4 Day Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trekking Safari

Your safari begins with a pickup from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala by your professional driver-guide. After a short briefing, you will start the scenic drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda.

Along the way, you will stop at Mpambire Royal Drum Makers where you can see how traditional African drums are made from wood and animal skins. You will also stop at the Equator crossing for photographs and the famous water experiment.

The journey continues to Mbarara town where you will stop for lunch at either Agip Motel or Igongo Cultural Centre. After lunch, the drive continues through the changing landscapes of southwestern Uganda, from the plains of Ntungamo to the rolling hills of Kabale and the terraced highlands of Kisoro District.

You will arrive at your lodge in the evening where you can relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the activities ahead.

Drive Time: Approximately 9–10 hours
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options

• Budget: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range: Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Luxury: Gahinga Lodge

After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Mgahinga National Park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. During the briefing, you will learn about the trekking guidelines, safety precautions, and what to expect during the experience.

Mgahinga is home to one habituated gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi group. In the past, this group moved between Rwanda and Uganda, but today they are permanently resident in Mgahinga.

After the briefing, begin your trek into the forest with experienced rangers and trackers. The trek may take anywhere from one to several hours depending on the gorillas’ location.

Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watching them feed, groom, and interact is an extraordinary wildlife encounter.

After the trek, return to your lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

• Budget: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range: Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Luxury: Gahinga Lodge

After breakfast, return to Mgahinga National Park headquarters for another exciting primate experience — tracking the rare golden monkeys.

Following a briefing by park rangers, you will head into the bamboo forest in search of these colorful and energetic primates.

You can choose between two experiences:

• Golden Monkey Trekking: A half-day activity that allows one hour with the monkeys once they are located.
• Golden Monkey Habituation Experience: A longer experience where you spend more time with researchers observing the monkeys and learning about their behavior.

After the activity, return to your lodge where you can relax for the remainder of the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

• Budget: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range: Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Luxury: Gahinga Lodge

After breakfast, begin the journey back to Entebbe. The drive offers another opportunity to enjoy the scenic landscapes of southwestern Uganda including the terraced hills and beautiful countryside.

You will stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or hotel drop-off.

Drive Time: Approximately 8–10 hours
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch