Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the smallest National park in Uganda with an area approximately 33.7sqkm is located in the extreme boarder between Uganda and Rwanda. It boosts of being the only park in Uganda. Where one can trek the Golden monkeys and also the Mountain Gorillas which is as fun as hanging out with the big boys.

The park has more to offer than just Gorillas including about 76 mammal species such as  forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, black fronted duikers, giant forest hogs, golden cats, bush pigs, rodents, bats and also various bird species like handsome spur fowl, dusky crimson-wing, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double-collard sunbird, blue headed sunbird, regal sunbird, red-faced woodland warbler among others.

About the park

A Natural beauty characterized by Savannah grasslands, woodlands, montane forests, tropical forests, marshes or swamps, Afro-montane forests, bamboo forests, bogs and semi-alpine vegetation. The most prominent features in the park are the three inactive volcanoes which are; Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhavura. These mountains form part of the great Virunga ranges of mountains for instance Karisimbi, Bisoke and Nyiragongo. Because of the three mountains much of the park lies on high altitude of between 2,000 to 4,000m.

This park endowed with unique features like Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhavura  situated in the Virunga ranges which cut into Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Meanwhile, the Batwa people also give a great definition of an African Culture therefore, for any Traveler seeking new experiences and Adventure, look no further than adding Mgahinga Gorilla National Park into your bucket list.

The National Park also forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area that includes adjacent parks in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The volcanoes have many Ecosystems and are biologically diverse with their peaks giving a striking back drop to this gorgeous scenery. Out of the mountain gorilla population that are found in the Virunga Massif, about 2 gorilla families that are known to be living in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and they include; Nyakagyezi and Hirwa with a total of over 480 Individuals.

Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers various Tourist Activities which are all done on foot simply because the Park is mainly Mountainous and they include;

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking  starts early morning at Ntebeko gate with a briefing about your expectations while tracking the Gorillas. The Park has about 80 Mountain Gorillas and they stay in high altitudes, among these gorillas, only the Nyakagyezi gorilla group is open to tourism. This group is one of the two largest habituated mountain gorilla groups in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and it takes a shorter time locating the Nyakagyezi group than some families in Bwindi.

Gorilla Habituation

Unlike Gorilla Trekking which allows 1 hour, Gorilla Habituation offers a once in a Lifetime Experience since you get to spend 4 hours in the presence of these Gentle Giants as you learn about their ways of life and also engage with them so that they can get used to human presence.

Golden Monkey Tracking

In Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park  the only place one can track the Golden Monkeys. Endangered and endemic to the Albertine rift valley. The park has about 65 Habituated Golden monkeys and this activity requires one to be averagely fit to traverse this mountainous area because unlike gorillas which can stay in the same area for a while, golden monkeys tend to move a lot.

Birding

The park offers excellent bird viewing opportunities within different trails. Among the bird species in the park such as Rwenzori Batis, Black-headed Waxbill, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Cape Robin-chat, Bronze, Regal and Blue-headed Sunbirds, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Rwenzori turaco, Banded Prinia, Red-faced woodland warbler and Chubb’s cisticola.

Batwa Community Encounter

The Batwa or African pygmies lived and thrived in these forests and mountains as hunter gatherers. Before these areas were established as National Parks, they were later displaced but some of them still live around the park to participate in the tourism industry as porters and guides. An Encounter with these Indigenous people will take you through their history and transition over time.

Mountain Climbing

This Adventurous activity  done on the Virunga Mountain ranges which has 3 Inactive volcanoes; Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhavura. The park ranges from 2,227 to 4,127m above sea level which allows for Mountain Climbing to take place.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Mg is during the long dry season of June to August and also January to February.

How to Get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park  reached by Road and also by Air.

By Road, the park accessed through Kampala – Kabale road which is about 510 km from Kampala.

By Air, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accessed by booking a private chartered or scheduled flight from Entebbe or Kajansi airfield to Kisoro Airstrip.

Mgahinga Entry Gates

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 1 Entry gate and accessed from all directions;

Ntebeko gate

Accommodations in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The accommodations  well furnished with Comfortable rooms and views to meet Visitors’ interests;

Luxury Accommodations

Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge

Mount Gahinga Lodge

Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge