A Guided Safari Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

A safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park entirely revolves around mountain gorilla trekking, volcano hiking and golden monkey trekking adventure. Find a complete safari guide to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park your favorite primate trekking destination in Uganda.

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest park in Uganda and it is located in south western Uganda in Kisoro district. The park was gazetted in 1991 and covers an area of 33.7sq.km. The park is famously known for mountain gorillas. The park experiences two rainy season that is (February to May) and (September to December).

Tourism Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The Mgahinga gorilla national park is blessed with variety of attractions which include:

The Virunga Volcanoes

The park lies on the northern slopes of three of the Virunga volcanoes that is Mt Sabyinyo, Mt Muhavura and Mt Gahinga. All these mountains can be climbed and gives the tourists the chance to have beautiful scenic views which gives a great experience to the visitors.

Mountain Gorillas

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to more than half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas. The park has one habituated group (Nyakagezi) and it consists 11 members that is 2 silverbacks, 4 juveniles, 2 infants 3adult females. Tourists interested in gorilla tracking would be able to see this group and this is mostly done in the Nkuringo however they are mobile since sometimes they cross to DRC Congo and Rwanda. Thus it is better to get information from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Golden monkeys

The park is the habitant for the endangered golden monkeys and it is the only place where you can find such monkeys. Golden monkeys have bright orange gold body and are found in the bamboo zone of the Virunga volcanoes. Tourists can do golden monkey tracking and these are existing to watch.

Bird species

Mgahinga gorilla national park has over 180 bird species such as the Blue headed weaver, beautiful Ruwenzori Turaco, Regal sun bird, crowned hornbill among others. A tourists interested in birding can do it along Sabyinyo gorge trail, the buffalo wall trail, bamboo trail among others.

Unique floral and sub-species

Mgahinga gorilla national park has 79 mammal species. Besides the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, the park has other wildlife such as elephant, bush pig, Buffalos, leopard among others though they are very difficult to see of the vegetation

Batwa trail and Musanze cave

The cave is located in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and it is 342 meters long and 14 meters. It is one of the oldest caves in the Albertine Rift Valley and this cave was an inhabitant of the Batwa people. The Batwa used the cave as a council chamber to meet after attacking their neighbors known as the Bafumbira. The traveller is guided by the Batwa who gives insights about the Batwa trails.

Exciting tourist activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla trekking

It is one of the activity done in the park and is done on foot because the park is mountainous. The tourist is advised to inquire with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and also get a permit and know the exact date when to track the gorillas since they are mobile. The tracking starts from Ntebeko in the morning after the briefing about rules and regulation of the park.

As you track stories are told by the rangers about the Nyakagezi family so that tourists get an insight on their behavior. In addition to that, travellers are also able to see other primates, plants, and bird species. Gorilla trekking depends on the location of the gorillas because they move from place to place in search for food and once the gorillas are found one would be able allowed to spend one hour with them however tourist are not allowed to fed them.

Golden monkey trekking

In Uganda, one can only find the golden monkeys in Mgahinga national park. These can be found in bamboo zone of the Virunga volcanoes. Golden monkey permits are available at 60US$ for a foreign nonresident, 50US$ for foreign residence and 40,000 for East African member States.

Similar to the gorillas, golden monkeys move from place to place to look for food and if they are found the tourists are allowed to spend one hour with the monkeys and know how they behave.

Birding

A traveller can do birding along the northern edge where birds can be on the buffalo wall. Other spots for birding in Mgahinga National Park are bamboo trail and satiny gorge trail. Different bird species such as Olive pigeon, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin, and Brown Woodland can be found in the park and this can provide a great experience to the bird watchers.

Batwa pygmy cultural experience

Tourists interested in culture adventure can interact with the Batwa in the park in order to know the history of the Batwa, their culture and ways of living for example these people live in grass hated houses. Batwa are the people who lived in Mgahinga National Park before it was gazetted in 1991 however the Batwa communities are around the park. On visiting to the communities, the elderly would tell you different stories in their local languages which would be translated by the tour guides in

English. Tourists will have a great experience and acquire knowledge about the Batwa people.

Hiking

Mgahinga is one of the places where one can do hiking adventure since it has 3 volcanoes. When one reaches at the top of Gahinga one finds crater filled with swamp and giant lobelia. A traveller would put on attire that is suitable for hiking and boots

The Best time to visit Mgahinga National Park

The best time to visit the Mgahinga gorilla national park is during the dry season because during the rainy season the place best muddy and slippery. The dry season starts in June to august

Accommodation

Mgahinga gorilla national park has accommodation with in and outside the park which cater for luxuries, mid-range and budget tourists. Luxury accommodation facilities include mount Gahinga lodge which is near the park entrance, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge.

Mid-range lodges include Mucha Hotel Kisoro, traveler’s rest hotel in Kisoro; Camp sites for those who love camping such as Amajambere Iwacu community camp, Mgahinga Rest Camp. Budget accommodation includes Ntebeko River camp, Golden Monkey Guesthouse, Mutanda Eco-Community Centre, and others.

Getting there

In order to access the park one can use road or air transport. By air one can use the charter flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kisoro airstrip. Using road transport one can use routes to the park from Kampala via Mbarara- Kisoro or Kigali via Chanika to Kisoro and access Mgahinga.