Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is part of the larger Virunga conservation region, which includes the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kisoro, in Uganda’s southwestern corner, is where the park is located. Mgahinga was elevated from a wildlife reserve to a full national park in 1991, mostly to safeguard mountain gorillas who were frequently in confrontation with humans both inside and outside the park.
Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest national park, with an area of 34 square kilometers. The park’s name comes from the Kinyarwanda term “Gahinga,” which refers to the little lava stones found in gardens at the foot of the mountain. Mgahinga is a small park, but its natural beauty is what truly sets it apart. Savannah grasslands, woods, tropical forests, montane forests, marshes/swamps, bamboo forests, Afro-montane forests, bogs, and semi-alpine vegetation all exist within the park.
The park’s most noteworthy features are three inactive volcanoes:
Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhabura. These mountains are part of the larger Viringa range, which includes Karisimbi, Bisoke, and Nyiragongo, among others. Because of the three mountains, much of the park is at high altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 metres.The mountains, combined with the dense forest cover, impact climatic conditions in the park, providing regular rains and a refreshing breeze.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an important water catchment area. Several streams run from the Crater, Lakes, and Swamps on the mountain’s summit to the rivers and lakes below. Rivers like as Ntebeko, Nyabirerema, and Kabiranyuma flow down the mountain slopes, providing water to the indigenous communities that live near the park.
The main attractions in the park are the mountain gorillas:
The Park’s main attraction is the mountain gorillas, but it also has endangered golden monkeys, Vervet monkeys, spotted hyenas, Serval cats, Red tailed monkeys, Patas monkeys, Mangabeys, Leopards, Golden cats, Forest hogs, Elephants, Bushbucks, Bushbabies, Buffaloes, Blue monkeys, Baboons, African porcupines, and Black and white Colobus monkeys. The park’s reptiles include snakes, geckos, and chameleons, to name a few.
How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga National Park is accessible by car or air from Kampala or Entebbe. The journey from Kampala is approximately 509 kilometers along well-paved asphalt roads. Driving to the park from Kampala via the Mbarara-Masaka-Kampala highway takes approximately 9 hours. Individual travelers can take the daily bus from Kampala to Kisoro town.
A safari through Mgahinga National ParkSpecial rentals and motorcycles are available from Kisoro town to transport passengers to the park gate. The route from Kibale town to Mgahinga National Park is made of Murram, which is dusty and uneven. To successfully handle this stretch of road, one will require a competent 4X4 vehicle.
While the distance via road from Kampala appears long, the drive is worthwhile because of the gorgeous surroundings. While the road trip from Kampala appears to be long, it is worthwhile due to the gorgeous scenery and opportunity to make small stops to visit secret sites, as well as the equator crossing. Mgahinga National Park is also accessible by a shorter road from Kigali International Airport via the Katuna or Cyanika border crossings with Uganda. This approach takes less than four hours and comes highly recommended. Tourist attractions in Mgahinga National Park since Rwanda’s government raised the price of gorilla permits to $1500, Mgahinga has seen a surge in Rwandan tourists who are more comfortable paying the $600 levied in Uganda.
Things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
One of the benefits of visiting Mgahinga National Park is that the crowds are smaller.
The entire park can be explored in peace and quiet. Some activities do not require advance booking. Many activities do not require advance reservations.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors, including gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, mountain climbing, ecological walks, cultural visits, and bird viewing, among others. The best place to start is with our three-day gorilla tour in Mgahinga package. The majority of these activities begin at the visitor center in Ntebeko. The activities include-
Gorilla tracking:
Uganda is fortunate to have two national parks, Bwindi and Mgahinga, where mountain gorilla trekking is possible. Mgahinga National Park contains approximately 80 mountain gorillas. Because they live at high altitudes, gorillas in Mgahinga have more fluffy coats than those in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Only the Nyakagyezi gorilla group is accessible to tourists in Mgahinga.
The Nyakagezi group is one of Uganda’s two largest habituated mountain gorilla groups, with Congo and Rwanda. The group was once quite mobile, crossing into Rwanda and even Congo, but has now settled in Uganda for the past five years. It takes less time to locate the Nyakagyezi group than other families. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga begins at 8 a.m. with a briefing. Following the briefing, the park rangers lead tourists to the group.
Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga National Park Expect to see virgin forest, primates, birds, and other wild species. The time spent monitoring the gorillas will vary depending on the group’s position that day and could last anywhere from two to 3 hours. Come prepared with a good camera to record one of the most incredible wildlife experiences.
Will you see the primates?
The odds of sighting mountain gorillas are rather good. Every gorilla tracker should be familiar with the gorilla trekking packing list and tracking rules. A gorilla permit costs $600 and can be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s offices in Kisoro or through a tour operator from Naleyo tours and travels.The optimum months for gorilla trekking are June through August.
Golden Monkey Tracking:
Golden monkeys are a subspecies of blue monkeys. The primates are restricted to the Albertine Rift and Virunga ranges in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They look adorable with their gorgeous golden coats. Golden monkeys are relatively little, with an adult weighing around twenty pounds. They are playful and active primates who live in huge groups of up to 80 individuals. They spend the majority of their time on top of trees, eating on bamboo shoots or insects on the slopes of the volcanoes.Their chief predator is the African eagle.
Golden Monkey Tracking:
Golden monkeys are among Africa’s most popular primates among tourists. Only Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) and Uganda (Mgahinga National Park) have habituated groups that are accessible to visitors. Tracking golden monkeys might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
The activity starts at 8 a.m. with a briefing. Because they cannot hear eagles approaching while it is pouring, monkeys tend to hide during downpours, increasing the likelihood of finding them by 85%. After finding the monkeys, visitors have only one hour to observe the group’s behavior and take photos. There is an option to extend the golden monkey habituation experience with researchers; however, this comes at an additional expense. Golden Monkey Permits Costs $100.
You can learn more about the two-day golden monkey trip at Volcanoes National Park.
Mountain climbing:
One of the most popular activities in Mgahinga is climbing one of the park’s three volcanoes: Sabyinyo, Gahinga (3474), and Muhavura (4127m). Sabinyo is supposed to be the oldest, while Muhavura the youngest. These three volcanoes are located on the frontiers of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Mount Sabyinyo, at 3669 meters high, is the most popular volcano for climbers. Reaching the summit of Mount Sabyinyo offers the unusual opportunity to be in Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda at the same time. Mount Gahinga is the easiest climb; taking approximately six hours.
It is feasible to trek up all three volcanoes in three days. Climbing to the tops of the three volcanoes will reward hikers with breathtaking views of all three nations, including the Virunga mountain ranges, crater lakes, wetlands, unusual alpine vegetation, the Rwenzori Mountains, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Edward.
Hiking any or all of the volcanoes requires mental preparation and physical fitness. Seasoned hikers may find it easy to reach the summits of these mountains, but rookie hikers must come prepared. A night on the top. The fee of climbing each volcano is $80.
Bird Watching:
Mgahinga National Park is one of Uganda’s top birding destinations. Mgahinga National Park’s caverns, woodlands, lakes, and mountains are home to more than 110 different bird species.
The greatest months for birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are April through May and October through November.
Birdwatching at Mgahinga National Park.
Most birds nest from November to April, while migrants from Europe arrive between November and April. Among the species to look out for are the Yellow-Vented Bulbul, yellow-throated long claw, White-starred Robin, White-necked Raven, White-naped Raven, Western Green Tinker Birds, Waxbills, Thrush, and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Striped Breasted Tit, Streaky Seedeater, Stray Seedeater, Stone Chat, Speckled Mousebird, Southern Red Bishop, Shelly’s Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Double-Collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rufous chested swallow, Regal Sunbird, Red-Throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Red-necked Spurfowl, Pin-tailed Whydah. The Paradise Fly-catcher Olive woodpecker, olive thrush, olive pigeon.
Mountain Birding at Mgahinga National Park:
Masked Apalis, The montane nightjar Malachite Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Sunbirds the Kivu Ground Thrush, Ibis, Handsome Francolin, The Grey Capped Warbler, Greater Double-Collared Sunbird. Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Fly eagle! Firefinch, Stonechat, Dusky Turtle Dove, Dusky Crimson Wings, Double-Collared Sunbird, Doherty’s Bush Shrike, Crowned Hornbill, Crowned Crane, Collared Apalis. Chubb’s Cisticola, Cape Robin Chat, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Brown Woodland Warbler, Bronze Sunbird, Blue- headed Sunbird, Blue-headed Coucal, Black-headed Waxbill, Black Kite, Banded Prinia, Archer’s Ground Robin, Archer’s Robin Chat, and Alpine Robin.
Nature Walks in Mgahinga National Park:
The border trail on the slopes of Mt. Sabyinyo leads to the intersection of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo borders.The walk takes approximately five hours to complete and passes through several flora types, allowing opportunity to see primates such as golden monkeys and the caldera atop Gisozi hill. The top of Gisozi Hill also provides stunning views over the park, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and the larger Virunga mountain ranges. Some of the hikes, such as the five-hour Sabyinyo Gorge Walk, are challenging.
This trail leads to hilly sections of the park and requires high fitness to complete. The Sabinyo Gorge requires taking a meandering trip on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo to admire the many flora zones, birds, and volcanoes. When going on nature walks or using any of the paths, always be aware and listen to the sweet melodies of the resident birds and the loud calls of monkeys as they you might even see one of the elusive huge species, such as antelope and elephants.
The Batwa Trail and Cultural Visit:
There are other tribes that live in the areas surrounding Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, but the Batwa people are particularly noteworthy. Why? Because their past is inextricably linked to the park. The Batwa had lived in Mgahinga forest for thousands of years as hunters and gatherers before being evicted in 1991 and resettled on the forest’s boundaries. While remaining in the wilderness, everything was simple and plentiful. All they had to do every morning was wake up and go harvest honey, pick fruits, hunt animals, or collect forest leaves for medicine.
They had complete freedom to roam the vast jungle. The Batwa rarely had battles with other tribes since few of them would dare to invade their forest. Batwa traditional experience and visit to Mgahinga This prosperous life came to an abrupt end when the woodland was declared a national park. The government found that their continuing presence in the forest hampered conservation efforts and posed a threat to the mountain gorillas. Hunting was now termed poaching by the authorities. The authorities expelled them from the forest and relocated them in regions near and beyond the park. Unfortunately, their resettlement was not totally successful, as the Batwa struggled to adjust to life outside the forest. They suddenly found themselves dealing with tribes they had avoided for thousands of years. Other tribes view the Batwa as encroaching on their territory and marginalize them.
All of these problems have exacerbated the Batwa’s predicament, leaving them far poorer than other tribes. Several local and international groups have responded to the Batwa’s suffering by launching various livelihood programs and activities. These projects assist people in identifying new income-generating opportunities such as goat, chicken, and beekeeping. Some organizations have even purchased land (with tittles) for the landless Batwa.
Visiting the Batwa pygmies at Mgahinga:
The Batwa Cultural Trail is an extremely fascinating experience and an opportunity to meet a genuine indigenous African tribe. Organizations such as USAID provide help and encouragement.
During this cultural encounter, visitors will learn about their previous way of life as well as the current challenge of adjusting to life outside of the forest.
The Batwa Trail in Mgahinga is more extensive than the journey to Bwindi. It is governed by the Batwa and operates within the forest. These Batwa guides will try to explain their past by taking you into the jungle to see how they used to live as hunters, fighters, and gatherers. They will escort you to the old Ngarama caves, where their commanders conducted war meetings and offered sacrifices to their gods.
Accommodation in Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park is adjacent to Bwindi Forest, thus there are numerous hotel and lodge alternatives. Lodges are accessible near the park, in Kisoro, and in Kabale itself. Many of the hotels are conveniently positioned, allowing guests to use them as a base for activities in both national parks.
These resorts provide services for budget, midrange, and premium tourists. These lodges are created in the style of basic campgrounds, bandas, or conventional cottages. Given that some park activities, such as gorilla tracking, begin early in the morning, it is best to arrange a hotel near the park offices.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has the following hotels and lodges:
Chameleon Hill Lodge:
This luxurious lodge overlooks the stunning Lake Mutanda. The lodge boasts a magnificent property with breathtaking views of the park’s three volcanoes.It is an excellent lodge for visitors who have come for gorilla trekking, bird watching, golden monkey tracking, visiting the Batwa, or canoeing on Lake Mutanda.
Mount Gahinga Rest Camp:
This resort is built at the foot of the volcanoes and offers stunning views of Lake Mutanda and the park’s highlands. There are nine grass-thatched rooms (bandas) and three tents with individual balconies. Besides the bandas, tourists can pitch their own tents in approved areas. Solar panels generate electricity.The hotel arranges a variety of events, including a visit to the Batwa tribe. The hotel lies near a plot of ground that marks the border between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Volcanoes Safaris own Mount Gahinga Lodge.
The resort is near the park gate, in a natural location with views of the Virunga Mountains. The hotel provides self-contained luxury bandas with fireplaces to combat the cold atmosphere caused by the volcanoes. Rooms are either twin/double or single. Customers are provided wonderful international and local cuisine in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Is a luxury lodge located in Kisoro. The lodge consists of eight stone cabins that are thatched with grass. The lodge contains double and single rooms, both of which are tastefully decorated with fireplaces.
Traveler’s Nest Hotel is one of Uganda’s oldest hotels.
It is located outside of Kisoro town and features large, roomy, and pleasant rooms, as well as a fireplace. The hotel is also designed to provide breathtaking views of the mountains in Mgahinga.
Virunga Hotel:
This low-cost hotel is located behind the park headquarters. The motel rooms are self-contained, equipped with showers, and generally clean. There is also a bar, a restaurant, and ample parking.
Lake Mutanda Campsite:
This campsite is ideal for individuals who enjoy nature and want to explore the African environment in its natural setting. This campsite, with magnificent views of Lake Mutanda and the park’s volcanoes, provides cheap lodging in an amazing location.
Mutanda Lake Resort
(Formerly Nkuringo Safari Lodge) is likewise located on the banks of Lake Mutanda, between Nkuringo and Kisoro. This location ensures that inhabitants have magnificent views of the volcanoes and the gorgeous lake. This Resort is ideal for individuals looking for high-quality services at a reasonable price. Mutanda Lake Resort offers tented self-contained rooms with 24-hour room and laundry services.
The rooms are clean and roomy, and each has a verandah. The Resort arranges boat cruises to Lake Mutanda for bird watching, nature hikes, and visits to the gorilla highlands and Bwindi forest. Mutanda The lodge is ideal for visitors who have come to gorilla trekking in either Mgahinga or Bwindi.
Bwindi Jungle Lodge:
The lodge is located near Lake Mulehe. It was strategically developed to provide housing for visitors to both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp:
This low-cost facility is located near to the park gate and is managed by the community surrounding the camp. Residents of the camp enjoy breathtaking views of the woodlands and three volcanoes. The camp also offers lovely bandas and dormitories that are not too expensive.
Residents in dorms share restrooms, although they can also stay in self-contained rooms. Camping is allowed for individuals who bring their own equipment. Meals are generally Ugandan-style and served in the camp’s communal area. Late in the evening, guests gather around a campfire to watch cultural performances by the Batwa. Booking with this camp allows you to indirectly contribute to the community’s well-being.