There are as few as only four national parks that protect the mountain gorillas. Of these, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the less known yet a great place where wildlife enthusiasts can have up-close and personal encounters with the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda offers nature enthusiasts a remarkable opportunity to explore in depth the unique behaviors of mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking adventure entirely involves walking through Mgahinga’s lush bamboo forest and steep slopes with the park ranger guide as you look for a family of gorillas.
Mgahinga National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda and is one of the four African parks where the endangered mountain gorillas thrive. The 33.7 sq. km Mgahinga is home to only the Nyakagezi gorilla group –a fully habituated mountain gorilla family trekked by a maximum of 8 (eight) visitors.
Several mountain gorillas survive in the Mgahinga National Park making it one of the best gorilla watching destinations in Africa. Overall gorilla trekking in Mgahinga can take about 2 to 6 hours and includes an hour for up close and personal encounter with Mgahinga mountain gorillas in the wild.
Gorilla permits for Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park.
Valid gorilla permits are a must to obtain when it comes to gorilla tours to Mgahinga National Park. Like Bwindi, the Mgahinga gorilla permits also cost US$800 per person for foreign nonresidents, US$700 for foreign residents, US$500 charged for visitors who belong to the Rest of Africa category, and Ugandans or East African citizens pay UGX 300,000 per person. Mgahinga gorilla permits must be booked early and should be 2-6 months before the actual date of visiting gorillas in the wild. Planning and booking gorilla permits can be done through the local tour operator or company on the ground.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Vs Bwindi National Park
Gorilla trekking at Mgahinga National Park involves exploring only the Nyakagezi gorilla group unlike Bwindi with over 24 habituated gorilla families. In Bwindi National Park, visitors embark on the trek to explore more about the endangered mountain gorillas in any of its 4 sectors –Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Bwindi National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 459 mountain gorillas compared to about 80 that live in Mgahinga National Park.
Mgahinga gorilla safaris can be combined with golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience. Mgahinga is home to rare golden monkeys and Bwindi doesn’t have golden monkeys, except mountain gorillas share the same habitat with chimpanzees.
Additional activities to do in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda
In addition to trekking mountain gorillas, Mgahinga tours also allow visitors to engage in other exciting experiences including;
Birding
Birding excursions in Mgahinga involve foot-walk where you search for different birds in the park. These include the dusky turtle dove, Archer’s robin-chat, Rwenzori batis, Double-collared sunbird, Barred long-tailed cuckoos, equatorial akalat, grey-capped warblers, pin-tailed whydahs, Rwenzori turacos, white-necked raven, yellow-vented bulbul, Grauer’s warblers, lagden’s bush shrike, olive thrush, montane oriole, Kivu ground thrush, and yellow-eyed black flycatchers, etc.
Golden monkey tracking
Mgahinga National Park is one park where golden monkeys can be trekked and explored in the wild. The strikingly stunning golden monkeys reside mostly in the Virunga region where Mgahinga is also located and the treks involve exploring more about their unique behaviors and taking photos. Golden monkey trek in Mgahinga can go for about 2-4 hours which also includes an hour for up close and personal interaction with golden monkeys in the wild.
The Batwa trail experience at Mgahinga
The Batwa trail experience is a unique cultural excursion involving interacting with the Batwa pygmies –the original inhabitants of the Mgahinga and Bwindi forests. The trail experience includes visiting the Batwa in their community and exploring more about their traditions, cultures, and other practices.
Volcano climbing
Volcano hiking or climbing in Mgahinga involves conquering the peaks of the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park. These include Gahinga Volcano, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo Volcanoes. Sabyinyo volcano (3634m) takes 8 hours to ascend and descend from its summits and climbers get a chance to view the different parts of the 3 countries while at the point that marks the border between Rwanda, Uganda, & Congo.
Gahinga Volcano takes about 7 hours for a round hiking excursion and Muhabura Volcano 4127m requires a bit of energy for climbers to navigate through the terrains to the volcano’s summits.
The best time to travel for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga in Uganda
Gorilla trekking tours in Mgahinga National Park can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but the dry season is the best time thanks to the favorable weather conditions it comes with. The peak dry season starts from June to September and December to February –the months when Mgahinga records low or no rainfall. Being an all-year-round destination, it is still possible to travel to Mgahinga even during the wet or rainy season. The rainy or wet season runs from March, April to May, or from October to November.
What to pack for a gorilla safari to Mgahinga National Park
The essential items to include on your packing list for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park include waterproof hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, a camera, a daypack, a sweater, and gardening gloves. Other items include a first aid kit, insect repellents, a waterproof rain jacket or poncho, bottled drinking water, snacks, toiletries, and others.
Where to stay
Finding a place to stay is also essential when planning a successful gorilla trip. Accommodations available in and around Mgahinga National Park include Amajambere Iwacu Camp, Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
How to get to Mgahinga to see mountain gorillas
Mgahinga National Park is accessible by road or air whereby road transportation can take you about 9-10 hours’ drive from the heart of Kampala/Entebbe City. From Kigali, visitors can also connect to Mgahinga via Chanika to Kisoro then you proceed to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A 4×4 safari vehicle is most recommended for all road trips to Mgahinga so you can enjoy your gorilla tour. By air, flights can be taken from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airstrip which is close to Mgahinga National Park.
Image: Unsplahs, Gabriel Schumacher