Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park encompasses tropical rainforests, Volcano peaks, bamboo forests, and others that make trips to south-western Uganda complete and if you ever desire to trek mountain gorillas in a secluded safari destination, then this is the best place to be.
Location of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south-westernmost and smallest National Park of Uganda. This stunning Park sits high in the clouds of Virunga Mountains ranging from 7306 to 13540 feet. This small but phenomenal set of Volcanoes is part of the vast Virunga Conservation Area shared by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was founded in 1991, having existed for 61 years as a Game Sanctuary and covers approximately 8401 acres. This makes it the tinniest and least visited Park in Uganda. The Park’s name was derived from one of the Volcanoes-Gahinga, literally translated as “pile of small volcanic stones” that were cleared from cultivated farmlands at the base of the Virunga Mountains.
Remarkable things to see within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Stunning landscape
The stunning landscape of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is dominated by the Virunga Volcanoes rising 7306 to 13540 feet above sea level. The Garama cave, small valleys, montane-woodland, montane forest, and Rivers also make up this beautiful Park’s landscape.
Animals
Notwithstanding its small size, Mgahinga National Park shelters about 76 mammal species, as the mountain gorillas are the main attraction. Travelers should however expect to see forest buffaloes, golden monkeys, duikers, giant forest hogs, African golden cats, bushbucks, Defassa waterbucks, leopards, tree hyraxes, bush pigs, duikers, and many others.
Bird species
During your visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, just fall in love with its plethora of bird species, totaling 180 bird species that encompass 14 Albertine Rift endemics as well as 39 Afro-tropical highland endemics.
Must-see birds are Grey-capped warblers, strange weavers, Black-headed waxbills, handsome spurfowl, streaky seed-eaters, Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbirds, blue-headed sunbirds, Yellow-billed Kites, Rwenzori batis, Archer’s ground robin, Montane nightjar, pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbirds, yellow-vented Firefinch, grey-capped warbler, Paradise flycatcher, Pin-tailed whydah, mountain masked apalis, Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori batis, Paradise flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, to mention but a few.
Thrilling activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The guided gorilla treks within Mgahinga National Park are done in the same way as the ones in Bwindi, although there is only one habituated gorilla group named Nyakagezi. This family is visited by 8 visitors per day and treks start by 8:00 am after briefing.
Trekking normally lasts 1-4 hours but contact (observation and photography) lasts only one hour while maintaining a distance of 7 meters. A total of 8 permits are issued every day at $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and Shs.250,000 for East African residents.
Golden monkey tracking and habituation experience
The endangered Golden monkeys are Old World Monkeys that occupy the Bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains and are known for their sparkling golden-orange fur on their bodies, tails, and cheeks as well as black tail-ends, limbs, and crowns. Because they occupy lower areas of the Virunga Volcanoes, trekking them is less strenuous and takes less time compared to gorilla treks.
These monkeys can be trekked from Ntebeko Visitor Center and permits cost about $90 per person for the foreign non-resident and foreign resident visitors as well as Shs. 60,000 for the East African visitors. Like gorilla treks, the search for these primates begins at 8:00 am after briefing.
Volcano climbing
The three Virunga Volcanoes (Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura) all sit at the edge of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and can be explored during a one-day climb that lasts 7-10 hours for round trips. While climbing these mountains, visitors will encounter different bird species, animals, and plant species not found in other places.
Batwa village/community walks
The best way to learn about the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the Batwa people is by undertaking village/community walks to be introduced to their ancient ways when the forest was still their home. Take part in the traditional preparation of local dishes, making bamboo cups, making arts and crafts, and visiting the traditional medicine man, climaxed by a visit to Garama Cave for traditional performances.
Birding tours
Travelers interested in seeing Albertine Rift endemics and numerous Afro-montane highland endemics can book birding tours in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where the likes of Grey-capped warblers, strange weavers, Black-headed waxbill, Dusky crimson-wing, Rwenzori Turacos, blue-headed sunbirds, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Archer’s ground robin, Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori batis, to mention but a few.
Guided forest walks
There are several well-maintained walking trails through the beautiful landscape of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that introduce visitors to the birds, animals, Valleys, wetlands, and tree species. Try out the guided walk to the Congo border, the Golden Monkey track as well as the hike through Sabyinyo Gorge to experience the true beauty of Uganda’s smallest National Park.
Accommodation options for visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The luxurious Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge is the main accommodation option for visitors to Uganda’s smallest National Park. However, travelers can also stay at Travelers Rest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort Lake Mutanda Resort, or Mucha Hotel.
When is the best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Given the location of Uganda, travelers should expect a significantly varying climate all year round and because of this, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be explored all year round but the wet months – March to May as well as October to November come with heavy downpours thus expect to be soaked any time of the day in addition to hiking trails being muddy and slippery. This is the reason why the dry season-June to September and December to February is preferred for most Mgahinga activities.
Reaching the incredible Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Situated in the south-west of Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is about 8.6 miles on a Murram road from Kisoro Town and can be reached easily by:
By Air
There are scheduled and chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip takes about one and a half hours to get to Kisoro Airstrip and from here travellers proceed to different places by road.
By Road
This stunningly small national park is over 335 miles and an 8-10 hours’ drive from the capital (Kampala) with the most popular route being Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro highway on tarmac followed by 14 kilometers of Murram road from Kisoro town to Ntebeko Visitor Center.
