Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest but most scenic national park. Located in South Western Uganda, Mgahinga sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. It is an important habitat to the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. At 33.7 square kilometers, Mgahinga National Park is the smallest National Park in Uganda. It is located in the remote South-western district of Kisoro. It lies close to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, another home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. It is bordered by is bordered to the south by the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and to the west by the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.
Primates present in the national park include mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) and golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti).The iconic mountain gorillas (around 30 individuals split between one habituated and two unhabituated groups) and the charismatic golden monkey ( an Albertine Rift Endemic whose range is now restricted to the Virungas and one other forest in Rwanda). The checklist of 76 mammal species includes black-and-white colobus, leopard, elephant, giant forest hog, bushpig, buffalo, bushbuck, black-fronted duiker, and several varieties of rodents, bats and small predators.
What to do in Mgahinga gorilla park?
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a total population of 80 mountain gorillas, but only one gorilla group is habituated and open to tourists – the Nyakagyezi family. The group used to move to Rwanda and Congo but have now settled in Uganda for more than three years Gorilla safaris to Mgahinga are great because the park attracts fewer crowds. Having one habituated gorilla group means only 8 gorilla permits can be sold in a day.
Mgahinga offers a unique way of watching gorillas compared to Bwindi due to its open bamboo vegetation which is perfect for photography. For exclusivity, Mgahinga is the best place to see gorillas because of the limited number of people in a day (a maximum of only 8)! This makes it less crowded unlike Bwindi and Volcanoes national parks with high number of gorilla families.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla park
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey in Mgahinga gorilla park
In the whole world, golden monkeys live only in central Africa and the Virunga massifs has a population of about 3000 to 4000 individuals. The Golden Monkeys of Mgahinga are beautiful primate species that inhabit in the Bamboo forests of the Virunga ranges and not anywhere else. In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at least a troop of 40 – 60 golden monkeys are habituated and visitors hike to higher altitudes in the bamboo zones where they stay most of the times. These primates are very striking to photograph with their golden and silvered black fur, though they move swiftly you just have to be good at taking pictures.
Mgahinga National park also offers chances of golden monkey habituation where you spend the whole day with the golden monkeys compared to trekking which allows you only 1 hour, golden monkey habituation is only done in Mgahinga National park.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) successfully habituated golden monkey troops for experiential tourism. The activity is very new and you should never miss to encounter the rare golden monkeys either during morning or afternoon hours depending on your interests. This experience is done in the morning and it is guided by well trained tour guides who will lead you to the higher slopes where they live.
3. Batwa people experience in Mgahinga Gorilla park
Batwa people in Mgahinga gorilla park
After one hour of walking, arrive at Garama caves and BaTwa elders will first pray to their perfect black god for spiritual guidance. Inside the caves are stair giving access to its dark interior, the BaTwa pottery remains and molded chairs where they used to stay and hide from enemies during battle fields can be seen. There are also bat colonies as you come out, the BaTwa trail ends with memorable cultural dance performances including folklore and rituals
4. Bird watching in Mgahinga national park
Birding in Mgahinga gorilla park
Mgahinga gorilla park is one of the unique birding destinations in Uganda. Of the Albertine Rift’s endemic birds, the following can be recorded on a birding tour in the national park; handsome spurfowl, dusky crimson-wing, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, Archer’s ground robin, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, strange weaver, montane nightjar, red-faced woodland warbler and Grauer’s swamp warbler. This makes Mgahinga a birder’s paradise.
5. Volcano hiking
Hiking Mt. Sabinyo
Hiking Mt. Sabinyo
Hiking mount Sabinyo is a hike of 8 hours on average to and from while navigating on Sabinyo gorge trail through Rugezi swamp and thick forests. On this trail get a chance to enjoy views of the Virunga chains, calderas on top of Gisozi hills, Kisoro town, Bunagana town and Lake Mutanda. You get to encounter animals like forest elephants, buffalo, duikers and many more Hiking on mountain Sabinyo gives you a golden opportunity of being in three nations that is Rwanda, Democratic republic of Congo and Uganda since its peak is right in the intersection of the three country borders.
Hiking Mt. Muhabura
Mt. Muhabura
Standing at an altitude of 4,127 meters, Mt Muhabura derives its name from a local Kinyarwanda word meaning the guide as it is the third tallest mountain in Uganda and can be seen from a far. Hiking mount Muhabura is a very challenging hike of a proximately 10 hours through different vegetation zones, the hike gives you exceptional views of Virunga volcanoes. Rwenzori mountains ranges, Queen Elizabeth national park and lake Edward.
Hiking Mt Gahinga
Hiking Mt Gahinga
Standing at an altitude of 3,474 meters derives its name from a Kinyarwanda/Rufumbira word meaning piles of stones which are seen on the slopes of the volcano. Hiking mount Gahinga is easy if compared to mount Sabinyo and Muhabura taking you through on trails passing through bamboo and alpine vegetation, on the hike you get to encounter animals like golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, golden monkeys and many more. Hiking on this mountain takes at least 6 hours to and from the volcano, you also get to encounter buffaloes and duikers as they roam on the slopes of mount Gahinga, Mount Gahinga had a crater lake which has now turned into a swamp on top of the volcano.