Mgahinga Gorilla Trek Tours, Wildlife In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Embark on a Gorilla Trekking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of Uganda’s smallest but scenic national parks. Dubbed the Park "Where gold meets silver", Mgahinga National Park covers an area of 33 square kilometers and sits at a high altitude of 4,127m. Mgahinga Gorilla is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda bordering DR Congo and Rwanda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established in 1991 to help protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla Park is known as one of the only four places in the world for mountain gorilla tourism. The others are the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DR Congo, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park adjoins Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The three Gorilla Parks form the transboundary Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) which protects half of the world's mountain gorillas (the rest live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda).
The scenery in and around the park is stunning with three extinct volcanoes Mount Sabinyo, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Gahinga all having their slopes in the park. The forests are home to over 76 mammal species, including the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Other large mammals include elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and giant hogs among others, though rarely sighted in the dense forests. The Park also hosts over 115 bird species including localized forest birds and Albertine Rift endemics.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a total population of over 80 mountain gorillas, but only one gorilla group is habituated and open to tourists – the Nyakagyezi family. The group used to move to Rwanda and DR Congo but has settled in Uganda for many years now.
Gorilla safaris to Mgahinga are great because the park attracts fewer crowds. Having one habituated gorilla group means only 8 gorilla permits can be sold in a day. Visitors are advised to book their permits weeks in advance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala or the Park Headquarters in Ntebeko, and Ultimate Wild Safaris can assist in arranging this for you.
The gorilla trekking in Mgahinga follows the same model as in Bwindi. Treks depart in the morning at about 9:00 am. The length of the trek before you make contact with the gorillas depends on the location of the gorilla family. Visitors will follow trails of trampled and snapped vegetation across the slopes of the Virungas in search of the beautiful creatures.
Contact time with the habituated mountain gorillas lasts for one hour, during which you will be about 7 meters from the gorillas, and gorilla tracking participants must be aged 15 years and over.
Other activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:
Mgahinga is not just about gorilla tours, the park has a large population of the endangered golden monkeys, Colobus monkeys, other primates, leopard, porcupines, buffalo, tortoise, bushbuck, golden cats, elephants, bush hogs. The Batwa pygmies also still live in this forest and visiting them is worthwhile as we shall see shortly. Let’s look at these activities in more detail:-
Golden Monkey trekking In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Golden monkeys can only be sighted within the Virunga ranges like mountain gorillas. Uganda’s golden monkeys are only found in Mgahinga.
The Volcanoes are the last strongholds of the golden monkey which can be tracked through the bamboo habitat on the slopes of Mount Gahinga.
These cute subspecies of the blue monkey are considered endangered and highly sought after by tourists. They are among the most beautiful-looking monkeys in the world. Contact time is also one hour upon sighting.
Nature Walks In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
This is done on different sections of the forest using different forest trails. The walks can be done on the slopes of the volcanoes, the forest, swamps (Rugezi swamp), plantations, and along the shores of Lake Mutanda. Visitors go for walks with a guide and escorted by an armed ranger. The walks provide several opportunities to spot birds, and tree species and encounter the forest creatures/primates.
Birding In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Keen birders can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds in a range of scenic locations that include the Sabinyo Gorge, the saddle between Mountos Gahinga and Sabinyo, and the boundary trail at Ntebeko, with its incomparable volcanic backdrop.
The Batwa Trail In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
The Batwa Trail allows you to see the people who originally lived in the forest. The Batwa used to hunt and gather food from the forest while living in the Garama caves for thousands of years. The Batwa were evicted from the forest and resettled outside the park to reserve the park for tourism and other wildlife conservation activities.
They have been forced to abandon their original way of life and adjust to life outside the forest. The Batwa Trail is led by a Batwa guide who takes visitors through the traditional way of life in the forest for the Batwa. There will be demonstrations like hunting, fruit gathering, singing, dancing, making fire, and collecting honey. Visitors may be requested to take part in some of the activities.
Cave exploration In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
This usually involves going to the base of the Muhavura and Garama Caves. This activity is connected to the life and history of the Batwa people. The Batwa were often fighting their Bantu neighbors and used these deep caves as a meeting and assembling point. The caves are now occupied by bats and moving inside requires strong torches. The Garama Caves are thought to be so deep that they reach Rwanda.
Volcanic Climbing In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has three of the Virunga's six volcanic summits, all of which can be climbed in a day. Views from the peaks - into Rwanda and DR Congo, and towards the Rift Valley and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, more than justify the effort.
The park's highest peak is Muhavura at 4127 meters which is adorned by a clear crater lake, 40m in diameter, and commands panoramic views along the length of the Virunga chain. Mount Gahinga is the smallest of the Virunga volcanoes and rises to 3474 meters, with a swamp-filled crater lake, about 180m wide. Mount Sabinyo bears several summits, the highest standing at 3669 meters whilst in 3 countries, Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo at once.
Ntebeko Visitor Center In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
This visitor Center is the trailhead for nature walks, volcanic climbs, and golden monkey and gorilla tracking. Exhibits inside the building explore themes relating to the Virunga environment. A trail along the adjacent drystone Buffalo Wall (built to keep animals out of neighboring farmland) provides good birding and views of the Park's dramatic volcanic backdrop.
Best time to go for Gorilla Tracking In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Gorilla tours are carried out throughout the year. However, the best time to visit gorillas in Mgahinga is during the dry seasons of December to February and June to October. During the dry season, the forest paths are not overgrown with vegetation and are less muddy.
Access to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:
By Road:
Mgahinga is located 524 km from Kampala city, Uganda's Capital. A surfaced highway runs from Kampala via Mbarara and Kabala to Kisoro. The 80 km road between Kabale and Kisoro is a winding drive through mountainous terrain with steep ascents and descents. Beyond Kisoro, a rough, 14 km road with steep, rocky sections ascends to the Park's Headquarters at Ntebeko.
It is also much easier to access it from Rwanda in a journey that takes about three hours from Kigali through the Kyanika cross border.
By Air:
Mgahinga can be reached by daily flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airfield.
Where to Stay in Mgahinga:
There are different lodges, hotels, and campsites to choose from, offering budget, midrange, and luxury options in Kisoro, Ntebeko, and near Lake Mutanda. Some of the options available include;
1. Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge: Found in Ntebeko, this luxury lodge is built with traditional material and is strategically located at the foot of three stunning volcanoes.
2. Amajambere Iwacu camp: Located in Ntebeko and near the park offices it offers excellent budget accommodation and even dormitories.
3. Chameleon Hill Lodge: Located near Lake Mutanda offering stunning views of the lake with possibilities to go for nature walks and mountain biking.
4. Traveler’s Nest Hotel: In Kisoro is one of Uganda’s oldest hotels with beautiful rooms with fireplaces.
5. Nkuringo Safari Lodge: This is near Mgahinga and is found around the shores of the beautiful Lake Mutanda with views of the three volcanoes in Mgahinga. The lodge offers camping activities and is ideal for those looking for good accommodation but on a budget.
6. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge: This is a luxury lodge built in Kisoro town near Bwindi's impenetrable forest park allowing one to easily reach Mgahinga. The lodge has a fine interior, a fireplace, and other luxurious specials.
7. Mount Gahinga Rest Camp: This is located just next to the park gate. Visitors have options of sleeping in tents or grass-thatched rooms that overlook Lake Mutanda.
8. Mount Gahinga Lodge: Offer stunning views of the three volcanoes, fine food, good cabins, complimentary massages, hot showers, free wifi, and runs on solar power.
Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Gorilla tracking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
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