Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the least visited Uganda safari parks and for guests in search for destinations that guarantee authentic wilderness experiences; it is one place to consider a must-visit. Mgahinga is endowed with the world’s most sought for primates- the golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. Established in 1991, Mgahinga National Park was created primarily to protect mountain gorillas in the wild.
Where is this park located?
Mgahinga National Park is one of the few parks in Uganda that is lying along the Albertine rift area. It is located in Southwestern Uganda lying within the Virunga Conservation Area –an area that also covers Virunga National Park of D.R. Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The park covers only 33.7 sq.km and makes it the smallest of the 10 Uganda National Parks.
Regardless of Mgahinga’s size, there are iconic attractions to explore on Uganda safaris to this park. Three Virunga Volcanoes all exist within Mgahinga National Park and include Mount Gahinga (3474m), Mount Muhabura (4127m) and Mt. Sabyinyo (3645m).
Vegetation cover
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shelters unique vegetation and include savanna grassland, woodlands, tropical forest, bamboo, semi-alpine, swamps/marshes, bogs, and more. The amazing bit about it is that all these 3 volcanoes can be hiked while on Uganda tour in Mgahinga Gorilla N. Park.
Wildlife
Mgahinga National Park is a special destination of its own, the home to 39 mammal species and 180 species of birds. In this park, the animals that call it a home include spotted hyenas, mountain gorillas, bushbucks, golden monkeys, elephants, serval cats, vervet monkeys, forest buffaloes, golden cats, black-fronted duikers, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, black-fronted duikers, etc.
Birds
Most of the birds in Mgahinga National Park are Albertine rift endemic species. The park houses over 180 species of birds and include stone chat, cinnamon bracken raven, Rwenzori nightjars, red-faced woodland warblers, striped breasted tit, yellow-throated long claw, Rwenzori doubled-collared sunbird, western green tinker bird, shelley’s dusky crimson wing, white stared robin, rufous chested swallow, stray seed-eaters,
Streaky seed-eaters, handsome francolin, brown crowned tchagra, blue-headed coucal, collared apalis, Doherty’s bush-shrike, speckled mouse bird, olive thrush, Southern red-bishop, bronze sunbird, malachite sunbird, paradise flycatchers, Rwenzori turacos, Regal sunbird, pin-tailed whydah, olive woodpecker, montane nightjars, scarlet-tufted sunbirds, yellow-billed kite, dusky turtle dove, fly eagle, fire finch stonechat, black-headed waxbill, Chubb’s cisticola, crowned crane, crowned hornbill, ibis, cape robin chat, Kivu ground thrush, grauer’s swamp warblers, brown woodland warblers, black kite, yellow vented bulbul, and Archer’s robin chat.
The people & cultures
Mgahinga was previously home to the Batwa pygmies who lived peacefully with mountain gorillas and other wildlife. The Batwa were displaced when the park was gazetted in 1991 and currently, they live adjacent to the park. The other 2 tribal groups worth interacting with on Uganda safari tour in Mgahinga NP are Bakiga and Bafumbira.
Tourism Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla N. Park
Mountain gorilla trekking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shelters over 80 mountain gorillas with Nyakagezi group being the only habituated family to be visited during a gorilla trek. This makes Mgahinga the 2nd gorilla trekking destination for tourists on Uganda safaris to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas. The fact that there is only one habituated family to be visited, it means, only 8 permits are available for booking for Mgahinga and each costs USD 700 per person.
Volcano climbing
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 3 of the 8 Virunga volcanoes and they are all hiked. These include Mt. Muhabura (4127m), Gahinga Volcano and Sabyinyo. A hike through Muhabura takes 8 hours, Gahinga 6 hours and Sabyinyo volcano requires about 8 hours to trek through it.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking is Mgahinga’s most thrilling primate adventure. It is an amazing primate adventure offering guests a lifetime opportunity to encounter the golden monkeys in the wild. This is a 2-4 hours trek primate experience which is inclusive of one hour of magical encounter and photography.
Golden monkeys are unique primates and they are endemic to Albertine rift area. Each golden monkey permit is issued at USD 60 and in case you want to spend more hours with these apes, there is golden monkey habituation experience with each permit issued at USD 100.
Birding tours
Birding expedition in Mgahinga introduces you to the park’s diverse habitats where you will enjoy amazing bird sightings. The park holds more than 180 species of birds and include olive woodpeckers, rufous chested swallow, red-faced woodland warblers, striped breasted tit, white starred robin, Rwenzori batis, blue-headed sunbird, mountain masked apalis, alpine chat, Kivu ground thrush, yellow vented bulbul, and others. Available birding trails in and around Mgahinga National Park include montane forest, gorge and bamboo trails.
Batwa cultural experience
The Batwa pygmies reside adjacent to Mgahinga National Park. The Batwa trail takes you through the different cultures and traditions of the Batwa, entertainment from the dances and music performance, etc.
Guided nature walks
A guided nature walk is allows guests to penetrate deep into the different habitats of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as they explore flora and faunal species. As you navigate through the park, there are many unique natural features you should expect to come across and include rivers, lakes, vegetation and swamps. There are designated trails to be conquered during the guided nature walk and include the border trail along the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo which is 5 hours’ trek.
When you should visit Mgahinga Safari Park in Uganda
Mgahinga N. Park is an all year-round travel destination. However, the best time to get there to enjoy gorilla trekking is during the dry season and there is long and short dry season. The long drier months occur starting from June, July, August to September, and shorter dry months run from December to February. Wet months start around March to May and October to November.
Accommodation facilities
All accommodation options are available in Mgahinga –budget, midrange and luxury and they include the Virunga Hotel, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mutanda Campsite, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, etc.
Reaching to Mgahinga Game Park
There are 2 options of getting to Mgahinga Gorilla Game Park in Uganda; by road or air. If you travel by road, you can set off from Kampala via Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro and this is 8-10 hours’ drive or set off from Kigali city via Katuna or Chanika border to Kisoro. By air, start your flight at the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Kisoro airstrip and you will be picked up for transfer to Mgahinga National Park.