4 Days Culture and Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Safari Overview

Uganda is comprised of a variety of cultures with more than 40 different tribes. This tour will enable you to engage with the Batwa, a local tribe that used to live in the Albertine region as well as the Virunga volcanoes which are located in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Rwanda. You can opt to climb one of the three Virunga’s which include Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhabura and Mt Sabyinyo.

Day 1: Arrival

Day 2: The Batwa Cultural Trail Experience

Day 3: Hike the Muhabura, Sabyinyo or Gahinga Volcanoes

Day 4: Return to Kigali for departure flight

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

We would advise that you come through Kigali airport in Rwanda where you will receive a warm welcome from one of our professional guide who will then drive you to Kisoro district in Uganda at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. There will be a short briefing about your trip. You can take a trip on the winding roads of Rwanda and also admire the stunning sight of the volcanoes in the comfort of your hotel in Uganda.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation options: Mt Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), or Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Midrange), or Mucha Lodge (budget)

Day 2: The Batwa Cultural Trail Experience

After an early breakfast, you get to explore Mgahinga gorilla national park as well as to appreciate the exceptional culture of the Batwa. The Batwa cultural trail which cuts through the park provides you with an insight about the distinct culture of the Batwa as people that live in the forest. You will be escorted by Batwa Elders who will give you narratives about their culture and their way of life in the forest. You will learn about various plants used to treat different diseases and they will also teach you a number of hunting skills. They will share tales of how they lived and their relations with the wildlife that also inhabited this forest before cultivator assumed control of the land and later reserved to be a national park. The most unforgettable moments of this trip are the cultural dance, Ngarama cave and traditional music.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation options: Mt Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), or Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Midrange), or Mucha Lodge (budget)

Day 3: Hike the Muhabura, Sabyinyo or Gahinga Volcanoes

Mt Sabyinyo, Mt Muhabura and Mt Gahinga are part of the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park and have excellent hiking trails. Gahinga which is loosely translated to mean ‘pile of stones’ provides a mild hike in comparison to Muhabura and Sabyinyo. The hike leads you through the bamboo forest and swampy carters at its peak. The lower slopes have an abundance of forest birds and the swamps next to the peak have a couple of resident animals like forest elephants, bush buck, elusive duiker as buffaloes.

Muhabura is the most difficult summit in the park. Muhabura can be translated to mean ‘the guide’. The hike will last almost the whole day however this can be very exciting for people that love hiking. If you are lucky you can get to see the exceptional scenery in the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Sabyinyo volcano hike should only be carried out by people in great shape and the love for adventure. The hike lasts for about a day and is less challenging than Muhabura. Its peak is on the boundary of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and it provides you with scenic views of all countries as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are in three countries at the exact same time.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation options: Mt Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), or Lake Mulehe Safari lodge (Midrange), or Mucha Lodge (budget)

Day 4: Return to Kigali for departure flight

For your last day, you can choose to go for golden monkey trekking or gorilla trekking or you could head to the airport if you have a scheduled flight. You can have breakfast then go to the airport.

Tour Includes: