where is mgahinga gorilla national park?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, with the most scenic and epic national park situated in south-western Uganda at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. That favors habitat for the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas, and it is close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, another home to mountain gorillas in Uganda. Click here to view mountain trekking safaris
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an icon of Uganda’s national parks, seated in the high clouds. Mgahinga National Park possesses a majestic natural beauty that welcomes visitors all year round, mostly travelers interested in sightseeing, mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, birding, and mountain hiking. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to three Virunga volcanoes, abundant wildlife, and awesome, inspiring caves. As travelers look for mountain gorilla adventures, they can immerse themselves in the stillness of nature by hiking in the beautiful forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is the only four-gorilla park in the world that is protected for the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a habituated gorilla family living in the park. Mountain gorilla trekking is sporadically possible since the park has a habituated gorilla family that wanders through the volcanic watershed. The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park slopes harbor a rich faunal diversity that boosts guided forest walks.
Mgahinga National Park forms part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area, which includes adjacent parks in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga National Park is bordered to the west by Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the south by Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various biological ecosystems, and their peaks are a striking backdrop to the beautiful scenery.
What can i do in Mgahinga Gorilla National park?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an adventurous destination best known for the mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking safaris. Mountain gorilla trekking involves movement in dense forests, searching for mountain gorillas in their natural environment.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park mountain gorilla trekking starts with an early morning briefing at the park’s headquarters at 7:00 am, and then after, trekking begins in the African jungle with a knowledgeable park ranger who is conversant with all the trekking trails.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking is another active tourism activity that can be done at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It starts with a briefing at the headquarters regarding the rules and regulations to be followed during golden monkey trekking.
After the briefing, tourists are allocated a well-experienced park guide, and your trekking begins in the forest, which takes between 30 minutes and four hours depending on the location of golden monkeys because they move from one place to another looking for food.
Volcano climbing
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is attached to three dormant Virunga-chained volcanoes, and hiking to any of these peaks is an adventurous experience.
The Virunga chained volcanoes include mount Muhavura, which is the highest volcano standing at 4,127 meters above sea level; hiking to the summit of Muhabura takes between 8 and 10 hours; mount Gahinga, and mount sabinyo, among others.
Bird watching
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to over 184 bird species, including Albertine endemics, migratory birds, and forest birds, making it an ideal bird-watching destination in Uganda. These birds can be best seen along the gorge trail between Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo, within the bamboo trails, among others.
Batwa trail experience
Mgahinga gorilla national park is another interesting tourist activity at Mgahinga gorilla national park, where tourists get an interesting opportunity to interact with the pygmies who used to stay in Mgahinga forest before the national park was gazetted.
When is the best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National park?
The long dry season in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the best time to tour and lasts from June to September. The short dry season happens in the months of December to February, and it is another good season to travel in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Although Mgahinga can be visited throughout the year.