Gorilla Trekking Add On Activities

Planning a gorilla tour adventure and wondering about the gorilla trekking add-on activities? Contact Superfine Safaris Limited for a guide to an immersive selection of add-on activities.  Do you have extended time and yearning for more adventure and excitement, or simply need time to relax amidst Mother Nature? Our selection of interesting gorilla trekking add-on activities is specially designed to enhance your unforgettable gorilla safari itinerary. The 7 Days Uganda gorillas and wildlife safari is perfect to trek gorillas and other activities

Top gorilla trekking add-on activities in Uganda and Rwanda

Birding Adventure

Birding is one of the popular gorilla trekking add-on adventures in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Interestingly, all the renowned National Parks sheltering the mountain gorillas (Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks) are excellent Birding Areas in their respective countries. Congo’s Virunga National Park is home to more than 700 bird species, 24 of these being indigenous to the Protected Area. Some of the commonest species here are the Egyptian Goose, the White-faced Whistling Duck, the crested and Helmeted Guineafowl, the common Quail, Handsome francolin, Scaly francolin, Lesser and Greater flamingo, Little Grebe, and African Olive Pigeon, among others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 350 bird species. Led by experienced Ranger guides, your private birding excursions will offer the opportunity to sight rare, resident, and migratory birds. From Bar-tailed Trogon, Kivu ground thrush, handsome spurfowl, Grauer’s Broadbill, African blue and African Emerald Cuckoo, to yellow-eyed black flycatchers. With Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there are over 180 bird species to look out for.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is also an incredible birding destination with about 200 bird species. The common species include Rwenzori batis, Dusky Crimsonwing, the Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Black-crowned waxbill, and Rwenzori Turaco, to mention but a few. Book our birding adventures for an exclusive expedition to the heart of these renowned gorilla trekking destinations

Big game safari

Complement your gorilla trekking adventure with classic big game safaris in the open savannahs of Uganda and Rwanda. The savannah plains and woodlands of Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks hide some of Nature’s most sought-after wildlife species- leopards, spotted hyenas, Rothschild’s giraffes, Olive baboons, Cape buffaloes, vervet monkeys, African bush elephants, Giant elands, Topis, Hippos, Nile crocodiles, and others. Some of these wildlife species are found in specific Protected Areas, while others are found in both.

Early morning and late afternoon game drives offer incredible game viewing opportunities, and our safari guides possess incredible knowledge about these wildlife species’ behavior and know exactly where to find them. It is also possible to combine Bwindi Gorilla trekking with a visit to Murchison Falls National Park to enhance your Uganda safari experience.

For Rwanda, you can combine your gorilla trekking tour with a visit to Akagera National Park for an opportunity to get up close with the

Tracking golden monkeys 

Golden monkeys occupy the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of Virunga Volcanoes (in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda). This makes tracking them an interesting, unmissable gorilla trekking add-on activity. These frisky primates live in troops across Bamboo forests, their distinctive golden-brown color providing perfect camouflage in their natural habitat.

Golden monkey tracking adventures, typically starting in the mornings, reveal the unique foraging, resting, and interaction patterns in troops. Listen for these primates’ alarm calls as experienced Ranger guides read golden monkey behavior like an open book.

Volcano climbing tours

Volcano climbing, typically provided in Volcanoes National Park (on Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (on Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura), adds another dimension to your gorilla trekking safari experience. These adventurous hikes go through community areas, open spaces, dense forests, and other landscapes while exploring the natural beauty and providing sights and sounds of unique wildlife and bird species.

Cultural/Village tours

While on your gorilla trekking safari, you can get a chance to visit a nearby local tribal group/community to discover some of its riveting customs and traditions.

For Uganda Gorilla trekking, you can spend half or a full day at a Batwa cultural community, situated just outside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, to interact with the friendly people, whose ancestors are known for being the ancient occupants of the East-Central African forests.

Originally a hunter-gatherer tribe, the Batwa are the dominant group in these two Protected Areas, and a local Batwa guide will escort you through the forest (if need be), through the village while sharing the fascinating insights and narratives about Batwa culture, including their mind-blowing traditions, customs, and beliefs. See how they make fire by simply rubbing sticks, how they make bamboo cups, learn about traditional medicines and the diseases/illnesses they treat, learn about their food, and finally be entertained in some of their cultural dances and songs.

For Rwanda gorilla trekking tours, the most common community you will visit is the “Gorilla Guardian Village”, where you will be fascinated by a display of customs and traditions from the country’s three ethnic groups- Twa, Tutsi, and Hutu.

When you visit the Gorilla Guardian’s Village, you will be invited into a traditional homestead to witness the day-to-day lifestyle and routine of these authentic families, where ones of contemporary life blend with tradition. Learn about local medicines used to treat common ailments from the traditional healer, have a taste of a traditional Rwandan meal, and learn about Royalty by visiting the King’s Palace replica, and even be crowned a King/Queen for a day.

Depending on your interests, you can also add visiting some of the community projects, such as soccer matches with the children at the primary school, planting trees, and helping out with teaching at a local school.

Most village/cultural tours end at a local craft market, showcasing an array of locally-made items that celebrate the local culture. While at it, be sure to leave with some of the beautiful handicrafts to remember your unforgettable experience with the local community.

Lake Tours (Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera)

After a morning of gorilla trekking, you can spend your afternoon relaxing with one of our Lake excursions. Open your eyes to sensational sunsets, feast on snacks and refreshing drinks while enjoying views of the natural surroundings, and slip into the slow rhythms of the Lakes. Boat cruises are the most common way to explore these Lakes, and as you drift down the Lake shores, you will be amazed by the incredible display of birdlife along the wetlands and shores.

For Rwanda gorilla treks, there’s an option of exploring the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, while for gorilla treks in Bwindi (especially the southern sectors of Nkuringo and Rushaga), as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you can enjoy tours of Lake Mutanda and Bunyonyi.

Cycling Tours

There are several opportunities to capture Instagrammable moments and experience some of the unmissable cycling trails, led by enthusiastic local guides. Cycling Tours are a wonderful add-on to your gorilla trekking adventure as you get the chance to ride your way through the local community to interact with the people and learn about their riveting cultures and traditions.