Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National park is the smallest safari park in Uganda, covering an area of 33.7 square kilometers. Mgahinga is the Ugandan part of the bigger Virunga Conservation Area known as the Virunga massif, which is a jointly protected area with Congo and Rwanda.

The park contains a dramatic panoramic backdrop formed by three extinct volcanoes; Mount Sabinyo (3,669m), Mount Gahinga (3,474 m) and Mount Muhavura (4,127 m).

Map of Mgahinga National Park

Map of Mgahinga National Park
Map of Mgahinga National Park

What to see in Mgahinga?

Just like Bwindi, Mgahinga’s star attraction is the mountain gorillas, which is also the most famous inhabitant of the Park. Mgahinga was declared as a game sanctuary in 1930 by the British administration, five years after the Belgians had gazette the portion of the Virunga Conservation area range in present day Congo and Rwanda as a national park to protect mountain gorillas. It was 1991 when Mgahinga was upgraded to a national park status.

There are 76 mammal species recorded, including Forest elephants, bushbucks, golden monkeys and mountain Gorillas. 115 bird species have been recorded, including Rwenzori Turaco, crowned hornbill, black kite and crowned crane.

Mgahinga is the only place to find the golden monkeys of the old-world monkey family that are also named among the endangered species. This is a monkey species which occurs only in the bamboo forests of the Virungas.

The vegetation of the forest; afro-montane areas, with a consistent bamboo, is also something you shouldn’t miss to see.

Uganda Map showing National Parks

Uganda Map showing National Parks
Uganda Map showing National Parks

What to do in Mgahinga

There is a number of activities to do in Mgahinga forest including the following;

Gorilla Tracking

Mgahinga has only one habituated Gorilla family known as ‘Nyakagezi’. Gorilla tracking starts daily at the Ntebeko Visitor Centre and the search for the gigantic shy primates typically lasts 3 – 5 hours. For one to track mountain gorillas, you must be over 15 years of age.

Golden Monkey Tracking

The endangered golden monkeys can be tracked through their bamboo habitat on the slopes of Mt Gahinga. As with gorillas, contact time with this rare libertine Rift endemic is limited to an hour. However, if you prefer to spend all day following these orange coated monkeys, you can sign up for a habituation experience.

Volcano Climbing

Since Mgahinga Gorilla National Park rises upwards to three of the six volcanic summits, all of which can be climbed in a day. The park’s highest peak of Muhavura is adorned by a crystal clear crater lake and commands panoramic views along the length of the Virunga chain. The hike to the top passes through a montane forest, bamboo stands and heather groves before encountering bizarre forms of giant lobelias and groundsels at the summit.

On top of Mount Gahinga, there is also a swamp filled crater about 180m wide while the jagged crown of Sabinyo bears several summits divided by deep gorges and ravines.

Birding

Keen birders can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds such as the Rwenzori Turaco among others.

Batwa Trail

You can also visit the old home of the Batwa Pygmies; the hunter gatherers and warriors who depended to the forest for shelter, food and medicine.

Outside the park, there is Lake Bunyonyi and Mutanda, one of the few lava dammed lakes in East Africa. Lake Bunyonyi that was formed after the Ruhuma Valley West of Kabale town by the flowing lava from the nearby volcanoes many years back. The lake has more than 20 small islands and circled by steep terraced hills that provide stunning views and a perfect spot to break the journey on the way to the park.

Accessibility

Mgahinga National Park can be accessed by road or air transport.

Kisoro Town at the foot of Mt. Muhavura is about 540km from Kampala and takes about 8 hours via Kabale on an excellent paved road surface.

Mgahinga is located 13 km from Kisoro tow. Kisoro Town can also be accessed by air. The town boasts of a bitumen runway Airfield at Nyakabande.

Accommodation

Both Up-market and budget accommodation are available on the edge of the Park at Ntebeko, a trail head for nature walks, volcano climbs, golden monkeys and gorilla tracking.

Addition options can be found in Kisoro town (14km) and Lake Mutanda.