Christmas with the Gorillas - 12 DAYS GORILLAS, PRIMATES & SAFARI- GROUP

Crater Safari Lodge provides the ideal base for many exceptional wildlife activities and excursions to the local attractions including:

◾Five-day chimpanzee and wildlife safari

◾Chimpanzee tracking

◾Chimpanzee habituation experience

◾Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

◾Semliki National Park

◾Rwenzori Mountains

◾Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves

◾Crater Lake Hikes

◾Mahoma Falls

◾Lava pipes(Kills the Eagle)-(3-6 hrs walk)

◾Canoeing on the crater lake

◾Hike to the Top of the world

◾Birding

◾Tea estates and crater walks

◾Cycling around Tea estates and crater lakes

◾Cultural Activities like weaving hats, mats, baskets

◾Community visits/schools, local markets

Gorilla Safari Lodge provides the ideal base for an unforgettable gorilla safari experience. Take a fully guided trek into the dense rainforest and meet its inhabitants; the shy and peaceful mountain gorillas. Enjoy the privilege of observing and photographing the gorillas as they interact in their large habituated troop.
Gorilla Trekking/ Gorilla Habituation(only Bwindi Forest/ Rushaga sector):

Gorilla Trekking is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have. Take a 5 minutes walk from the lodge to the starting point of trekking the gorillas. You will be briefed about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge . A truly amazing and memorable experience.

Gorilla Trekking permit is $600

The Gorilla Experience means spending all day on a trek in the forest which includes 4 hours with a gorilla family. It is only available in Uganda (Rushaga) where our lodge is located. This incredible experience must be well booked in advance since there are only a total of 8 visitors allowed, 4 per group, unlike a normal gorilla tracking where you have 8 participants in one group. This is an intimate, one of a kind, experience where you are with researchers, trackers, rangers, conservationist, all part of getting a gorilla family used to human presence, a process which takes ± 2-3 years.

Gorilla Habituation permit is $1,500

After breakfast hike to the pretty water falls known as the Bayenda water falls. The walk takes you through the rain forest where your guide will explain the flora and fauna along the way. During the walk, you will hear all different melodies from singing birds,different species of birds, monkeys as they do the canopy sway from one tree to another, if lucky see the wild elephants, hear the rolling sounds of the water fall. The walk may take approximately one hour each way to and from the falls. Its a more relaxing walk in the Impenetrable Forest. Its an exciting and emotional experience.

Its $85 per person

Mountain Biking with our guide:

The Lodge has all the biking gears, here are some of the biking routes

From the lodge to Lake Mutanda-$95

This ride will give you the opportunity to go around Lake Mutanda on bike. You will start from Gorilla Safari Lodge. This route will lead you through the local villages, local farm steads and Matooke (banana) fields, giving you a chance to interact with the local people, absorbing history and soaking in Ugandas western region’s natural beauty – all on a bike! You will get a stop over to get a bite of some local fruits.

From Lodge to Lake Muhele-$65 per pax

From Lodge to Nkuringo-$70 per pax

Community visits and Culture:

Gorilla Safari Lodge for years and years we have been supporting the Batwa community around the lodge. We are supporting the local school, the Rushaga women group who usually entertain our guests with folk songs and traditional dances, they also teach our guests how to weave baskets, mats, hats. Our guide will show you the community and you will also learn from which trees or plants are medicine and lastly visit their homesteads.

The batwa experience is one of the activities, excursion you should endenvour to participate in. For several years before Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazzatted as a National park, this forest was home to the Batwa Pygmies who were referred as the orginal dwellers and keepers of this tropical rain forest. After Bwindi Forest was gazzatted as a national Park in 1993, the Pygmies were rellocated from the forest to the near by villages and towns.

For a long time, the Batwa pygmies depended on forest resources for survival. They used to hunt forest animals using spears and allows for meat and gathering plants and fruits for food. They could harness honey and depend on shrubs for medicine. They constructed huts using trees, leaves and climbing plants from the forest. In otherward one can conclusively say that the Batwa Pygmies lived in harmony with the forest, and animals like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, birds among others.

When Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazzatted and declared a world heritage, the Batwa were expelled from the forest and their life changed there and then leaving their lives endangered since they had no land outside the forest and were not used the life outside the forest.
Its $55 per person in Rushaga sector
If you want Batwe in Mgahinga Forest, its $85 per person

The varied habitats of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Uganda’s oldest natural forest means it is the ideal habitat for a variety of bird species, with over 350 bird species recorded, including 23 Albertine rift valley endemics that is 90% of all the Albertine Rift endemics such as: Short-tailed Warbler and Blue headed Sunbird as well as 7 IUCN red data listed species. The birds that are easy to see are: African Emerald Cuckoo, Dark caped Bulbul, White-tailed Blue Flycatchers and Red-headed Bluebill.arbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species.

Horse Safaris in and around Lake Mburo National Park

Mihingo Lodge has been operating horse safaris inside Lake Mburo National Park since 2009. We carefully adjust the rides according to the riding skills of each group; for beginners and inexperienced riders we only walk the horses. In fact, a walk on a horse is the best way to view game. It is peaceful and relaxing, and you get very close to the animals. For advanced riders there are also lovely stretches for trotting and cantering. We have 1 thoroughbreds (16 hands, weight limit 90kg), 2 five-year-old thoroughbred/ warmblood crossbreds (17 hands, weight limit 100kg), 3 thoroughbred/ Ethiopian pony crossbreds (13 hands, weight limit 75kg) and 2 tough Ethiopian ponies (12 hands, weight limit 60kg), in total 8 horses.
Inside Lake Mburo National Park where we ride on some fantastic routes. One of the best rides in the park is a 3- to 4-hours ride into Acacia valley where we often find the Rothschild giraffe. It is a fantastic feeling being close to the giraffe on horseback.

Horse safaris are an exciting way to see the wildlife around Mihingo Lodge. Without any engine sound and fumes you feel part of nature and often get the chance to see the more timid animals. It is an exhilarating experience not to be missed. We sometimes see Rothschild’s giraffe, eland, and buffalo and nearly always warthog, topi, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, and zebra on our horse safaris, although this depends very much on the time of year and the rain fall in the area. Experiencing game from horseback is very special; zebra come towards you to check out the strange relative without

stripes. Even the normally very shy elands curiously look at the horses without running away, just keeping their distance. Mini Trappe who is one of the leading horse safari operators in Tanzania was amazed how beautiful the rids in Lake Mburo are.

Short Rides (1 to 2 hours):
One-hour rides are always done outside the park as it is not possible to reach good game viewing areas inside the park in such a short time. Even most 2 hours rides are mostly done outside the park as you will see more game outside the park on a short ride. If you are a very good rider and we canter a lot, we can reach some of the good areas in the Park in 2 hours but it is advisable to have more time.

Long Rides (3 to 4 hours):
If guests want to see giraffes and they are experienced riders, they will have a good chance if they book a 3- or 4-hours ride. For not experienced riders they need to book at least a 4-hours ride to make it into the areas where we find giraffes and back as they will mostly just be walking and maybe testing a bit of trotting. My favorite ride is a 4-hours ride on to Warukiri Ridge in the middle of the Park with lovely views into different valleys in the park and long canters in Research valley. From Warukiri Ridge you can see 8 of the lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park and in the rainy season the waterhole at the end of the ridge attracts buffalo and eland and sometimes you can even find a hippo in this waterhole on top of a hill.

Our maximum weight limit for guests is 100 kg, but most of our horses cannot carry more than 80 kg or less. We provide fully adjustable helmets in all sizes and chaps, and ride with English style saddles. We recommend that you wear long trousers and strong shoes, if possible, with heels. We are not taking more than six guests out at a time, but this depends on the weight of the riders and the availability of the horses. All our rides are accompanied by at least one experienced horse guide, but in most cases, there are two guides accompanying each ride.

Nearly all our guests absolutely loved the horse safaris no matter if experienced or first-time riders! For further information please contact our managers and reservations team on reservations@mihingolodge.com, call them on +256 752 410 509 or have a look at our website www.mihingolodge.com.

Please note that guests staying at Mihingo Lodge always have priority when it comes to rides, and we can’t book rides for guests staying in other lodges in advance and can only confirm a booking for guests not staying with us the evening before a morning ride and at midday on the same day of an afternoon ride if we have availability.

If you don’t feel like spending any more time in a car and you’re are not too comfortable on a horse then hire one of our good quality mountain bikes to explore the bush.

If you’re adventurous and like to keep fit, grab a bike and explore the sandy tracks outside the Park. You can hire one of our Mihingo guides to join you on your ride and make sure you don’t get lost! Tracks are suitable for a gentle family ride out taking in the wildlife all around but there is plenty for the more extreme riders to explore. Drive off the larger roads on to narrow animal paths and clamber over termite mounds while you put our bikes through their paces!

As we only have 2 bikes for kids please book early to avoid disappointment. Most of the year there is just as much wildlife beyond the borders of the Park as there is inside. You’re very likely to see zebra, impala, warthogs as well as a variety of other antelope.

Mountain Bike Safaris inside the Park can also be arranged.

Walking Safaris are a magical way to experience the bush. They allow you to notice smaller details often overlooked when in a car or riding a horse.

Within the Park:
All walks in the park must be accompanied with an armed UWA guide. You can technically walk anywhere in the park once a guide is in attendance. The most popular walks are inside the park, walking with giraffes, which is an incredible experience walking along with the totally habituated giraffe. You can get as close as 10 meters to these gentle giants. Longer walks onto Warukir Ridge are also possible with fantastic views and lots of wildlife.

Outside the Park:
You may take a walk with a Mihingo guide outside the park where you will often see just as many animals as inside. A 2 hour walk down the hill and into the valleys around the lodge is a great way to explore the area.

There are many beautiful drives to explore in the Park either heading out yourself with a map, with a guide or hiring the lodge open sided Land Rover or our stretch Land Cruiser. Research Track is one of our favourite drives where you are likely to see buffalo wallowing in the mud, zebra, impala, topi, bush buck and warthog.

For spectacular views, park at the bottom of Kazuma look-out and walk up to the top; from here the view is stunning and you can see 5 lakes including Lake Mburo. For some 4 x 4 driving during the rainy season Eland track is the most challenging.

Feel like doing nothing and relaxing to the maximum? Full body massages are available, taking approximately 1 hour. It is possible for two people to enjoy massages at the same time in our dedicated massage rondavel which is situated in the forest with birds and butterflies fluttering past.

Mihingo lodge has a hide about 40 metres to the south of the waterhole and saltlick visible from the dining room. One can easily spend several hours watching wildlife come and go and capture great pictures if you are quiet.

The 15 minute trail is signposted from below the dining room as ‘hide’.

If you travel a few further metres beyond the hide, you will find a second secret shelter known as the den. If you are feeling adventurous then quietly sneak along the path and crawl on your knees to reach inside this exciting new cavern, located even nearer to the watering hole.

If you are feeling extra energetic our Mihingo guides would love to take you out on a run roaming across the community lands (outside the park).

From 5km – 15km we will tailor the experience to meet your needs.

Mihingo Lodge has a hard surface tennis court a short walk from the main area. We have tennis rackets and balls for any of the guests who would like to play.

Lake Mburo is one of the few parks where you can go on a night game drive! At night there is a whole variety of animals that you would not see in the day including bush pigs, genet cat and white tailed mongoose to mention but a few. Night drives also give you the best chance of finding leopards, spotted hyena. It is an interesting experience out at night with a spotlight, an unusual twist on your regular game drives.

Please inform us in time, so we can organize your night drive as it is mandatory to have a UWA guide for all night drives. Also, there are only a limited number of spotlights so get in touch as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Night drives can be done in your own vehicle or in the Mihingo safari vehicle.

Hire a bike or take a short drive to one of the schools we support and see for yourself the work this school is doing for many of the children in the community. The parents in the community also contribute to the running of the school and often fees are waivered for orphans. Spend an hour interacting with the children, talking to the teachers or even running some of the games and activities you used to do at school. There is no charge for the school visit, but any donation or kind hearted gesture is appreciated, be it a few pens & books to sponsoring a student’s schooling.

A boat trip on Lake Mburo is the best way to see the lake and its inhabitants. It is particularly good for water birds (especially Finfoot, White-backed Heron and Fish Eagles) but you will also come across hippos, crocodiles and other animals coming down for a drink.

The boat trip takes approximately 1½ hours. Lifejackets are available at the landing site also in children’s sizes. The boat is small, holding a maximum of fourteen and has a covered roof.

Boat trips leave at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5.30pm

To get children interacting more with the environment and leave them enthused about the bush and its animals, Mihingo Lodge offers a bush experience for kids. On a two hours excursion, we can get them out interacting and learning about the bush and its animals. If you are interested in this for your children (or just want a few hours’ peace & quiet!) please speak to us to organise a bush experience.

We can combine a walking safari, a mountain bike safari or a horse ride starting at Mihingo Lodge with a bush breakfast.

Mihingo Lodge is one of the few places in Africa where you can watch thick-tailed Gallagos in their natural environment. These are a nocturnal primate species that have become very used to our guests and come to the platform below the bar most evenings.

We are very strict and only give them 2 small pieces of banana to ensure that they still have to forage for their own food which includes fruit, lizards, moths and other insects.

We never allow anyone to touch the Gallagos or take photos with a flash as this can easily damage their eyes. You will be able to see the thick-tailed Gallagos interacting with each other.

Bush babies hide during the day in order to avoid contact with predators such as eagles and large snakes and to avoid competing with Vervet monkeys for resources. Since they are easily captured on the ground they mostly stay in trees and rely on their extraordinary jumping abilities.