Possible Questions and Answers Before Embarking on A Primate Safari in Volcanoes
Possible Questions and Answers Before Embarking on A Primate Safari That Combines Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga National Park.
Combining gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National park and golden monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga national park provides you with awe, as you experience the morning air that is crisp, tinged with a scent of volcanic soil.
As you ascend the slopes of the mountains, the jagged peaks loom like ancient sentinels guarding the secrets of the Virunga Range. Each step through the bamboo forest feels like entering a sacred realm quiet, lush, and alive with whispers of wind and birdsong.
Your ranger guide pauses often to point out a mountain gorilla family as they go about their daily activity like feeding, playing or golden monkeys darting through the canopy, their fur catching the light like embers.
Both Volcanoes national park and Mgahinga national park are homes to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys each providing unmatched wildlife encounter as you interact with these vulnerable species you can decide to do both gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park or Mgahinga national park or you can decide to mix and either do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga National Park or do golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park and gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park, Kigali would be the best starting point for both. But in this guide we are specifically talking about a tourist who would want to do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and then do golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park.
Do We Need to Pay Extra Money for Uganda Visas?
When having safaris involving gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park, Rwanda and golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park, Uganda, it is better to apply and get an East African visa this will allow you enter both countries minus extra charges. But when you only apply for a Rwandan visa, extra money will be charged on you for Uganda visa when crossing the Cyanika border to go to Mgahinga National park hence an East African Visa is the best option.
How Long Will It Take to Drive from Volcanoes National Park to Mgahinga National Park?
The drive from Volcanoes national park to Mgahinga national park can take approximately 45minutes to 2 hours. The drive is 45 minutes but you might spend more time at Cyanika border because of the border crossing processes and also the drive is scenic, offering dramatic views of extinct volcanoes and diverse ecosystems. The route passes through the beautiful mountainous region of southwestern Uganda and northeastern Rwanda, which is known for its striking scenery and lush landscapes, so you will need to drive at a slower speed limit for better view of nature.
Will We Need Covid Tests for Either Countries?
No, currently you are allowed to enter both Uganda and Rwanda minus necessarily doing covid tests. So whether you have a vaccination card or not you will enter both Uganda and Rwanda
Do You Know If We Need Any Vaccines for Visiting Either Countries?
When visiting either Uganda or Rwanda yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and you must carry an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).
Other vaccines that you are recommended to have include: malaria, hepatitis A and B and typhoid depending on your risk factor. It is good to consult your health care provider about your latest travel plans.
Would It Make More Sense to Drive to Uganda the Next Morning Instead of After the Volcanoes Gorilla Trek and Village Program? Seems Like Along Say! How Long Is the Drive?
You Suggested Seeing the Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Instead of Volcanoes. Is There A Reason for That?
When participating in golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National park, you can have a more intimate experience with nature since the place is less crowded compared to Volcanoes national park that is crowded.
There are options of gorilla habituation experience giving you opportunity to spend more time with the golden monkeys you can spend 4 hours with these precious species you can watch their lively behaviors as they jump from one bamboo tree to another as they feed.
Can We Also Add On A Day To Hike The Batwa Trail? Cost? This Sounds Very Interesting!
Yes it is possible to hike the Batwa trail but mostly it lasts for half a day where by you are led by a Batwa elder whose presence radiates quiet dignity. He shows you how his people once lived in harmony with the forest, hunting with bows, gathering medicinal herbs, and making fire from dry twigs and friction. These stories are not just history, they are living memory, etched into the bark of trees and the rhythm of the land.
The Batwa experience is charged at US$20.
Is It Possible to Do a Canoe Ride on A Lake One of the Evenings While in Uganda?
Yes it is possible you can choose to do a canoe ride on three lakes of Lake Mutanda, lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mulehe.
Lake Mutanda, located 14km from Mgahinga National park, it provides provides the best spot of having a canoe ride near Mgahinga national park. On this canoe ride you are able to have a good view of three of the great Volcanoes of Virunga like Muhabura, Sabinyo and Mgahinga. You can also view a variety of bird species and visit the islands there.
Lake Bunyonyi which is 2 hours’ drive from Mgahinga national park is the second deepest lake in Africa and famous for its abundance of bird life offering the best point for birders. It is home to 29 islands with the famous punishment islands where girls who got pregnant before marriage would be dumped to starve to death as a form of societal punishment. It offers good photography points with a scenic view of the mist hills.
Lake Mulehe is a quieter place for canoe rides near Kisoro town just 45 minutes from Kisoro it also provides a scenic view to the great volcanoes of Mgahinga, Sabinyo and Muhabura. It is the best point for less crowded canoe ride experience and exclusivity since less tourists know about this destinations.
We Still Want to Go on The City Tour of Kigali, See the Genocide Museum and Visit the Ellen Degeneres Dian Fossey Museum on the Way to Volcanoes Is It Possible?
Yes it is possible. In the early morning you can set off from Kagali and visit the Kigali genocide memorial which serves as poignant reminders of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the victims.
More than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi are buried in the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, which was opened in 2004. This memorial also explores genocide in the 20th century and teaches about the development of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
This place is where some of the victims come and have time with their departed relatives and have memories of their loved ones.
After this experience you can head to Volcanoes national park check in your lodge rest and then head to Ellen DeGeneres campus which was established to promote the Dian Fossey fund that has been here for over 50 years. It acts as a conservation point where communities and tourists are taught about the advantages of conserving mountain gorillas. It has materials like 360 degrees threatre and virtual reality point where you can watch the lifestyle of mountain gorillas, from feeding, how they care for their young ones, rest, protect young ones and have virtual reality.