Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is another mountain gorilla destination in Uganda and one of 4 mountain gorilla destinations in the world, the park is the smallest park in Uganda covering an area of 33.7 square kilometers. Mgahinga Gorilla national park is located in the Southwestern tip of Uganda in Kisoro district adjoining Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park and Democratic Republic of Congo which are all found in the Virunga Conservation Area.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park takes its name from “Gahinga” – a local word for piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmlands, the park lies on an altitude between 2227 m – 4127 m above the sea level and it stretches around 3 volcanoes of the Virunga volcanoes that are

• Muhabura is the highest at 4,127m – the name is translated ‘guide’ in the local language, they used it as a reference to give direction, this is because it towers above the surrounding area. Muhabura Volcano has a crater lake on its summit of 36 meters wide and from its top it boasts panoramic views of Uganda and Rwanda.
• Gahinga at 3,474m is the smallest of the Virunga Volcanoes named from “pile of rock” that are cleared from farmlands, the volcano has a swamp-filled crater on top measuring about 180 meters wide.
• Sabyinyo at 3,669 meters is named from “Old man’s teeth” because of the deep gorges and ravines that dissect it, the highest point of the volcano is where you find the intersection between Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Hiking to the peak of Mount Sabyinyo takes one day and hikers are rewarded with magnificent views and an opportunity to stand in Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo at one point.

 Mgahinga Gorilla national park has 6 vegetation types including Afromontane, tree heathers, montane forest, bamboo, montane woodland, and former farmland.

Gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Mountain gorillas are the main attraction in Mgahinga Gorilla national park with only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla group under the leadership of silverback Bugingo who is about 50 years old. The rest of the gorillas in the group are not yet habituated for tourism.

Wildlife in Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a home to 76 mammal species, however many of them are hard to see because of the thick vegetation, some of the mammals include bush pigs, South African porcupines, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, forest elephants and golden cats among others. There are also golden monkeys.

Birds of Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a birder’s paradise with some of the spectacular Albertine rift endemics including varied montane habitats, bird species found in the park 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, Greater Double collard Sunbirds among others.

Safaris and Activities to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking is the main safari activity in Mgahinga Gorilla national park, this remarkable Uganda safari activity offers tourists an opportunity to come face to face with Mountain gorillas in the natural habitat. This activity starts as early as 08:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters where guides take you through the rules and regulations to follow, the starting point is at Ntebeko gate. After the briefing you will trek into the jungle looking for Nyakagezi family, the trek takes approximately 4-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent the previous night.

Once you locate the gorillas, you are allowed to stay in their presence of one hour while watching the gorillas and take pictures as long as your flashlight is off. Trekkers should carry long sleeved shorts, trousers, garden cloves, sun hat, rain pocho and insect repellant and comfortable sturdy boots.

Golden Monkey tracking Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Golden Monkey tracking is another remarkable primate safari activity done in Mgahinga Gorilla national park which is the only place in Uganda where you can track golden monkeys, there is an estimated 3,000 – 4,000 golden monkey individuals in the Virunga area with 40-65 habituated individuals found in the Mgahinga Gorilla national park.

Golden monkey tracking starts with briefing at the park’s headquarters conducted by ranger guides then hike into the jungle looking for the golden monkeys which tend to move a lot, once you find them you will enjoy watching them play on bamboo trees and as they pick bamboo shoots.

Bird watching Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park offers excellent bird viewing opportunities, the park has different trails on which bird watching is done including the gorge trail lieing between Gahinga and Sabinyo volcanoes taking approximately 3 hours. Some of the birds to look out include Brown-crowned Tchagra, Rwenzori Batis, Black-headed Waxbill, Cape Robin-chat, and Bronze, Regal and Blue-headed Sunbirds.

Other trails in Mgahinga include the Bamboo trail which starts from 2500 meters above the sea level where you will have high chances of sighting the Rwenzori turaco, Banded Prinia, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Red-faced woodland warbler and Chubb’s cisticola among others.

Nature and Hiking walks

Nature and hiking walks in Mgahinga Gorilla national park offer an opportunity to hike up Gisozi hills on which you will be rewarded with magnificent views of Kisoro and Bunagana town,  Lake Mutanda and calderas while on top.

A nature walk along the Congo border transcends in different vegetation zone.

Mountain and Volcano climbing

Mgahiga Gorilla national park comprises of 3 conical peaks out of the 8 virunga volcanoes including Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Sabinyo and Mt. Gahinga which offer thrilling mount climbing experience.

Mt. Muhavura – this is the highest of the 3 volcanoes a 4,127 meters, hiking this volcanoes is a round trip of 12 kilometers which takes you around 8 hours to hike. While on top of the volcano, you will enjoy views of the Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi impenetrable forest and magnificent peaks of Mt. Rwenzori. The summit of the volcano has a small crystal lake.

Mt. Sabinyo –  at 3,669 meters, hiking this volcano is around trip of 14 kilometers and takes approximately 8 hours to hike and follows a steep ridge to the peak, the volcanoes lies on the border of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo and while on the top of the summit, you have an opportunity to stand in 3 countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo while at one point.

Mt. Gahinga at 3,473 meters – hiking this volcano takes you to the swamp- filled crater of about 180 meters wide and giant lobelia.

Exploring the Caves

On the steps of the volcanoes, there are caves which you can visit and explore during the hiking adventure and the most famous of them is Garama Cave found near the park’s headquarters, the cave was a home to the Batwa and acted as a fortress in times of war protecting them and their loot form their enemies.

Cultural experiences: Batwa trail

The Batwa people are the original settlers of the Mgahinga forests and they depended on the forest for food, medicine and shelter, the Batwa trail takes you back in time when the Batwa people lived in the forest and gives you an insight into their lifestyle through demonstration of hunting skills, gathering of honey, pick various plants for medicine purposes, take local meals among others.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be accessed by road from Kampala via Kabale to Kisoro on a drive of approximately 8-9 hours.

There are also chartered flights from Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip.

Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National park

Accommodation in the park include

• Mgahinga Gorilla Lodges and Camps
• Mount Gahinga Rest Camp
• Community Campground

In Kisoro

• Kisoro Traveler’s Rest
• Sky Blue
• Mount Gahinga Rest Camp
• Virunga Hotel
• Mgahinga Safari Lodge
• Rugigana Campsite
• Mubano Hotel
• Mucha Hotel
• Muhabura Motel
• Montana Guest House
• 3 Way Gorilla Resort
• Landmark Guest House
• Kisoro Tourist Hotel
• Kisoro Travelers Lodge