gorilla Tour

The price for this package varies depending on the number of people one travels with and the type of accommodation that is chosen between luxury, mid-range and budget. Kindly share with us you preferred type of accommodation, the number of people you are traveling with and the intended travel dates so that we can be able to tailor your quote. 

The Prices of the 3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour Package is inclusive of accommodation, meals during the tour, private transportation in a safari land-cruiser or Van, services of a good English-speaking guide/driver, gorilla permits, activities mentioned in the itinerary and bottled drinking water through the trip.

 General Information

 Entry Requirements:

All visitors to Uganda and Rwanda must have a valid passport with at least 4 consecutive blanks pages.  Any applicable visa and/or relevant documentation are the responsibility of the traveler. To move between Uganda and Rwanda, we recommend that you acquire an East African Tourist Visa and this can be got from your first country of arrival

Language:

Luganda, English (Uganda) and French, English, Kinyarwanda & Kiswahili (Rwanda)

Voltage:

In Uganda the standard voltage is 220 Volts/AC50Hz. Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs.

Currency:

Foreign currency must be changed at the Bank, Bureau de Change, and Hotel/Safari lodge/Camp/Resort.   Major Credit Cards, Master card, Visa, American Express, are usually accepted throughout the country.  Where credit cards are accepted, the payment will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card’s default currency.

Clothing:

Dress is mainly informal and should be comfortable as well as practical. Something warm should be brought along for early morning and evenings. Safari clothes are available from hotels/lodges/camps.

Baggage:

Where possible, travel light. Baggage space on safari is limited to medium suitcase or soft bag per person plus reasonable amount of hand luggage. There is 15 Kilogram per person limit on all flights to the wildlife sanctuaries. Excess luggage must be stored in your arrival hotel.

Water:

You will find many different of opinion of what is safe and what is not. We recommend for peace of mind, to drink local Bottled Mineral water. It is important to drink plenty of water especially during the hotter months. We would recommend that guests drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration. 

 Health;

East Africa is a safe and secure destination; however, it is a good idea to take a few precautions.  Kindly consult your GP or local doctor at least 6 weeks before you travel, with regards: Malaria prophylactics. East Africa is a known malaria area and preventive measures are essential. You are advised to take one of the recommended anti-malarial drugs.  Be sure to wear long sleeved shorts and trousers after sunset and spray the exposed parts of your body with a mosquito repellent spray

Remember to protect yourself from direct sun rays with sunscreen cream or safari hat.

Dietary Requirements:

For those guests with specific dietary requirement, please ensure the Hotel is notified prior to travel

Gratuities:

As a guideline and dependent on how happy you are, we would suggest the following:

The General Hotel/Lodge/Camp Staff – Approximately U$ 10.00 per person per day

Driver Guides – Approximately US$ 15.00 to US$ 20.00 per person per day

Photography:

Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform.  Ensure that you have sought permission before photographing local people and their villages.  If in doubt, please check with your guide.