Mgahinga gorilla national park is a location for the famous great mountain gorillas found in the southwestern region of Uganda in the Virunga mountains and encompasses three inactive volcanoes, namely Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura. More so, the park lies in the altitude that ranges from 2,227 to 4,127 meter and also part of the Nile River watershed areas. The park is closer to the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the southern sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park is located few kilometers away from the town of Kisoro and approximately 55 kilometers by road west of Kabale, the largest city in the sub-region. From Kampala capital or Entebbe, it estimates 9 to 10 hours to access the main destination.
Climate; Mgahinga experience two seasons annually the wet seasons that occurs from February to May and September to December when the rain is less and favorable for the activity. Its average rainfall varies from 250melli meters in the month of October to 10 millimeters in July.
The park is biodiversity of faunas and other species that inhabits the bamboo forest ,Albertine Rift montane forests ,Ruwenzori- Virunga mountain moorlands with tree heath and an alpine zone at higher altitudes .The most present species in the park are the primates including endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkey as well as home to Albertine Rift’s endemic birds and such birds that are recorded in here are handsome spur fowl ,Kivu ground thrush ,strip- breasted tit, ,Grauer’s swamp warbler ,red-faced woodland warbler ,regal sunbird ,Archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori batis ,Rwenzori turaco ,dusky crimson wing ,red throated alethe ,Rwenzori double-collared sunbird ,mountain masked apalis mentioned but few .Other animals found with in the park ,though are difficult to glimpse in the wild forest which include elephants ,forest buffaloes ,bushbucks ,side striped jackals , black duikers ,south African porcupines golden cats ,bush pigs,
Generally, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was created in the year of 1991 in the area that used to be a game reserve in between the 1930s and 1950 but it was divided to crop field in lower altitudes. More then, the park covers about 33.7 square kilometers that habitant for man’s closest great mountain gorillas which roam about the whole forest in search of food.
Activities to do in Uganda-Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Gorilla Tracking –Mgahinga
In general, Mgahinga national park is one of the few places in the entire world where you can do gorilla tracking experience in life experience. The park attracts people from different races to come to Uganda on Gorilla Safari and there is no doubt that the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park since it is one of the leading tourist’s sites in Uganda that harbors these famous critically mountain gorillas.
You may wonder why gorilla safari should be done in Mgahinga Gorilla national park, not other places but the secret of all this is that Mgahinga has a thick rain forest with a wide variety of tree species and endangered gorillas which are known to be vegetarians. Mgahinga Gorilla national park is known to have enough food for these primates and its reason why some even migrate all away from Congo’s Virunga national park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park to this place. Though the number seems to be few in the park thus leading them to be easily seen in their natural habitats and making tracking or trekking easier compared to other mountain gorilla tracking destination.
Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; This is the most done activity in here that has made the park famous and the moment you visit the park; you will be welcomed by its good atmosphere filled with natural beauty. On the day of tracking will be driven to the park headquarters for the briefing about gorilla rules and regulations in the forest. After briefing, you will be guided with a well-trained guide who knows the information about the park and good to explain to you the gorillas’ behaviors along the way a lifetime changing experience. Gorilla tracking experience starts early in the morning at around 8:00am and tracking is unpredictable it can take 30 to 7 hours. Once the you locate them, you will be allowed to spend with them is one hour observe them as they play around, putting their nests on the ground in the evening time. Return back to the lodge.
Golden Monkey Tracking –Mgahinga
On your visit to the park ,you can choose to combine golden monkey tracking with gorilla trekking ,golden monkeys are the endemic species to the Albertine Rift that offers a rare chance to track to these striking creatures in the high dense bamboo forests on the Gahinga trial .There is an estimate of about3000 -4000 individuals in the Virunga areas which 42 -60 are habituated in Mgahinga .The golden monkey tracking is awesome encounter as you track moving after this active species and the sight is rewarding.
Mountain Climbing –Mgahinga Gorilla national park
The park harbors with three thrilling volcanoes where you can undertake amazing climbing of a full day to access their summits. From the top the views are worth it, as you can be able to sight see Rwanda, Congo, the Virungas, Rwenzori, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park and Lake Edward.
And the three volcanoes in this park can be summited Mount Sabinyo at 3,669meter that takes around eight hours to cover the 14 meter round trip following the steep ridge up to the peak.
It will also take more 6 hours to ascend and descend the Mount Gahinga that rises 3,474 meter surrounded by a swamp filled crater and giant lobelia and the sights are gainful. If you are lucky climbers, you may spot these beautiful golden monkeys on their way through the bamboo forest.
However, Mount Muhabura is the highest peak of the three mountains that rises at 4,127meter high, if you try to do round trip it takes eight hours to access the top. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded on a clear day with views of the Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable national park and the peaks of the Rwenzori.
Hiking /Guided Nature Walks in Mgahinga Gorilla
Hiking is one the best adventurous experience that brings out hidden creatures of the park, in Mgahinga gorilla national park hiking can be done around the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes where visitors have chances to sight see the various forest birds, Rugezi, swamp, wild vegetation, bamboo forest and impressive views of the surrounding lakes and green agricultural villages.
Though hiking is best enjoyed in deep Sabinyo a massive gash in the flash of Mount Sabinyo, a place good in bird sighting and chances to see the Rwenzori Turico is high. The walks can take four hours and more, passing through Rugezi Swamp which is rewarding for bird watchers.
The hiking can be done also to the Congo border transcends different vegetation zones. You can as well sight see the calderas on top of the Gisozi hill, look out for Kisoro as well as Bunagana towns.
Cultural encounter in Mgahinga
Mgahinga gorilla national park at first it was home Batwa people later it turns into a tourism areas and these people they never shifted but instead made the surrounding areas to the perk their home.
Through visiting them, you will use Batwa trail in the dense forest a home to the indigenous Batwa known as the hunter gatherers and fierce warriors who are dependent on the forest for the shelter, food and medicine. These Batwa people have now become park guides who lead tourists through the forests and introduces them to their old home where they used to sleep with mountain gorillas in harmony sharing the same food as well as the techniques they used to survive while still living in the forest.
When to Track Gorillas at Mgahinga Gorillas National Park
The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla national park for Gorilla tracking is during the dry seasons in the month of June to September and December to February when the park is easily accessed. It’s during this time that the thick forests can be penetrable easily when the tracking trail heads are not muddy as it is in the rainy season. These two dry seasons are best for Gorilla Safaris. However, gorilla tracking tourism is possible throughout the year.
How to Get There
By Road; From Kampala, you will use different routes. One of them you will pass via Kabale to Kisoro a journey that takes about 8 hours.
By Air; You will board a charter flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip which is located near the park. This is the quickest mode of access the park mostly to the visited who does not what to travel long driving journeys. By Air transport it takes only one hour to reach and then be picked up by the park drive to drive you to the park. There is the daily scheduled flight that you might book long in advance with your local Uganda safari operator.
Where to Stay
There is no worry about where to sleep on visit to Mgahinga Gorilla national park, the park has comfortable accommodation facilities good for relaxation and overnight stay, which can be found in Ntebeko, Kisoro and Lake Mutanda. In Ntebeko lodges to sleep in are Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge and Amajembere lwacu camp. Then those in Mutanda include; Lake Mutanda Chameleon Hill Lodge. In Kisoro, the lodges to stay in are Kisoro Traveler’s Rest Hotel and River Mucha Hotel among others.
