Mgahinga Gorilla National park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest National Park situated in Kisoro District the south-western part of Uganda bordering with the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo covering an area of 33 square kilometers. The Park derives its name from a Kinyarwanda word “Gahinga” local term to mean piles of volcanic stones removed from farmlands at the foot of the volcanoes. Mgahinga was officially declared as a National Park in 1991 and is a home to over 80 mountain gorillas with only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi which is handy for trekking as well as other unique primates known as the Golden monkeys. The Golden Monkeys can only be tracked in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and also Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The Park carries impressive features such as Lake Mutanda, the Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhavura positioned in the Virunga Ranges sharing borders in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF MGAHINGA:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies in Kisoro District southwestern parts of Uganda stretching borders with Rwanda and DR Congo in area coverage of 33 square kilometers making it the smallest National Park in Uganda. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed, and approximately 510 KM from Kampala bordering Rwanda and DR Congo.
Mgahinga is the only destination harboring endangered mountain Gorillas other than Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda and Golden Monkeys other than Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Mgahinga is elevated at an altitude range between 2,227 meters near Ntebeko Park HQ to 4,127 meters on the summit of Mt. Muhavura above sea level. It is surrounded by 3 inactive volcanoes namely Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo and it’s part of the River Nile watershed area thereby making it a destination with impressive breathtaking landscapes.
MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK ATTRACTIONS:
- WILDLIFE
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park harbors about 76 mammal species such as large mammals like Elephants, Leopards, Buffaloes, Bush Backs among, reptile species like the snakes, geckos, chameleons many more, approximately 115 bird species inclusive of the 14 endemic Albertine rift notably the Kivu ground thrush and beautiful Rwenzori turaco as well as primates like about 80 Mountain Gorillas, Golden monkeys which are the most popular residents, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons among more.
- MGAHINGA BIRD SPECIES
About 115 bird species are recorded in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park making it one of top destination for birders in Uganda. The bird species are categorized into Forest Albertine Rift species and Resident species and these include Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori Nightjars, Black Kite, beautiful Rwenzori Turacos, Blue-headed coucal, ibis, Grey-capped warblers, fire-finch, Stone chat, Speckled mouse bird, Double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, regal sunbird, bronze sunbirds, olive thrush, alpine chat, crowned hornbill, White Napped Raven, Pin-tailed whydahs, Yellow-vented bulbul that can be spotted in areas like Montane Forest, bamboo belt, the gorge trail between Gahinga and Sabinyo among more in Mgahinga.
- VIRUNGA VOLCANOES
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is made up of three stunning volcanoes within the Virunga Region and these are Muhabura (4,127m), Sabyinyo volcano (3,669m), and Mount Gahinga (3,474m) which create great scenery and attractions for tourists who love hiking.
Activities In Mgahinga Gorilla National park
GORILLA TREKKING
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one destination in Africa with a record of over 80 endangered mountain gorillas habituating only one transboundary gorilla group known as Nyakagezi gorilla family handy for trekking. Other destinations in Africa with gorillas include the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park usually allows gorilla trekking to start in the early morning with a briefing at the Park Headquarters and a group of trekkers led by a professional guide will hit the jungle which will take about 30 minutes to 7 hours to spot mountain gorillas after shall be granted at an hour of close interaction with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. During trekking other primates, birds and plant species among can be spotted.
- GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING:
The gorgeous bright colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange Golden Monkeys can be tracked in Mgahinga with in the Virunga region starting from the Ntebeko taking up to 2 to 4 hours with an hour of close encounter with golden Monkeys and Photography inclusive.
- BIRD WATCHING
The Albertine Rift endemic species and Forest birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offer an incredible sight to birders. The Park has kept a record of over 115 bird species which can be spotted yearly though maintaining best months as April to Mid-May, October to November and these include Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori Nightjars, Black Kite, beautiful Rwenzori Turacos, Blue-headed coucal, ibis, Grey-capped warblers, fire-finch, Stone chat, Speckled mouse bird, Double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, regal sunbird, bronze sunbirds, olive thrush, alpine chat, crowned hornbill, White Napped Raven, Pin-tailed whydahs, Yellow-vented bulbul among.
- MOUNTAIN HIKING/CLIMBING:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is made up of three stunning volcanoes in the heart of the Virunga Region, all open for hiking and these are Muhabura (4,127m), Sabyinyo volcano (3,669m), and Mount Gahinga (3,474m) which create great scenery and attractions for tourists who love hiking. Mount Gahinga is the smallest volcano and hiking it takes about 6 hours to reach the top from Bamboo Forest. At the top of the summit, you will find a crater filled with swamp and great lobelia.
- NATURE WALKS:
Nature Walks in Mgahinga offers unforgettable experiences to visitors who immerse themselves in to the park’s lush forests, swamps, caves, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
There are walking trails like the Sabinyo Gorge walk requiring about 5 to 6 hours adventurous walk-in views of remarkable vegetation and swamps to the peak with incredible bird sighting.
- BATWA TRAILS:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was originally a homestead for the Batwa communities/Pygmies before being declared as a National Park in 1991. Batwa Trails are cultural experiences through beautiful tour walk-ways to the forest where the Batwa People lived in Mgahinga. Batwa Trails start from the bottom line of the Muhavura Cave to the Forest showcasing the culture, traditions and life-style of the Pygmy Forest tribesmen who were hunters, gatherers, and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine living in the rainforest Park.
BEST TIME TO VISIT MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park safaris can be done all year round but offering the best time as the dry season in Uganda and that’s from June to early September and December to February. During these dry seasons, the trails are clearer and easier to navigate and trek through making almost every adventurous activity possible in the park.
ACCOMODATION IN AND AROUND MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK:
There is various accommodation stay in and around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park options comprising of Budget Accommodations, Mid-Range accommodations and Luxury Accommodations.
Budget Accommodations include Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Hotel and Campsite, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Ikoro Hotel.
Mid-Range Accommodation like Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu, Mount Gahinga Lodge and Gorilla Hills Eco-Lodge Bwindi.
Luxury Accommodation such as Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla and Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge Bwindi and Gorilla Heights Lodge.
DIRECTIONS TO MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK:
Mgahinga is accessible both by road and air transportation. It is about 510KM from Kampala Capital City to Kisoro via Kabale in approximately 8 to 10 hours’ drive on road or 4 to 5 hours safari drive from Kigali crossing to Kisoro via Chanika border.
Other Means of transportation is by air, we can arrange a flight from Entebbe airport/Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro airstrip.