This 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkeys, and Batwa tour is a combination of adventure experiences designed to give you the best of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Known as the place where gold meets silver, the park offers a rare opportunity to trek both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
The Batwa cultural encounter adds meaning to the journey, giving you a chance to hear their stories and traditions from the edge of the forest. Below is the detailed itinerary for this exciting tour.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali City Tour
On arrival in Rwanda, begin your adventure with a city tour of Kigali. After a short briefing by your driver guide, head into the city for lunch featuring local Rwandan cuisine.
In the afternoon, explore Kigali, one of Africa’s cleanest and most organized cities. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you will learn about the tragic events of 1994. Proceed to the Inema Art Studio, where local artists use paintings and sculptures to express Rwanda’s culture. Later, visit Kimironko Market, a lively spot where you can interact with locals and shop for handmade crafts and fresh produce.
End your first day with dinner and overnight stay at your booked hotel in Kigali.
Day 2: Travel to Mgahinga and Batwa Tour
After breakfast, travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The park is about 132 kilometers from Kigali, a journey of around 3 hours through the Cyanika border. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience, one of the most memorable parts of your safari. The Batwa are the original forest dwellers who once lived inside the park. During this tour, they share their history, hunting skills, traditional songs, and stories about life in the forest and the Garama Caves. After this enriching cultural visit, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing by the ranger guides. Learn about the rules of gorilla trekking before starting your adventure through the dense forest. Follow your guides as you trek through rugged terrain and thick vegetation until you find a gorilla family.
Spend one hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, and play under the watchful eye of the silverback. Capture photos and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the forest. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. The rest of the day is free for leisure or an optional activity of your choice. Have dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking
After breakfast, set out for a golden monkey trekking experience. The day begins with a briefing at the park headquarters on how to behave while tracking and observing these playful primates.
Your ranger guides will lead you through the bamboo forest to locate the golden monkeys, following signs such as bamboo shoot leftovers and movement sounds. Once you find them, spend an hour watching them jump, feed, and interact with each other.
Return to your lodge for lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Have dinner and spend the night at your lodge.
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and start your journey back to Kigali, Rwanda. Enjoy the scenic drive and reflect on your experiences from the past days. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 5 days Mgahinga gorillas, golden monkeys, and Batwa tour.
