Hiking Mount Sabinyo in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
One of the three Virunga volcanic mountains in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Sabinyo is situated in the Kisoro district in the southwest of Uganda. It shares borders with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo.
One of the eight Virunga volcanoes—the others being Mount Karisimbi, Mount Muhabura, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyamuragira, and Mount Nyiragongo—is the extinct Mount Sabinyo, which rises 3645 meters above sea level. Because the mountain’s summit resembles a worn-out tooth in a gum line, the local Kinyarwanda term Sabinyo is derived from the word Iryinyo, which means old man’s tooth.
Mount Sabinyo hike
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only place to hike Mount Sabinyo, which is 3645 meters above sea level. A briefing regarding the expectations, norms, and regulations is given before the hike up Mount Sabinyo begins. Following the briefing, you will receive a walking stick, be paired with an experienced park guide, be given a ranger guide to keep you safe, pack a lunch, and begin your hike up the volcanic mountain.
Depending on your level of fitness, hiking Mount Sabinyo takes about eight hours total, which includes four hours to reach the summit and four hours to descend to the starting point. Along the way, you will pass through flat mountain slopes, swamps where you can see various wildlife species, such as animals, primates, and birds, as well as sharp ridges and crater lakes, as well as various vegetation zones like bamboo, sub-alpine, and forest patches.
You will also learn about the history of the mountain among other things. You will be standing in three nations when you reach the summit of Mount Sabinyo: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, you will be treated to breathtaking vistas of the Rwenzori mountain ranges, Lake Kivu in Rwanda, and Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale.
The price of a Mount Sabinyo hiking permit.
In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a hiking permit for Mount Sabinyo costs 80 USD per person for non-resident foreigners, 70 USD per person for residents, and 50,000 UGX per person for East African nationals. Porter expenses are not included in the Mount Sabinyo hiking prices, which include park entrance fees for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The ideal season to ascend Mount Sabinyo
The best time to hike Mount Sabinyo in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the dry season, which includes June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because the park receives less rainfall during this time, making the hiking trails dry and manageable, as opposed to the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making mountain climbing challenging. The park’s vegetation will be sparser during the dry season, making it easier to see various wildlife species when hiking.
Things to bring or pack for your Mgahinga Gorilla National Park trekking safari
Hiking shoes to keep your feet dry, especially during the rainy season, drinking water and energy snacks, a backpack, a walking stick, a first aid kit, a knife, trekking pants and t-shirts, a rain jacket or poncho, a hat and sunglasses, insect repellent, a camera, and extra batteries are just a few of the things you should bring or pack for your hiking safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park travel route
The southwestern region of Uganda is home to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is reachable by plane and road.
It takes roughly nine to ten hours to drive from Kampala or Entebbe to the park headquarters via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro while using road transportation.
Another way to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is from Kigali, Rwanda. Travelers will fly into Kigali International Airport and then drive for three to four hours to reach the park headquarters via the Cyanika border.
reach get reach the park headquarters by road, you will need to organize or charter domestic flights with Bar Aviation or Aero Link Uganda from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip.
Accommodations in the Gorilla National Park of Mgahinga
During your safari, you can stay at any of the several lodging options in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Kisoro Travelers Lodge, Mucha Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Muhabura Motel, Mubano Hotel, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Montana Guest House, Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mt. Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, and Ntebeko River Camp Kisoro are just a few of the lodging options that range from affordable to luxurious.
Additional activities at the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
In addition to Mount Sabinyo hiking, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers other fascinating activities such as golden monkey trekking, bird watching, guided nature walks, Batwa trail experience, where you can interact with the Batwa people, learn about their way of life, discover how they hunt and gather, and take part in their traditional entertainment, and gorilla trekking, where you can spend an hour with the mountain gorillas.
