Hiking Mount Gahinga.
The smallest national park in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, is situated in the southwest of Kisoro District and is adjacent to Virunga National area in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Mount Gahinga is one of the three Virunga volcanoes in this area.
Other Virunga volcanoes Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhabura, primates like the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys, as well as animals like elephants, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, buffaloes, bushbucks, and various bird species, are all found in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mount Gahinga Hiking
At 3,474 meters, Mount Gahinga is the smallest and dormant of the three volcanoes, along with Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabinyo. The laws, restrictions, and expectations for hiking Mount Gahinga are explained at the park headquarters early in the morning. After the briefing, you will be given a knowledgeable park guide, park rangers, and a walking stick.
You will then begin your 6- to 8-hour hike, with stops along the way to rest, eat, take in the breathtaking views, and snap amazing photos. You will see a variety of wildlife on the trip, including primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys, as well as farmlands and bamboo forests.
A 180-meter-wide shallow crater wetland with unusual sub-alpine vegetation, such as lobelia, can be seen once you reach the peak. You will be able to see additional Virunga ranges while you are at the summit. among other mountain ranges, including Mount Sabinyo, Muhabura, and the Rwenzori, and then begin descending to the beginning point.
The price of climbing Mount Gahinga
It costs 80 USD per person for foreign visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, 70 USD per person for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX per person for East African nationals to hike Mount Gahinga. The cost includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park admission fees; however, it does not include costs for a tent, porter, or chef.
The ideal season to hike Mount Gahinga
Although it is possible to hike Mount Gahinga at any time of year, the best time to do so is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. This is because the national park receives little rainfall during this time, so the vegetation is sparser, making it easier to see the park’s various wildlife species. Additionally, the hiking trails are dry and passable, making trekking easier than during the rainy season, when they are muddy and slippery.
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park travel route
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated in the southwest region of Uganda and is reachable by road. It takes roughly nine to ten hours to drive from Kampala to the park headquarters, passing through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro.
When traveling by road, visitors can also reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via Kigali, Rwanda. They will fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for around three to four hours to reach the park headquarters via the Cyanika border near Kisoro.
Another way to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is via air. To get to the park headquarters by road, you will need to organize or charter domestic flights with Bar Aviation or Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip.
Accommodations for visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
During your safari, you can stay at a variety of lodging options in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, including Mount Gahinga Lodge, Kisoro Travelers Rest Camp, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mutanda Lake Resort, Mucha Hotel, Muhabura Motel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mubano Hotel, Muhabura Motel, and Mount Gahinga Rest Camp. These options range from affordable to luxurious.
Additional activities at the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
Beyond hiking Mount Gahinga, visitors can enjoy other fascinating activities at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, such as bird watching, which allows you to see a variety of bird species, golden monkey trekking, which allows you to spend an hour with the rare golden monkeys, guided nature walks, and Batwa cultural experiences, which allow you to interact with the Batwa people who once lived in the forest before it was gazetted into a national park.
What to bring on the hike up Mount Gahinga
Hiking shoes, garden gloves, long-sleeved clothing, a waterproof rain jacket, a first aid kit, energy snacks and drinking water, insect repellent, a hat and sunglasses, a camera and extra batteries, binoculars, a walking stick, and a backpack are just a few of the essentials that guests should bring on their hiking safari.
