Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest national park in Uganda covering an area of 33.7 square kilometers, the park is located in the corner of the South western Uganda in Kisoro district about 12.5 kilometers south of Kisoro Town.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is part of the Virunga conservation comprising of Volcanoes national park found in Rwanda and Virunga national park in DRC, the park forms the north eastern part of the Virunga Volcano ranges which extend into the DR Congo and Rwanda and it comprises of 3 volcanoes that is Mount Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabinyo. Mgahinga gorilla national park protects the six types of vegetation that is Afro-montane, tree heathers, montane forest, bamboo, montane woodland, and former farmland.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is the second home to mountain gorillas in Uganda with only one habituated mountain gorilla group called Nyakagezi gorilla group under the leadership of silverback Bugingo.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to 76 mammal species, however they are hard to see because of the thick. These animals include bush pigs, South African porcupines, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, forest elephants, and golden cats among others.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a great bird habitat hosting about 180 bird species including Albertine Rift endemics, these birds include Kivu Ground Thrush, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, White Starred Robin, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin Chat, Olive Pigeon, and Black headed waxbill, Western Green Tinker bird, Cape Robin. More species include; White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland Warbler, Striped breasted Tit, Malachite, Scarlet-tufted and Greater Double collard Sunbirds among others.

SAFARI ACTIVITIES TO DO IN MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK

GORILLA TREKKING

Gorilla trekking is an exciting safari activity and the highlight safari experience in the Mgahinga gorilla national park offering a close up with mountain gorillas man’s closet relative, mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park in on the forested high altitudes and there are only one habituated gorilla family which is open for this thrilling safari experience.

Gorilla trekking starts as early as 08:00 am after briefing at the park’s headquarters, you are then grouped into groups of 8 people and then hike into the jungle looking for the gorillas led by experienced ranger guides. This activity lasts for about 2-6 hours depending on where mountain gorillas had spent their previous night, the movement of mountain gorillas is generally affected by the distribution of plants species which they feed on as food such as the bamboo shoots. After finding the mountain gorillas, you are allowed to stay in the presence of mountain gorilla for one hour offering you enough time to study and observe these gentle giants and take beautiful pictures.

GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING

Golden monkey tracking is another exciting primate activity to do in Mgahinga gorilla national park, golden monkeys are classified as endemic species only found in the Virunga volcano range and two other forests in Central Africa. These beautiful creatures get their name from the color of their fur which is a good feature to marvel about.

Golden monkey tracking is offered into sessions that is morning starting at 08:00 am and afternoon session starting at 02:00 pm with each sessions lasting for about 2- 4 hours, in each session visitors are given a duration of 1 hour of being in presence of the golden monkeys and get a close look of the beautiful primates while playing on bamboo branches and as they pick fruits.

BATWA TRAIL EXPERIENCE

The batwa trail experience takes you on a memorable visit to the Batwa pygmy people the original inhabitants of the forests currently known as Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. The Batwa are hunter-gatherers and they lived in the forests for over 500,000 years until they were forcefully evicted when the forested were gazetted as national park. The Batwa depended on the forest generally carrying out hunting wild animals, gathering fruits and collecting various medicinal plants for treatment against various illnesses.

The Batwa trail experience was introduced as a way of preserving the traditions and culture of the Batwa people and during this experience you are entertained by batwa dances and drama, show case the hunting techniques, and demonstrate the use local herbs collected from various medicinal plants to cure illness among others. You will also have an opportunity to visit the Garama cave of 340 meters in length and 14 meters’ depth, this cave is very important to the Batwa as it used to be a place where they hide for safety during their long running conflicts with the Bantu people for almost 1000 years.

MOUNTAIN/VOLCANIC CLIMBING 

Mountain climbing is a one of the most adventurous activities to do in Mgahinga gorilla national park, the park lies in the Virunga volcanoes chain and it consists of 3 Virunga ranges including Mount Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo and Mountain Gahinga. The names of these 3 volcanoes have a local meaning attached them, the name Gahinga means pile of stones which was cultivated in the farming fields, Muhavura means a guide and Sabyinyo means old man’s teeth.

Among the volcanoes, Mountain Muhavura is the highest mountain standing at the altitude of 4,127 meters.

Mountain climbing in Mgahinga gorilla national park is done on these three volcanoes and each volcano offers a different mountain climbing experience.

• Climbing mountain Muhabura

Mountain Muhabura is the tallest volcano standing at the altitude of 4,127 meters, climbing this volcano is a hike of 12 kilometers taking about 8 hours to and from the peak. From the top of this volcano you are treated to clear views of Lake Edward, Bwindi impenetrable national park and peaks of Rwenzori Mountains.

• Climbing mountain Sabyinyo

Mountain Sabyinyo stands at 3,669 meter taking about 8 hours hike and 14 kilometers walk to reach to the peak and hike, climbing this volcano takes you through steep ridges and climbing series of ladders and from the top of this volcano you get to stand in three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo at the same time.

• Climbing mountain Gahinga

Mountain Gahinga stands at 3,474 meters taking about 6 hours of round trip, climbing on this volcano is a walk through bamboo forests as you head for the peak. On the peak there is a small crater lake with giant lobelia, this lake has now turned into a swamp overtime. 

HOW TO GET TO MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK

Mgahinga gorilla national park can be reached from Kampala the capital of Uganda by road air means of transport

BY ROAD

Mgahinga gorilla national park is situated in the South Western Uganda which is approximately 510 kilometers with a drive of about 10 hours, both public and private means of transport can be used to get to the park.

BY AIR

Domestic flights to Mgahinga gorilla national park can be arranged from Entebbe International airport to Kisoro airstrips, these flights are offered strictly in the morning depending on the prevailing weather conditions. They take off at exactly 07:00 am and return at exactly 08.10 hours.

WHERE TO STAY IN MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK

Mgahinga gorilla national park has a number of accommodation facilities used by tourists on a Uganda safari to this amazing park , these facilities are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget accommodations.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS

• Gahinga Lodge
• Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Lake Mutanda Safari Resort

MIDRANGE ACCOMMODATIONS

• Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
• Ichumbi Gorilla lodge

BUDGET ACCOMMODATIONS

• Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp
• Mucha Hotel Kisoro
• Travelers rest hotel Kisoro