A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda’s smallest National Park is surprisingly one of the most frequently visited in the country’s National Park system. Just one visit and it will be easy to see why hikers, nature lovers, and birders as well as primate lovers flock to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from across the World. Sheltering three of the Virunga Volcanoes (Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura) and blanketed by dense rainforest, Mgahinga’s jaw-dropping landscapes will leave you breathless.
While it is one of the most beautiful places in Uganda, little information is available for travelers who wish to discover its natural beauty, Therefore, we bring you a beginner’s guide to exploring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which includes everything you need to know, things to see and do, where to stay and the best time to visit the Park.
Gorilla Trekking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established in 1991 to protect the mountain gorillas. At 34 square kilometers, it is considered the smallest National Park in Uganda but its tinny size draws travelers for its breathtaking scenery, remarkable hiking terrain, and outstanding wildlife species that include the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. This Protected Area is situated in southwestern Uganda and is an 8-9-hour drive from Kampala, a 3-4-hour drive from Kigali (Rwanda), and a half-hour flight from Entebbe International Airport.
When to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is open 365 days a year and each season offers a remarkable and breathtaking experience.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park might be at its absolute best in the dry season- June to September and December to February when the weather is warmer. In those dry months, you will avoid heavy rains, denser vegetation, and muddy and slippery forest trails. However, visiting in the wet months- March to May and October to November has the added benefit of avoiding the peak crowds. The challenge with these months is that they are considered part of the rainy season when precipitation levels are higher, thus making forest trails slippery and muddy. Nonetheless, don’t be fooled into thinking there will be no rain in the dry season. Because Mgahinga sits in an area of high altitude and is marked by rainforest, which means rains can be expected anytime including the traditional dry months.
How much will it cost to explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Entry into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is $40 per person for 24 hours if you are visiting for forest walks and birding, but if you are visiting the Park for gorilla trekking and Volcano climbing, entrance fees are also covered in the activity fees. Forest walks/bird watching costs $30 per person, Volcano climbing at $80, gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per person while golden monkey tracking permits go for $60 per person.
What to see and do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Many travelers get surprised when they learn that Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also home to the endangered mountain gorillas, owing to the fact that this Park is overshadowed by Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Also, there is only one habituated gorilla family known as “Nyakagyezi” in this tinny Protected Area hence making gorilla trekking a must-do activity here. Thanks to its one habituated gorilla family, only 8 gorilla permits are issued each day.
Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Volcano climbing
If there is one thing that will leave you in awe is the jaw-dropping landscape of Mgahinga/ Three Virunga Volcanoes are found here, and they include Mount Muhabura to mean a “guide”, Mount Sabyinyo meaning “Old man’s teeth, and Mount Gahinga meaning “Pile of stones”. All three of these Volcanoes can be climbed in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and each takes only a day to concur.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only place in Uganda where you can visit the mountain gorillas and at the same time track the golden monkeys. This means you can shoot two birds with one stone- meeting silver and gold. Golden monkeys are small and fast primates which make tracking them rather an active adventure but it takes only 1-4 hours to find them. Just like the mountain gorillas, visitors have one hour of interaction and photography with these remarkable creatures.
Bird watching
Don’t let Mgahinga’s small size deceive you because it is one of the 33 Important Bird Areas in Uganda. It shelters more than 180 bird species that include several Albertine Rift endemics. Expect occasional sights of Malachite Sunbird, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush, Striped breasted Tit, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Western Green Tinkerbird, Black-headed Waxbill, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Batis, Streaky Seedeater, Brown Woodland Warbler, Handsome Francolin, to mention but a few during birding tours.
Batwa Trail Experience
Prior to the establishment of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the forest was occupied by the Batwa pygmies who lived and thrived in these forests and mountains as hunter-gatherers. The forest was their source of shelter, food, and medicine but when it was gazetted, they were displaced to live around the borders of the forest/National Park. Therefore, the establishment of the Batwa trail experience allows tourists to learn about their history, ancient lives life hunting, fruit gathering, using traditional medicine and so much more. You will learn their hunting skills, see how bamboo cups were made, the plants that were used for medicine/food, and their traditional huts, and sum it up with a traditional dance performance in Garama Cave.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accommodations
Accommodations are available within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the nearby Town of Kisoro. The popular ones are the luxurious Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mucha Hotel, Kisoro Travelers Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort, and many others.
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
By Car, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is over 8-9 hours from Kampala/Entebbe and 3-4 hours from Kigali City. The nearest airstrip is Kisoro airstrip (in Kisoro district), which is about one hour’s drive away. Available flights are operated by Aerolink and Bar Aviation from Entebbe International Airport.