Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the second mountain gorilla destination in Uganda and one of the 4 mountain gorilla destinations in world to do mountain gorilla trekking safaris, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest park in Uganda covering an area of 33 square kilometers. The park is located in the extreme southwestern region of Uganda at the border of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo and 14 kilometers from Kisoro town within Bufumbira County approximately 540 kilometers from Kampala, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area together with Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park of DR. Congo. The Virunga Conservation Area covers an area of 434 square kilometers of which Mgahinga national gorilla park forms only 8% of the area.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is found on the northern slopes of 3 extreme northern Virunga Volcanoes that are Mt. Gahinga at 3,474 meters, Mt. Muhavura at 4,127 meters, and Mt. Sabinyo at 3,645 meters. In the South, the park is delimited by Rwanda and in the west it is delimited by DR.Congo.
Mgahinga national gorilla park was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and it became to be the smallest national park in Uganda, regardless of the smallest size of the park. Mgahinga national park is among the leading Uganda safari destinations in Uganda and this is because of its resident population of Mountain Gorillas and is one of the only two national parks within Uganda inhabiting the critically endangered mountain gorillas which is approximately half of the population of mountain gorillas in the world.

Mgahinga national gorilla park is a fine Uganda and Africa wildlife safari destination and this is due to population of mountain gorillas and big wild animals such as bushbucks, buffaloes and elephants and endangered golden monkeys among others.

Weather in Mgahinga national park

Mgahinga national gorilla park receives 2 wet rainy seasons, from February to May and from September to December every year with 250mm as the highest amount of rainfall received specifically in October and the minimum of 10 mm received in July.

Volcanoes in Mgahinga national park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park comprises of forested slopes of the 3 extinct volcanoes that is Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabyinyo.

Mount   Gahinga – piles of stone

Mount Gahinga is named from a local word Gahinga meaning small piles of stones in the garden fields, Gahinga volcano is quiet bigger than the average Gahinga however it since it sits next to Mount Muhavura it appears small.

Mount Gahinga stands at the altitude of 3474 meters, this volcano once had a crater lake on its top which turned into a Lush Swamp which is about 8 kilometers. Hiking Mount Gahinga takes approximately six hours round trip.

 Mount Muhavura – The Guide

Mount Muhavura acts a Guide and it can be seen from Kisoro, the volcano is a typical cone-shaped mountain and from its top it boasts some of the best views in Uganda including Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi and peaks of Rwenzori Mountain.

The hike to the top of Mount Muhabura takes approximately 8 hours round trip covering 12 kilometers. Mount Muhavura stands at the altitude of 4127 meters above the sea level.

 Mount Sabyinyo – The old man’s teeth

Mount Sabyinyo is shaped like an old man’s teeth and that is where its gets its name, this volcano is the most challenging volcano to hike in Mgahinga national park and has 3 peaks to hike. Mount Sabyinyo offers climbers an opportunity to be standing in 3 countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo from one point.

Mount Sabyinyo stands at the altitude of 366 meters and hiking it takes approximately 8 hours round trip covering over the 14 kilometers stretch.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park experience calm climatic conditions thus supporting the thrilling Afro-Montane vegetation as well as plentiful bamboo vegetation which acts as food for the mountain gorillas, these vegetation includes Lobelia, Haege-nia spp.

Kisoro district – the developed town near Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to the dominant ethnic groups of the Bafumbira who mostly cultivators or farmers and the Batwa pygmies who are the indigenous forest people. These people originally the forests of Mgahinga but they were evacuated when the area was gazetted as a national park.

Activities to enjoy in Mgahinga Gorilla national park

Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla tracking is the major safari activity within Mgahinga Gorilla national park, the park is a home to one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi with 9 members (2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants) which is visited during gorilla tracking experience.

Mountain gorilla trekking experience starts with briefing at the park’s headquarters where a ranger guide takes you through the rules and regulations followed during the gorilla tracking experience.

This experience is very energetic as it involves hiking through the hilly forested terrain of the park, the activity takes a proximately 3-6 hours depending on the movement to the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You are allowed to spend in the presence of mountain gorillas for one hour while observing their behavior and taking amazing pictures. Always remember to switch your flash off when taking pictures.

Note: a group of 8 people is allowed to trek one gorilla family a day.

Hiking/Volcano Climbing

Mt. Sabyinyo; (at 366m)

Mount Sabyinyo “Old Man’s teeth” as a reference to an eroded crown, the summit of Mount Sabyinyo has 3 peaks which are challenging to expert climbers. Hiking this volcano takes you up a ridge on the eastern side to the first peak, if you wish to proceed to the second peak, it involves walking alongside a ridge with spectacular views of Rwanda and Uganda’s gorges offering an unforgettable mountain climbing and Uganda hiking safari experience.

To reach the third peak of the volcano, the hike is steep and there is numerous ladders plus mush scrambling, expect your hands to get as dirty as possible. While on top of this volcano, you will be standing in 3 countries that is Uganda, Rwanda as well as Democratic Republic of Congo. Hiking Mount Sabyinyo is a 14 kilometers of hiking and lasts approximately 8 hours.

Mt. Gahinga (at 3474 meters)
Mount Gahinga named from a local slag Gahinga meaning “a pile of small stones” as reference to pile of stones collected in garden fields on this volcano, hiking Mount Gahinga takes approximately 6 hours through a Bamboo forest leading to the Crater Lake on its peak which is now a verdant swamp covering an area of 8 kilometers.

Mt. Muhavura “The Guide”

Mount Muhavura at 4127 meters is a very rewarding volcano to hike tin Mgahinga Gorilla national park, this volcano can be clearly seen from Kisoro and it serves as a guide to the Virunga volcanoes. This volcano has a characteristic cone – shaped Mountain offering some of the finest views as a guide, most of the climbing on this volcano is over a rocky surface roofed by short grasses and small shrubs.

On top of Mount Muhavura you will are rewarded with sights of the Virunga volcanoes, Mount peaks, Lake Edward, Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Hiking Mount Muhavura is a 12 kilometers while taking approximately 8 hours, visitors are advised to camp at the base camp of Muhavura base Camp on the night before the hile.

Cave Exploration (Garama Cave)

Cave exploration is another amazing safari activity to do in Mgahinga Gorilla national park, on this activity visitors get an opportunity to explore the Garama Cave which is a 342 meters long and 14 meters deep, this cave was inhabited by the Batwa pygmy who used the cave as a place of protected during attacks from their neighboring communities. Today the cave is inhabited by bats. This activity starts from the Park’s headquarters and it is a 3 kilometers hike to the cave’s entrance and during the trek you will get an insight on how the Batwa survived attacks while basing from this cave.

Viewing platform

At Mgahinga Gorilla national park, there is a viewing platform situated 800 meters from the park’s gate, from this platform you get rewarded with splendid views of the park and the surrounding.

Bird watching

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a great Uganda birding destination and one of the Important Birding Areas blessed with over 75 exceptional bird species recorded, including a number of species endemic to East Congo Montane Area. More than 295 bird species have been recorded to be found within the Virunga Conservation Area in total, there are also species endemic to Albertine Rift Afro-montane area representing 59% of the area’s total recognized endemic species.

During bird watching experience in Mgahinga Gorilla national park, lookout for birds such as White-necked raven, Black kite, Pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbird, Speckled mouse bird, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Whydah, Speckled Mouse birds, Fire Finch Stonechat, Grey Capped Warbler, Waxbills, Yellow-Vented Bulbul. Alpine chat, Alpine, Archer’s robin-chat, Blue-headed coucal, Dusky crimson wing, Kivu ground-thrush, Olive pigeon, Olive woodpecker, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori nightjar and Ruwenzori turaco among others.

How to get there

Mgahinga national park is accessed from Kampala City by either road or air means of transport.

By road – it is a drive of 8 hours through Kabale to the town of Kisoro and 4×4 wheel vehicles are recommended to be used, you use public or private means of transport. For public means of transport, buses depart from Kampala at 0700 hours.

By air – domestic flights are offered from Entebbe International airport to Kisoro Airstrip , these flights are offered by Eagle Air, Aero Link and BAR Aviation.

Where to stay

In Mgahinga national park, accommodation is offered by a diversity of accommodation facilities including basic campsite, midrange accommodations and luxury lodges including Traveller’s Rest Camp, Rugigana Camp Site, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Mubano Hotel, Sky Blue, Virunga Hotel as well as Mt.Gahinga Rest Camp among others.