Mgahinga gorilla national park activities.
Activities at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park The smallest protected area in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated in the southwest of Kisoro district and shares a border with Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
The endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, black and white colobs monkeys, mammals such as forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, duikers, various bird species, and three Virunga volcanic mountains—Mt. Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabinyo—are among the many wildlife species found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. There are several fascinating activities available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, including
Activities at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Gorilla trekking
The main activity of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is gorilla trekking, which begins at the park headquarters early in the morning with a training on the rules and regulations. Following the briefing, you will begin hiking with a park guide who is knowledgeable about the many forest pathways.
Because mountain gorillas prefer to roam around in search of food, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Trekking will allow you to see a variety of animals, including birds, mammals, and other primates.
After the gorillas are located, you will have the chance to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can observe their feeding, nursing, playing, and grooming of young, take pictures, and document the wonderful moments to share with others back home.
Golden Monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking, which begins with a briefing at Ntebeko park headquarters, is an energetic activity that is the second most popular activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park after gorilla trekking. Following the briefing, a park guide will lead you on a journey through the forest, following trails made of discarded bamboo leaves, shoots, and fruits.
You will be able to see a variety of wildlife species during the 30- to 4-hour golden monkey trekking experience. After you find the golden monkeys, you will be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can observe their play, feeding, jumping up trees, and other activities.
Experience the Batwa Trail
An intriguing activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the Batwa Trail Experience, which gives visitors a chance to engage with the Batwa people who once called the area home before it was designated as a national park. The Batwa trail experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park begins with two guides praying to Biheeko, the Batwa forest god, who they believe provides protection to humans, particularly before hunting excursions.
The Batwa trail takes you through the forest where the Batwa once lived, teaches you about the various medicinal plants and their significance, shows you how they hunted and gathered, shows you how they made bamboo cups, and shows you how they made fire by rubbing two dry sticks against each other, among other things.
The Batwa trails will also lead you to the Garamba cave, which sits beneath Mount Gahinga and was once inhabited by the Batwa ruler. It served as a food store and a location for them to hide from their foes. The Batwa tail experience includes listening to their traditional melodies, historical stories, and lifestyle, among other things.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park bird watching
One of Uganda’s top birding locations, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to more than 250 known bird species, including migratory, woodland, and Albertine unique species. A knowledgeable park guide will accompany you while you observe birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
They will assist you in identifying various bird species, including the black kite, double-collared sunbird, white-necked raven, speckled mouse bird, paradise flycatcher, pin-tailed whydah, Kivu ground thrush, olive woodpecker, Ruwenzori batis, blue-headed coucal, archers robin chat, yellow vented bulbul, Ruwenzori turaco, olive pigeon, and Ruwenzori nightjar, among others.
In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, mountain climbing is an exciting activity that allows visitors to trek the three Virunga volcanic ranges, which comprise
Mount Muhabura is 4,127 meters above sea level. The hike takes about 8 hours total, and once you reach the summit, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mount Rwenzori, and more.
The hike up Mount Gahinga, which is 3,474 meters above sea level, takes roughly six hours total. Upon reaching the summit, you will be able to witness a marsh filled with craters and enormous lobelia.
It takes almost eight hours to reach the summit of Mount Sabinyo, which is 3,669 meters above sea level. The journey up Mount Sabinyo will take you through a deep forest with African montane vegetation, past Rugezi Swamp, and when reaching the summit, you will find yourself in three different countries: Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s prime time to visit
You may visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at any time of year, but the ideal time to go is in the dry season, which includes June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. In contrast to the rainy season, when the paths are muddy and slippery, making gorilla trekking and mountain hiking challenging, the dry season brings little to no rainfall to the national parks, making the trails suitable for both activities.
Since March through May and November are the finest times of year for bird watching, visitors can also visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park during the wet season, when they can see migrating and colorful bird species.
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park travel route
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated in the southwest region of Uganda and is accessible by road. From Kampala or Entebbe, you will go through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, and finally arrive at the park headquarters, which takes roughly nine to ten hours in a four-wheel drive safari vehicle.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also accessible from Kigali, Rwanda. To get there, take a plane to Kigali International Airport, and then drive for three to four hours to reach the park via the Cyanika border.
By booking charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip, you can also travel by air to reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You can book domestic flights to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park through your reliable travel agency.
