Hiking Virunga Volcano, Trekking Gorillas & Golden Monkeys in Uganda

Your designated driver will be at the airport to receive you, transfer and check you in at a hotel within Entebbe.

You have a couple of optional activities in Entebbe if you arrive early. The first and most requested is the shoebill excursion on Lake Victoria. A motorised canoe takes you to the swampy shores, among papyrus reeds, searching for the prehistoric stock-like giant bird and several other waterbirds endemic to the region.

Other options include visiting the wildlife education centre, walking to the local markets, shopping at the city malls, and walking in the quiet suburban streets.

Accommodation and meals: Papyrus Guesthouse, Dinner

After breakfast, get an early start with either a road trip or a domestic flight to Kisoro from Entebbe. Kisoro is about 500 km from Entebbe. A flight takes about an hour compared to a drive which can take close to 10 hours. Whichever means you choose, we will have you at Mount Gahinga Lodge, an hour outside Kisoro, ready to start your safari hiking the Virunga Mountains.

Mount Gahinga Lodge, at the base of the Virunga Mountains Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo, is the best accommodation to access the Virunga hiking trails in Uganda. Its position gives visitors enchanting views of the Virunga, preparing their minds for what the ascending adventure would bring.

Accommodation & meals: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Full Board

You'll be up early to be on the trail by 8:00 am at the visitor centre at Ntebeko (2360 m), a five-minute walk from the lodge.

The first kilometre and a half climbing Mountain Sabinyo is near-flat but swampy, even in the dry season. Immediately after the mashes, you'll enter the bamboo forest zone through a track that looks like a tunnel. Here, you're likely to see buffalo and forest elephant tracks. You'll walk in the bamboo forest for about an hour with virtually no altitude gain until you enter the equatorial rainforest.

From the rainforest to the summit of Mount Sabinyo, 3-4 hours higher, it only gets steeper but not muddy.

Rainforest Zone
Twenty minutes into the rainforest, you'll have your first rest at a small hut. After that, the trail continues ascending through the magnificent rainforest. Look out for rare and colourful birds around this region, like sunbirds and the Rwenzori turaco.

Heather Zone
The rainforest will give way to the heather zone, an out-of-this-world scenery reminiscent of fairy tales. Heather trees are covered in old man's beards (usnea), and deep moss blankets their complex root systems. You'll spend half the time climbing twisty stairways, which are practical for the trail's steepness in the dry but treacherously slippery when wet.

Afro-alpine Zone
From the heather zone, the Mount Sabinyo trail follows a spectacular climb through steep ridges to the first peak, 3380 m. Then, you enter the afro-alpine zone, the realm of giant groundsels (Senecio), giant lobelias, and everlasting flowers.

First Peak, 3380 m
At the first peak, you'll be at the frontier of the three countries, and the view down the mountain is abyssal, clouds permitting. You will have your second and last rest at the first peak, leave your walking stick and put on your jacket. The rest of the route is exposed to strong winds and involves climbing horizontally steep ladders to the summit.

Second Peak (3540m)
From the first peak, you descend for about 10 minutes, then climb along the ridge to the second peak (3540m) for about half an hour.

Third Peak (summit 3,645 m) You follow the sharp ridge from the second peak, literally climbing verticle ladders to the highest point. The last section is the steepest on the entire Sabinyo climb, almost entirely on stairways. Adventurous and safe, no doubt, but less romantic.

After your moment at the summit, standing in three countries surrounded by giant groundsels and lobelias, you'll begin your descent.

Accommodation & Meals: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Full Board

Take it easy on the fourth day with optional activities at the lodge.

• Take the Batwa cultural trail, which introduces you to the forest people's ancient cultures and customs. Visit the community project run by Volcanoes Safaris, and connect with conservation and sustainable work invested in the project.
• Explore the lodge's backyard forest on foot
• Stay in and enjoy the changing views of the volcanos.

Accommodation & Meals: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Full Board

You'll be up by 7:00 am to make it to the Ntebeko briefing point by 7:30 am. Ntebeko visitor centre, which is also the Mgahinga National Park's headquarters, is a 10-minute walk from Gahinga Lodge.

The golden monkey trekking starts at 8:00 am, after briefing with the lead tracker guide. You're escorted into the park by two armed rangers for your security. You'll trek up the slopes in a two-hour window to the bamboo forest zone, where golden monkeys hang out. When you meet them, you'll spend about an hour watching their antics and social behaviours.

Golden monkeys are cheeky and playful and will jump up the trees or curiously come close to you than expected. Enjoy the moment, but follow instructions from your lead guide.

Accommodation & Meals: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Full Board

Be on the trail early to take advantage of the morning softness. Your driver can drive you to Kisoro to cut off the 11-kilometre walking trail between Mgahinga and Kisoro, or you can take on the challenge with a walking guide.

Otherwise, you'll join your walking safari guide in Kisoro Town for a community walk, canoeing excursion on Lake Mutanda, and nature hike through communities & cultivated garden trails.

It is an immersive off-the-beaten-track walking adventure connecting you with the local people and environments. It takes you to some of the most incredible scenes of rugged southwestern Uganda.

The walking safari and boat ride will take about 3-5 hours to the northern shores of Lake Mutanda. Here, your driver will pick you up for lunch before continuing to your night's stay at Nkuringo.

Accommodation & Meals: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Full Board

Your butler will ensure you are up and about by 7:00 am with a packed lunch, the right trekking gear, drinking water, and a walking stick. Excursion briefing starts at 7:30 am at the visitor's centre.

By 8:00 am, your tracking guide and rangers will lead you and seven other tourists into the rainforest to find a habituated gorilla family. Two gun-baring rangers come along the trail for your safety from wild animals. The machete-wilding guide is your tracker, creating a usable path through the impenetrable forest.

Once you have found the gorillas, you will be allowed to observe them for an hour at a 10 meters distance.

Your time in the forest can not be pre-determined as every day differs from the previous. However, most trekkers are out of the jungle by 2:00 pm with a satisfactory grin.

Accommodation & Meals: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Full Board

You have two options to cover the 500-kilometre distance from Kisoro to Entebbe, i.e., take a 1-hour flight or drive across the country on surfaced road.

In Entebbe, you can use our facilities at Papyrus guest house to freshen up for your international flight back home. Accommodation for this day is not included, though. But we can book you a room at your discretion.

Accommodation (Optional): Papyrus Guesthouse, Breakfast & Luch