Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking Safaris - Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, established in 1991, is one of Uganda's special places to visit. It's pretty small, covering about 33.7 square kilometers, but it's packed with cool stuff like dense forests, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and lots of birds.
Around 80 mountain gorillas live here, and you can track one group of them each day. The park sits between 2,227m and 4,127m above sea level in southwestern Uganda. It's got three of the eight Virunga Mountains—Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura—stretching into Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
Mgahinga is famous for its thick forests, making it one of the rainiest spots in Uganda. There are also crater lakes on Mount Muhabura and a swampy crater on Mount Gahinga's summit. Plus, there are cool swamps between the three volcanoes.
The park is home to the Batwa pygmies, who have lived in these forests for over 500,000 years. They're pretty interesting folks!
Why Visit Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park is one of Uganda's 10 national parks, and it's the smallest. It spans about 33.7 square kilometers. This park is home to mountain gorillas, but only one family, called Nyakagezi, is available for tourists to visit.
The park is surrounded by three main mountains: Gahinga, Muhavura, and Sabyinyo. It sits on the northern slopes of these mountains.
Activities in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking
A trip to Mgahinga National Park offers unforgettable experiences, especially in mountain gorilla tracking adventures. Many travelers, around 75% from all over the world, come here to see these rare apes in their natural habitat. After Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga is the second gorilla destination in Uganda where you can track these majestic creatures. The Nyakagezi habituated gorilla group is the one you'll track, starting from the Ntebeko entrance gate.
Nature Walks/Hiking Adventures
Hiking in Mgahinga National Park takes you through thick forests to Sabyinyo gorge, known for bird watching. The hike lasts about 4 hours, passing through Rugezi, a great spot for birding. You'll also explore different vegetation zones along the Congo border, catching glimpses of calderas and rare golden monkeys in the Bamboo jungle.
Bird Watching
For bird enthusiasts, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a paradise. The gorge trail between Sabyinyo and Gahinga is particularly popular for bird watching. You can spot various bird species like Dusky turtle doves, cape robin chats, black-headed waxbills, and more.
Volcano Climbing
Mgahinga National Park is home to three Virunga Mountains, offering exciting volcano climbing experiences. Climbing Mount Sabyinyo (3669m) or Mount Gahinga (3474m) rewards you with stunning views and chances to see golden monkeys. You can also climb Mount Muhabura (4127m) for clear scenic views of Lake Edward, Virunga volcanoes, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Rwenzori mountains.
Cultural Encounters
After gorilla tracking, visit nearby cultural communities to interact with the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa trail takes you through their ancient lifestyles, offering insights into their history and culture.
Golden Monkey Tracking
Don't miss the opportunity to track golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park. Apart from gorillas, the park is known for these striking monkeys.