Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda

Established in 1991, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park features among Uganda’s most exceptional national parks that you should consider visiting during your next vacation in Uganda and Africa at large. The park covers about 33.7 square kilometres, making it the smallest protected area in Uganda. Its establishment was mainly to provide refuge for its dense forests, mountain gorillas, the rare golden monkeys, bird species, and many more.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

 

About 80 rare mountain gorillas call this park their home, and only one group is habituated and ready for visitors to track each day. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies at altitudes of about 2.227m and 4.127m in southwestern Uganda. Besides, the park also features 3 (three) of the eight Virunga Mountain ranges (Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura). These mighty Virunga volcanoes stretch across the Virunga Volcano range of East Central Africa, the Albertine Rift in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Uganda border.
Mgahinga National Park is popular for its thick vegetation, which makes the area one of the most rainfall catchment areas in the country, with several crater lakes on Mount Muhabura and the swamp crater on Mount Gahinga, as well as amazing swamps that lie within the 3 volcanoes. The park is also home to the Batwa pygmies, the famous forest dwellers who are believed to have lived in the jungles for over 500.000 years and left no lasting impact.

Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park can be reached by road or air.

By road, you will take the Kampala-Kabale-Kisoro route, and you will spend about 8 to 10 hours driving. For visitors who will opt for air travel, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi and land at Kisoro airstrip. From here, connect to your lodge / hotel or to the park by road, less than an hour’s drive.
Access from Kigali, Rwanda
Instead of driving for 10 hours from Kampala, some visitors fly to Kigali International Airport and cross into Mgahinga National Park through the Cyanika border, which is less than a 4-hr drive. This route has become very popular ever since the price of Rwanda gorilla permits doubled to USD1500 per person. Mgahinga Gorilla Park now receives many guests, especially for short trips like 1-day gorilla trip from Kigali or 2-day gorilla tour.

 

Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park?

Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge

While on safari to Mgahinga National Park, you will expect to spend a night in one of the most comfortable safari lodge that leaves a memory in you. The best accommodation facilities for you to spend night include mount Gahinga safari lodge in Ntebeko managed by Volcanoes Safaris; lake Mutanda chameleon hill lodge in Mutanda; Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Kisoro travelers rest hotel and river much hotel in Kisoro and many more.

Tourist activities in Mgahinga National Park

  • Mountain gorilla trekking

A visit to Mgahinga National Park rewards visitors with lifetime travel experiences through mountain gorilla tracking. Mountain gorilla adventures in this park attract about 75% of travellers from across the world, mainly to stir their imaginations with these rare apes in their natural habitat. In Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is the second gorilla destination after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you can visit to track gorillas. For interested visitors, you will track the Nyakagezi habituated gorilla group, and your trek starts from the Ntebeko entrance gate.

  • Nature walks/hiking adventures.

Hiking adventures in Mgahinga National Park offer you a chance to hike through the thick forest to the Sabyinyo gorge, which is also a top site for birding safaris, and, interestingly, visitors can catch a glimpse of the Rwenzori Turaco. The hikes through this park last about 4 hours, with the Rugezi as the popular spot for birding. The hikes also allow you to explore the transcending vegetation zones along the Congo borders, where you will gaze at several calderas. Other incredible wildlife species to spot include the rare golden monkeys in the Bamboo jungle.

  • Birding safaris

If you love birding, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is undeniably one of the birders’ paradises that you shouldn’t miss paying a visit to. The most popular birding area is the gorge trail between Sabyinyo and Gahinga. Visitors on birding adventures in Mgahinga National Park are rewarded with spectacular views of the Dusky turtle dove, Cape robin chat, black-headed waxbill, streaky seed-eater, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, and others.

  • Volcano climbing

Mgahinga National Park encompasses all the 3 mighty Virunga Mountains and volcano climbing features among the safari highlights in the park, especially on the summit of Mount Sabyinyo at about 3669 for 8 hours, which is such an amazing adventure for you; you can as well do mountain climbing in mount Gahinga about 3474m and chance to glace swamps full of craters and giant lobelia. Most interestingly, here is that you will glance at the rare golden monkeys as they head to the Bamboo jungle, or you can choose to climb mount Muhabura one of the highest peaks of about 4127m and experience a lot of clear scenic views of the lake Edward, Virunga volcanoes and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as well as the several peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.

  • Cultural encounters

After mountain gorilla adventures at the park, never miss a visit to one of the cultural communities adjacent to the park and interact with the Batwa pygmies. There is the Batwa trail, which takes you through cultural exploration with the Batwa, the famous forest-dwelling hunters and gatherers, to learn more about their ancient lifestyles. Your presence in the cave is such an incredible moment that you will never wish to leave, but rather opt for yet another return to the destination.

  • Golden Monkey Tracking

Another incredible activity you shouldn’t miss in this park is golden monkey tracking. Besides the rare mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park is also famous as one of the areas where silver meets gold due to its striking golden monkeys.
In conclusion, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, offering visitors a variety of natural wonders. The park features a wide range of attractions, from primates and volcanoes to bird life.

book-now