Hiking Mount Muhabura.
Hiking Mount Muhabura: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s smallest protected region, is home to Mount Muhabura, one of three extinct volcano summits. Situated in Kisoro, the national park shares boundaries with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park. After Mount Karisimbi and Mount Mikeno, Mount Muhabura is the third-highest and steepest of the eight Virunga mountains.
Standing 4,127 meters above sea level, the Extinct Mountain is also partially located in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Since many travelers used it as a guide, the word “muhabura” is local and means “the guide.”
At Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the climb to Mount Muhabura begins early in the morning with a briefing at park headquarters regarding expectations and laws. Following the briefing, you will be paired with an expert park guide and armed park rangers. You will then be driven to the trail head at the mountain’s foot, where you will begin trekking in the forest.
Depending on the tourists’ level of fitness, the round-trip hike takes five to seven hours. When you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Crater Lake, other volcanic mountains, gorgeous scenery, and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, among other things. During the trek, you will also have stops where you can see animals, different bird species, primates, and plants.
The price of climbing Mount Muhabura
It costs 80 USD for foreign visitors, 70 USD for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX for East African nationals to hike Mount Muhabura in Mgahinga National Park. The cost is per day and does not include costs for tents or porters, but it does cover park admission fees.
The ideal season to climb Mount Muhabura
Although it is possible to hike Mount Muhabura 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 there is less rainfall in the park during this time, making the hiking trails dry and manageable, as opposed to the rainy season, when they are muddy and slippery, making hiking challenging.
THINGS TO BRING ON A MOUNTAIN HIKE
Hiking shoes, a waterproof rain jacket, energy-boosting foods and drinking water, a first aid kit, garden gloves, a walking stick, a camera and extra batteries, binoculars, and a backpack are some of the things that one should bring when going mountain hiking in Mgahinga National Park. These items contribute to a memorable and optimal hiking experience.
In addition to hiking Mount Muhabura, visitors can also partake in other activities in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park during their safari, including golden monkey trekking, bird watching, batwa cultural trail experiences, nature walks, and gorilla trekking, which allows visitors to spend an hour with the endangered mountain gorillas. All of these activities make for an incredible and unforgettable safari.
