Day-by-day itinerary

What the operator has planned, day by day, across 7 days.

1. Day 1

   Arrival at Entebbe

   A company representative meets the flight at Entebbe International Airport and helps with entry formalities. From there it is a short transfer to a hotel, either in Entebbe or up the road in Kampala. The remainder of the day is left open for rest and for settling in.

2. Day 2

   Road south to Mgahinga

   Breakfast is followed by the long drive southwest to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, passing farmland and small trading centres on the way. Check in at the lodge or campsite happens on arrival, with lunch waiting. The afternoon is given to an easy walk near the park so that the body adjusts to the altitude, with the Virunga peaks standing above.

3. Day 3

   Gorilla trek inside Mgahinga

   An early breakfast comes before the briefing and the walk into the forest with a ranger guide. The party pushes through thick growth, following calls and fresh feeding signs until the gorilla family is located. One hour is allowed in their company for watching and for photographs. The walk back to the lodge closes the day, with time to rest afterwards.

4. Day 4

   Golden monkeys and Batwa trail

   The morning is spent on foot with a guide, tracking golden monkeys through the bamboo that covers much of the park. Time with the troop goes on watching how they feed and move, and the guide explains why the species is classed as endangered and what is being done for it. Later hours can go to a nature walk or to the Batwa trail, where community members describe their history and the forest skills handed down among them.

5. Day 5

   Volcano climb above the park

   The whole day goes to a hike up one of the three volcanoes on the park boundary, either Muhabura, Gahinga or Sabyinyo, whichever the traveller settles on. The route climbs through forest before the slopes open out higher up. From the summit the view reaches the other Virunga cones, the lakes below and ground across the borders. The descent returns to the lodge for a quiet evening.

6. Day 6

   Free day around Mgahinga

   Nothing is fixed for this day. The options put forward are birding, another guided walk in the forest, or a visit to a neighbouring community to see how people there live and work. Anyone who would rather not walk can stay at the lodge and rest instead.

7. Day 7

   Return drive to Entebbe

   After breakfast the party leaves Mgahinga and drives back across the southwest towards Entebbe, with rural country in view for most of the road. A representative sees guests to Entebbe International Airport in time for the outbound flight.