Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga gorilla national park : Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a beautiful park and the second gorilla destination in Uganda, at a size of only 33.7 square kilometers Mgahinga is the smallest safari part in Uganda and lies at the height of 2,227 meters – 4,127 meters above the sea level. The park stretches on the slopes of three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes that are Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m) and Mt. Sabyinyo (3,645m).

Mgahinga Gorilla National park lies in the Great Virunga Conservation Area which comprises of fellow gorilla destinations, Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated within the Virunga massifs which is a chain of 8 extinct volcanoes that form three countries and are a habitat to the endangered mountain gorillas, the park is located in the Southwestern Uganda in Kisoro district.

History of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established as a national park in 1991 with intentions of conserving the endangered mountain gorillas that lived within the forests, between 1930s and 1950, the area was a game reserve. In the 1990s, the original inhabitants of the forest – the Batwa pygmies were forcefully evicted from the forest and were relocated to live outside the park.

Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mountain Gorillas

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the 4 gorilla destinations in the world, the park hosts a reasonable mountain gorilla population including The Nyakagezi gorilla family – the only habituated gorilla group.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is composed of 9 members that is 4 silverbacks, 2 infants, 2 adult females and 1 juvenile, the group is headed by a dominant silverback Mark who took leadership from silverback Bugingo. Other members of the Nyakagezi gorilla family include Mathew and Mafia (silverbacks), Nyiramwiza and Nshuti (adult females), Nkanda (juvenile), Mutagamba and Rukundo (infant).

The Virunga Volcanoes

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a scenic national park thanks to its location on the northern slopes of Mt. Muhabura, Mgahinga and Sabyinyo. These here volcanoes are part of the chain of Virunga volcanoes of 8 volcanoes forming the Virunga Region.

These volcanoes are characterized with different vegetation zones that corresponds closely to the East African mountains that are the Afromontane forests below the 2,500 m, typical bamboo in areas between 2,500 to 3,500 m and Afro-alpine moorland in areas above 3500 m.

 

Virunga Volcanoes found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are

• Mount Gahinga locally known as Gahinga from small piles of stones in garden fields, the volcano stands at the altitude of 3,474 meters
• Muhavura known as the guide as it is seen from all over Kisoro, the volcano stands at the altitude of 4,127 meters
• Sabyinyo also known as “Old man’s teeth” because of its eroded crown looking like an old man stand at 366 meters.

Golden Monkeys

Golden Monkeys are rare species and they are only found in the Virunga area and endemic to the Albertine Rift, these beautiful primates are characterized of bright Orange – gold body, cheeks and tail contrasting with its black limbs, crown and tail end.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the golden monkeys are found in the bamboo vegetation areas of the park.

Birdlife

Mgahinga Gorilla National park is a home to 115 recorded bird species including some species which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Mountains, migratory bird species and 39 of the 88 species of Afro-tropical highlands biome that occur in Uganda , these bird species include the Dusky turtle Dove, there is the Cape Robin-chat, the olive Thrush, the Kivu-ground Thrush, the Brown-crowned Tchagra and the Bronze Sunbird as well as Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, there are also the Rwenzori Batis, a huge number of Black-headed Waxbill as well as the Streaky Seedeater, among others.

Things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla Trekking

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another great destination for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, the park is a home to one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi and there is always 8 gorilla permits available per day. This gorilla family has 5 silverbacks, 2 adult females and 3 young gorillas.

Gorilla trekking experience starts as early 07 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters which is conducted by a senior warden who takes you through the rules and regulations to follow while with the gorillas. Then head into the forest looking for the gorillas, the trek takes approximately 3-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent the previous night. When you locate them, you will spend one hour in their presence while taking pictures and videos and witnessing how they live in the forests of Mgahinga.

Flash photography is prohibited, also a distance of 7 meters must be observed while in the presence of the gorillas.

Volcano Hiking

 Golden Monkey Tracking

The rare golden monkeys are only found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and it is where the thrilling golden monkey tracking can be done, golden monkeys are large, inquisitive and mischievous old world monkeys living in the bamboo zone of the Virunga volcanoes and they range in the bamboo forest looking for food.

Golden monkey tracking starts with briefing at the park’s headquarters then head into the forests looking for them, unlike mountain gorillas, golden monkeys are very playful and are not scared of the flashlights, so during your stay in their presence you will take as many photos and videos as you wish. You will enjoy watching them jump from one branch to another and watch them fight for fruits.

Batwa Trail

The Batwa Trail in Mgahinga gorilla national park lead from the base of Muhavura cave taking you to the homesteads of the Batwa pygmy people – the former inhabitants of the forest, this activity is conducted by Batwa guides who will offer you a deeper insight into the traditional forest life of the Batwa and their culture. This trail walk is a living museum where you can learn about the Batwa people a pygmoid tribe that use to live into the area before being gazetted as a national park, they were hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine. You will be entertained by their local dances and drama, demonstration of the high hunting skills, visit the medicine man among others.

Bird watching

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an ideal destination for birding, the park hosts a huge population of birds and some of the bird you will enjoy watching during your trip include include the Dusky turtle Dove, there is the Cape Robin-chat, the olive Thrush, the Kivu-ground Thrush, the Brown-crowned Tchagra and the Bronze Sunbird as well as Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, there are also the Rwenzori Batis, a huge number of Black-headed Waxbill as well as the Streaky Seedeater, among others.

Best places to go for bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include Buffalo walls, forests, wetlands and other habitats.

Garama Cave Exploration

Garama Cave is a 342 meters long cave lieing beneath a plateau on the northern edge of the park, 3kilometers from Ntebeko and is set in the former farmland zone, in the earlier times the cave was periodically occupied by the Batwa who used it a council chamber and a hiding place during the times of war.

The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the dry season when the rains are less and the trails are less slippery, the park is situated in the forested southern corner of Uganda with two seasons in year. Because of the forested nature of the area, the park receives rainfall all year round.

The dry season in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the months of June – August and December – early February, the dry season is more recommended because in these months the roads are more passable and the trails are less slippery.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in Southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road and air transport.

By road : it is a drive of about 9 to 10 hours from Kampala or Entebbe Via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to the park’s headquarters.

By air: there are scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip then connect to the park by a road.