7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda

This 7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda starts and ends in Entebbe International Airport Uganda. This Uganda safari combines primate experience, general wildlife encounter and volcano hiking. This is an ideal tour to explore abundance of wildlife species, beautiful sceneries and numerous primate species such as to meet eye to eye with the miraculous mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their untouched natural habitats. The tour will take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park for chimpanzee tracking experience, wildlife encounter boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel and search for the tree climbing lions, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to meet eye to eye with the magical mountain gorilla and Mgahinga gorilla national park for the second mountain gorilla trekking experience and conclude with Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking. This is an ideal safari to fully enjoy the nature and to explore abundance of wildlife species such as Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopard, Hippos, Crocodile, Uganda kobs and others antelope species, Warthogs among others, beautiful sceneries and numerous primate species such as to meet eye to eye with the miraculous Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees in their untouched natural habitats.

7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda highlight

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet and drive to your booked Hotel in Entebbe town
• Day 2: Entebbe town – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel – Evening game drive
• Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Chimpanzee tracking – Drive to Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park
• Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
• Day 5: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mountain Gorilla tracking safari – Explore Lake Mutanda
• Day 6: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking – Spend your evening relaxing
• Day 7: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Return to Kampala or Entebbe international airport

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet and drive to your booked Hotel in Entebbe town

On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly met by our company representative who will be your professional English speaking safari guide throughout your 7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda that will be at the airport guest waiting lounge for meet and greet and then be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen up and later meet your safari guide at the reception to be briefed about 7- Days double mountain gorilla trekking and mountain Sabinyo hiking safari. The hotel is about 10-20 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport.

Later, if time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens for a nature walk where you can explore some primates and bird species. The walk will take you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds as well as getting used to the Uganda’s beautiful nature. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and second largest fresh water body in the world and the source of the River Nile which is the longest on the planet. Lake Victoria is shared by the three East African Countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya and the River Nile which flows for more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the Mediterranean Sea in the north through over 5 Africa countries including Uganda, Egypt Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan.

Accommodation; Via Via Guest House (Standard)

Meal plan; Dinner

Day 2: Entebbe town – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel – Evening game drive

After having breakfast (630 am) when all your luggage is already packed in the vehicle, start your journey drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park “the medley of wonders” found in western Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most loved national parks in Uganda with outstanding wildlife attractions such as the highest number of bird species than any other national parks in East Africa, Chimpanzee in the ‘underground’ forest in Kyambura gorge and the nearby Kalinzu forest reserve and other big games such as elephants, Caped Buffaloes, Lions and Leopards, several antelope species and water mammals. On your way to Queen Elizabeth national, you will have a stopover at Kayabwe Equator landmark which is believed to be the line separating the planet into two parts; the Northern and Southern hemisphere. While at the equator landmark, you will see the water experiment which is done to show how forces move differently on each side of the planet and to prove the difference between the two hemispheres for example water drains from the funnel in a clockwise motion on the northern hemisphere whereas it drains down in an anti-clockwise motion on the southern hemisphere. Here, the sun rises and sets rapidly and the temperatures and weather is largely constant all year through. While at the Equator landmark, take some memorial photos with one foot in the southern hemisphere and another one in the northern hemisphere which will give you an opportunity to take a memorial photo while standing in both sides of the world at the same time.

It is also said that while standing at the equator line, your body weight is reduced by about 3kgs so, you will have a chance to prove this statement right or false. After spending some time at the equator, proceed with your drive through Kiruhura district where you may have an opportunity to spot some zebras and impalas from Lake Mburo National park when they are feeding with cattle on local farms situated along the Kampala-Mbarara high way and proceed straight to Queen Elizabeth national park through the beautiful tea estates, crater lakes and small grassy hills. Check in at your booked accommodation, have lunch, relax and later go for an afternoon boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel. Kazinga channel is the main water stream which goes through the park and connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. Boat cruise safari on the Kazinga Channel is one of the highly recommended adventurous activities to visitors of Queen Elizabeth national park. The cruise will bring you very close to several mammals such as the Hippos, Nile crocodiles and Buffaloes, Elephants and many others plus various water birds. The fantastic experience during the 2 hours’ boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel, makes it a must do adventure to every guest. After the boat safari drive, go for an evening game drive in search for wildlife species such as Elephants, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, Warthogs, Lion among others. Drive back to your Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal Plan: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Chimpanzee tracking – Drive to Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park

Rise very early in the morning to prepare yourself, dress up in a recommended style for chimpanzee tracking, such as hiking boots, long jean/khaki trouser, long sleeved shirt and around hat, get all your luggage packed in the vehicle, be served breakfast, check out of the lodge and then be driven to Kalinzu forest reserve head office for the pre-chimpanzee tracking briefings about the guidelines to follow during the forest walk in search for chimpanzees, expectations of chimpanzee tracking, how to behave once you meet chimpanzees, be given a site guide and then start your forest walk in search for chimpanzee. Your experienced guide will help you to stop and identify several flora and fauna species resident in this forest and give you much information about everything that you will encounter. Once you find a community of the habituated chimpanzees, you will have a maximum of one hour to be with them as well as enjoying their engagements such as jumping in the tree branches, grooming their babies and you will be free to take as many photos as you would want for photography. After spending an hour with chimpanzees, return to the starting point to have a bottle of water to freshen yourself, have hot lunch. After lunch, start your journey to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park via Ishasha sector in the southern parts of Queen Elizabeth national park for a game drive in search for the tree climbing lions. The unique tree climbing lions are only found in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda with 4 prides, Lake Manyara of Tanzania with 2 prides and Kruger national park in South Africa. But Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park is the best destination to see them since it has many prides with the of climbing character and there are higher chance to meet them. After the game drive, have lunch and proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to check in at your reserved lodge to spend your evening relaxing.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for being a home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and one of the Uganda’s ancient as well as the most biologically diverse rainforests that is over 25,000 years with almost 400 tree species that are forming the huge impenetrable forest that is ever green. It is a home to approximately 500 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species such as numerous primate species, over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics and is the ancient home of the Batwa bush people.

Accommodation; Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

On this day, rise up very early in the morning to have breakfast, get your packed lunch, meet your safari guide and drive to the park information office to meet other guests to be briefed on the guidelines to follow in the forest while searching for the mountain gorilla and then start your long time awaited for wildlife adventure. Meeting Mountain Gorilla in their natural habitat offers an once-in-a-lifetime experience that cannot be found anywhere in the world apart from Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and visitors that have had this experience before can give evidence that there is no any other wildlife experience in Africa matches spending an hour face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas. In the course of mountain gorilla tracking, you may see many other wildlife species such as like Chimpanzees, Bush pigs, forest Elephants, and many bird species and the guide will be able to give you much information about species that you will encounter hence making your walk so adventurous and exciting. After you have met gorillas, you will be allowed stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and you will be allow to take as many photos as you would want to keep your amazing moments with the mountain gorillas so, your camera has to be fully charged and on standby. After spending an hour with the mountain gorillas, return to the park offices to get your trekking certificate award of recognition for your support towards the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas, enjoy your packed lunch plus other refreshments and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla Natural Park. The Park is found in southwestern Uganda and it is the smallest park and one of the only two national parks in Uganda where one can meet the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla national park is the only park in Uganda where you can meet both the giant mountain gorillas and the beautiful golden monkeys. The park stands out other gorilla parks because of its three volcano mountains namely; Gahinga, Sabinyo and Muhabura and the best place to meet the Batwa pygmy people. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation; Lake Mulehe Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 5: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mountain Gorilla tracking safari – Explore Lake Mutanda

Day 5 of the 7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda, wake up early morning (0600am) to organize yourself, arrange the necessary equipment during mountain gorilla trekking such as camera, binoculars, insect repellants, get well-dressed in a recommend style for mountain gorilla trekking like long khaki /jean trouser, long sleeved shirt, water proof hiking boots, a rain jacket, heavy duty gloves and round hats, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes, get enough drinking water and meet your safari guide to be transferred to the park head offices of Ntebeko to join other others guests for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking dos and don’ts, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas and the expectations, be allocated a mountain gorilla family to track, UWA ranger and the forest guide. We would recommend you to hire a porter to help you carry your packed bag other and your other items you would need during mountain gorillas. After pre-mountain gorilla trekking session, start your forest walk in search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

The time taken before encountering your allocated mountain gorilla family is not known however, it may be between 45mins to 4 hours depending on the movements and location of gorilla family therefore, you should be physically and mentally prepared to walk a long distance through the forest that is made of hills and with no clear walking trails that are only made on that particular time of tracking by the your guide depending on the direction that can easily lead you to the location of the gorilla family. That is why, it is recommended to carry enough water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep you with enough energy since you use a lot of energy when walking through the forest in search for the mountain gorillas.

Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, will outweigh the hardship went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made of several members such as the giant silverback who is always the head and protector of the family, mothers, infants and juveniles. The time you will spend with the mountain gorillas, you get to know much about their behaviors, how the socializes and be excited with their actions like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies and Mr. silverback watching the situation silently as he ready to protect the family from any kind of attack. You will spend a maximum of one hour of the mountain gorillas and you will be free to capture as many photos and recording videos as you would want to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle. Thereafter an hour with the mountain gorilla family, return to the trekking start point to receive your mountain trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Return to your lodge to have lunch, freshen up and relax for some time.

Later in the evening, go to explore Lake Mutanda one of the most beautiful Lakes in all of Africa and stunningly amazing made of several small islands which you can visit using a traditional dugout Canoe boat are and each Island has its unique interesting story behind it that will be narrated to you by your local canoe guide. Lake Mutanda a magical paradise that is beyond anyone’s imagination that will give you a relaxed mind after the adventurous mountain gorillas. Then, late in the evening return to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 6: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Mount Sabinyo volcano hiking – Spend your evening relaxing

Today after your breakfast, transfer to the park information center for briefing by your UWA ranger guide and then start your hike to the summit of Mount Sabinyo.  The summit of Mount Sabinyo lies at 3,645 meters (11,959 ft), the summit of this park is the joint point of the borders Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo so, when you reach at this point, you will be in 3 countries at the same time. Mount Sabinyo hiking Uganda is a one day activity which takes approximately 8 hours which include 4 hours climbing to the summit and 4 hours sloping down to the bottom but this might change depending on the weather conditions and physical fitness of the climbers. The hike will you through different vegetation ranges like sub-alpine kind of vegetation with fewer trees but home to the rare Rwenzori Turaco and bamboo zone between 2400 – 2800m which is the most know habitant of golden monkeys and other wildlife species such as forest elephants, buffaloes, many bird species and by chance, you may encounter mountain gorillas around this area and your UWA rangers will give you information of everything that you will encounter which will make your hike so adventurous. Once you reach at the summit, you will have a nice view of the beautiful Lake Kivu in Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, the mountain Rwenzori ranges in Uganda, forests in DR Congo, over six mountains of the Virunga region and many other countless features. After enjoying all the good views, slope to the starting point and then drive back to your lodge to freshen up and relax.  Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Lake Mulehe Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 7: Mgahinga gorilla national park – Return to Kampala or Entebbe international airport

After having breakfast, get all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check out of the lodge and meet your safari guide and start your journey back to Entebbe international airport to prepare for return flight with a stopover at Igongo cultural center to have lunch, tour the museum which is a cultural heritage of south-western Uganda that will take you centuries back into Uganda’s culture and life style and later proceed with your journey to Entebbe international airport where you will reach in the evening hours. This is the end of your 7-Days Mount Sabinyo Hiking and Double Gorilla Trekking Uganda.

Meal plan: Breakfast / lunch

The package includes;

• Private ground transportation for 7 days in a well-modified safari van (4WD, air-conditioned and pop up)
• Fuel for 7 days
• English speaking driver guide for 7 days
• Return airport transfers
• Private accommodation (Standard) for 6 nights on full board (Breakfast /Lunch/ Dinner)
• All en-route meals and bottled mineral water throughout your tour
• All park entrance fees and government taxes
• 1 chimpanzee tracking permit per person (Kalinzu Forest Reserve)
• 2 Mountain gorilla trekking permits (Bwindi impenetrable forest national park + Mgahinga gorilla national park)
• 2 hours’ afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
• Game drive through Ishasha sector to search for the Tree climbing lions
• A visit to Igongo cultural museum
• A stopover at Kayabwe equator landmark

The package excludes;

• International and Domestic flight ticket
• Country entry visa
• Personal travel insurance
• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Sodas, special juice, wines, beers, gins and whisks)
• Items of personal nature/tips/laundry/telephone charges/ souvenir shopping,
• Extra meals and activities