3 days Gorillas Nkuringo with Lake Mutanda & Virunga

Overview

3 days of gorilla trekking Nkuringo with Lake Mutanda and Virunga views tour to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the world’s premier mountain gorilla tracking location. The aptly termed “impenetrable” rain forest is home to at least 300 mountain gorillas, accounting for more than half of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Up to 13 Mountain Gorilla populations have been habituated to gorilla tracking or trekking missions.

The 13 groups are scattered in four different areas of the Bwindi Forest Park, which have become known as the four gorilla tracking regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.

Each tracking zone has a distinct setting that provides a unique experience, ranging from accessibility, expeditions, landscapes, experiences, and the amount of Mountain Gorilla groups to pick from.

The Nkuringo region is located in Kisoro District’s lush alpine highlands, to the south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. Despite its distant location and distance from other regions, the terrain and surroundings are among the best and most beautiful in Africa.

Nkuringo offers stunning views of the three Virunga Mountain Volcanoes: Mount Muhavura, Mount Mgahinga, and Mount Sabinyo. Lake Mutanda, one of Africa’s most gorgeous lakes, is less than an hour’s drive from Nkuringo.

After the tough Gorilla experience, Lake Muntanda is the best spot to relax in the refreshing cool and explore its verdant islands while admiring the breathtaking vistas of the highlands and the Virunga Volcanoes in the background.

Detailed itinerary.

Day 1: Travel to Nkuringo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.

Our company representative will pick you up from your hotel, residence, or selected location at 7:00 a.m. following your early morning breakfast and begin the long drive to Kisoro. We will stop in Mbarara town for lunch. As we drive between Kabale and Kisoro, we get to see breathtaking views of the mountains and terraces, Echuya Forest, and Lake Bunyonyi. Arrive in Kisoro, drive along Lake Mutanda, and then move to your guesthouse for supper and sleep.

Accommodation options

Clouds Mountain Lodge (Luxury) and Nkuringo Gorilla Camp (Mid-range), both conveniently located about a 10-minute walk (3-minute drive) from the gorilla tracking briefing site.
Option 2: Chameleon Hill Lodge (middle-range) and Lake Mutanda Resort (budget)

Day 2: Gorilla Tracking and Lake Mutanda.

After our early morning breakfast, we pick up our packed lunch from the lodge and head to the park headquarters, which also serve as the Nkuringo region briefing point. Following the brief gorilla tracking highlights and assignment to a gorilla group, you will proceed to the trailhead and enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to follow enormous gorillas and observe a variety of wildlife.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at an elevation of 1160m to 2607m above sea level. In addition to mountain gorillas, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, 120 animals, 11 primates, and over 200 butterfly species.

After a beautiful forest tour and an incredible gorilla encounter, we head to Lake Mutanda for dinner and stay.

Accommodations

Chameleon Hill Lodge (mid-range)

Lake Mutanda Resort (budget).

Day 3: Canoe on Lake Mutanda and return to Kampala.

After our early morning breakfast, we check out and embark on a canoe tour of Lake Mutanda while your driver travels to Kisoro town and awaits you on the other side.

Lake Mutanda is one of Africa’s most gorgeous lakes, although few people have visited because of its secluded position in south-western Uganda’s Kisoro District. The lake is located in the foothills of the Virunga Mountain Ranges, with cloud peaks from at least three volcanoes providing a spectacular backdrop to the breathtaking Mutanda environment.

Ride in the calm and serene atmosphere among the green islands while enjoying spectacular views of the foggy surrounding hills and clouded peaks of the Virunga volcanoes in the distant.

Visit the Punishment for interesting cultural and social stories, and Python Island for an opportunity to see some pythons. The two-hour canoe ride puts you off on the shores of Lake Mutanda near Kisoro town, where you will be picked up by a driver and transported back to Kampala.