Exploring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga is a great alternative to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, especially for visitors who want to add volcano hiking to their gorilla safari experience.

The Wonders of Mgahinga National Park; Trekking Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, & Towering Volcanos.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a stunning National Park protecting Uganda's side of the Virunga Mountains, towering up to 4,507m (14,787 ft) in southwestern Uganda, along the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 33.7 square kilometer is a special habitat for mountain gorillas, the top attraction, and an incredible array of wildlife and natural features.

One of the main attractions of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is its population of endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys that occupy the forested woods of the Virunga Volcanoes. Every morning, a small group of tourists is escorted into the forested park to find a troop of habituated gorillas or golden monkeys and spend one electric hour observing them.

Mgahinga is a great alternative to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, especially for visitors who want to add volcano hiking to their gorilla safari experience.

The park shares habitat with Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park and DRC's Virunga National Park, with animals roaming freely between the three parks. After securing a trekking permit, visitors can participate in guided gorilla trekking tours to observe these great primates up close in their natural habitat.

Mgahinga Wildlife

In addition to the endangered mountain gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to various mammal species. However, spotting shy forest animals in its dark woods can be challenging. Visitors can track the rare golden monkeys that only live in this Albertine Rift region and no where else in the world.

Other mammals in Mgahinga include black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, forest buffalo, elephants, bushbucks, and duikers. Other more secretive resident mammals include golden cats, side-striped jackals, giant forest hogs, and bushpigs.

If you must visit Mgahinga, it must be to watch the Nyakagazi gorilla group. This incredible troop has four silverback siblings, a rare occurrence for the gorillas' typical patriarchal family lifestyle.

8-Day Trekking Endangered Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

The 8-day forest adventure takes you trekking the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Uganda on the misty Virunga Mountains.

$4,097 Per Person | Details

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Birds of Mgahinga

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is quite engaging to bird watchers, with more than 175 bird species recorded in the park and several local forest bird species – 12 of which are restricted to the Albertine Rift.

The small park offers guided mountain hikes for birders to tick off some Afro-alpine endemics, like the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. If you visit Mgahinha from November to April, you'll be treated to a colorful array of migratory birds.

Landscape

The landscape of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is incredibly varied, with everything from lush rainforest to bamboo forests to high-altitude moorland. Visitors can hike through these incredible habitats to explore the park's unique flora and fauna.

One popular hiking trail in the park is the Mount Sabyinyo trail, a one-day hike up to the 3,669 m (12,037 ft) triple-summit for incredible views of the surrounding landscape across the Rift Valley into Rwanda and DRC. At the tip of the mountain, hikers stand at the tri-border separating the three countries.

Mount Gahinga, 3,474 m (11,398 ft), towering above the Batwa Village at the base of the volcanos outside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This ancient hunter-gatherer tribe used to live in the mountain forests with gorillas and other animals. A cultural visit to their humble village si quite rendering, watching them dance, tell stories and learning their ways of life. Something you must do on your Uganda safari visit to Mgahinga.

The Batwa Forest Tribe

Another popular activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that excites visitors is encountering the native pygmy tribe that occupied the forest before it became a national park. The park was home to the ancient Batwa forest tribe, who now live on the outskirts.

This hunter-gatherer community lived alongside the forest creatures in the wooded mountains for centuries before the world discovered the giant apes and started hunting them down. They tell stories of gorillas as superior forest beings with whom they occasionally crossed paths without aggression between them.

Usually, after gorilla trekking or mountain hiking in the park, local guides lead visitors on translated cultural tours to meet the Batwa people and learn about their cultures and traditions, including their traditional hunting and gathering techniques, music, dance, and crafts.

Mount Gahinga Lodge runs a great program with the tribe, teaching them new ways of living and adopting modern cultures to earn a living. The lodge, located in a pocket forest just outside the park, is the only decent accommodation with great access to the park. Visit the Gahinga Batwa Village and share the culture of the oldest inhabitants of the Central Africa rain forest.

As you get on the trail from the visitor's center, the 3-peak Mount Sabinyo is seen from afar.

The Virunga Volcano Mountains

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also part of the wider Virunga Conservation Area, which spans three countries and includes several other protected areas, such as Virunga National Park in DRC and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

The Virunga Conservation Area's main feature is the Virunga Volcanos, a chain of volcanoes that stretches across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The park is known for its skyline, characterized by three extinct volcanic cones easily visible miles away, particularly on clear days. These volcanoes, namely Mount Muhavura or Muhabura (4,127 m), Mount Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mount Sabyinyo (3,645 m), offer exciting and unique hiking experiences.

Mount Gahinga Gorilla Lodge - the best accommodation for exploring Mgahinga. Its beautiful hand-built bandas reflect the magic of the aesthetic traditions of the region's tribes. Each Banda has an ensuite luxury shower room, fireplace, and private porch overlooking the towering volcanoes. This is the best place to stay for Mgahinga experiences.

Best time to visit

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is accessible for gorilla trekking all year round, but the optimal periods are during the dry seasons, from June to August and December to January. During these seasons, the trails are less challenging to navigate, and spending an hour with the gorillas is more enjoyable without sudden downpours.

The high Season for Uganda Safaris is June to September. During this time, tracking permits and decent accommodation can be challenging to book at short notice.

March to May and October to November are the low-season months; some lodges discount rooms. It's the best time to visit Mgahinga for low-budget travelers.

The best weather for Mgahinga is from June to August and December to January. During that time there is less rain.

The worst weather is from March to May and September to November, when heavy rains wash the area daily, and forest trails become muddy and slippery.

Where to stay

Compared to other National Parks in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park does not have accommodation options but one outstanding lodge just outside the park entrance; Mount Gahinga Lodge.

Kisoro town, 14 km away from the park, has a good selection of affordable hotels if you are not bothered with staying away from the park.

How to get there

To reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you must take a rough ascent road 14 km (9 mi) away from the small town of Kisoro. We advise using a 4WD vehicle on this road, especially during the Wet seasons.

The park is approximately 510 km (317 mi) from Kampala, about 9-10 hours of driving. You can also access the park by road from Queen Elizabeth National Park, a 7-hour drive covering 310 km (193 mi). From Lake Mburo National Park, Mgahinga is about a 5 to 7 hours drive covering 316 km (196 mi).

Your point of entry into Uganda is Entebbe International Airport (EBB), located about 46km (29 mi) from the capital, Kampala. There are daily domestic flights between Entebbe and Kisoro Airport (14 km from the park).

Alternatively, you can access Mgahinga through Kigali, Rwanda's capital. However, you may need to pay for visas for both Uganda and Rwanda, totaling USD 100. The driving distance is about 3 hours on a smoothly surfaced road from Kigali to the border and another hour to Mgahinga.

A team of UWA rangers accompanies each hike, and all three volcanoes can be climbed in a single day, making them a great addition to the gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga. Although Mount Muhavura, with its crater lake, is the tallest of the three, Mount Sabyinyo is the most challenging and famous. Tourists who reach the third peak of Mount Sabyinyo can comfortably cross borders and stand in the three countries without requiring a visa.

Mgahinga Park Fees

The park fees are collected by Uganda Wildlife Authority, which you can pay at their city headquarters. If traveling with a tour company, they will usually include all the fees on your quotation and deal with the logistics.

Park entrance - $40 ($30 for residents)
Gorilla Tracking Permit - $700 ($600 for residents)
Nature Walk - $30 ($15 for residents)
Volcano Climbing - $80 ($70 for residents)
Golden Monkey Tracking Permit - $60 ($50 for residents)
Golden Monkey Habituation Experience - $100 ($80 for residents)
Batwa Trail - $80 ($70 for residents)
Mgahinga Platform Viewing Experience - $10
Guided Short Nature Walks for Children - $5
Birding $30 ($25 for residents)
Mt Muhanbura Bandas - $20

Conclusion

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a relatively small park compared to some of Uganda's other national parks, but it is packed with incredibly natural and cultural attractions. Whether you're interested in gorilla trekking, bird watching, hiking, or cultural tourism, there is something for everyone in this beautiful and unique park.

When planning a visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, it is important to book your gorilla trekking permits well in advance, as they are limited and in high demand. Additionally, visitors should be prepared for the high altitude and variable weather conditions. They should bring appropriate clothing and gear for hiking and outdoor activities.

Overall, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Uganda. With its incredible wildlife, stunning natural features, and rich cultural heritage, it is a truly unique and unforgettable experience that should not be missed.