Hiking in Mgahinga national park is among the activities to do during safaris and it is done on 3 of the volcanic mountains at the destination. Mgahinga national park hiking tours are done on Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo. Different trails are used to hike to the peaks of the mountains, which offer amazing views of the scenery in the surrounding area.
The mountains found in Mgahinga national park are part of the Virunga Mountains which consist of 8 volcanoes which can also be seen in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The other Virunga Mountains include Mount Karisimbi at 4507 meters, Mount Mikeno at 4437 meters, Mount Bisoke at 3711 meters, Mount Nyiragongo at 3470 meters, Mount Nyamulagira at 3058 meters.
Mgahinga national park is among the destinations located in the south western part of Uganda where the hikes can be done.
Hiking tours on Mount Gahinga
Mount Gahinga is one of the 3 mountains found in Mgahinga national park where tourists can engage in hiking tours.
The mountain is located between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura in Mgahinga national park and is also the shortest of them at an altitude of 3474 meters. Hikes on this mountain take about 6 to 8 hours for ascend and descending from the mountain.
Hiking on Mount Gahinga starts with a briefing at 07:00 am at the park headquarters which are located about 10minutes drive from Kisoro town.
Tourists are accompanied by ranger guides during the hikes on Mount Gahinga which goes through farmlands, and bamboo forest and primates like black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and vervet monkeys can be encountered during the hike and also through the sub alpine vegetation.
Views of the Rwenzori mountains can be seen from the summit of Mount Gahinga. This hike can be done as part of a day tour in Mgahinga national park.
The cost of climbing Mount Gahinga is 80 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 70 USD for foreign residents and 50,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
Hiking tours on Mount Muhabura
Mount Muhabura is the highest of the mountains found in Mgahinga national park and it is at an altitude of 4127 meters and is the 3rd highest of the Virunga mountains.
Hiking Mount Muhabura takes about 5 to 7 hours and starts with a briefing at the Ntebeko park headquarters. During the briefing, the hikers get to know more about the mountain and what to expect during the hike and the route which they will follow to get to the summit.
This hiking experience on Mount Muhabura can be done on the Rwanda side of the mountain as well. Tourists including experienced and non experienced hikers can engage in the hiking tour on Mount Muhabura.
During the hike, tourists are accompanied by ranger guides and are also provided with walking sticks because of the steep nature of the hike on Mount Muhabura. There are 2 stops made during the hike which include at an altitude of 3117 meters and also at 3860meters. Along the way, wildlife species such as buffalos and also primates can be encountered during this hike.
From the summit of Mount Muhabura, the hikers can enjoy views of other Virunga mountains, crater lakes and the surrounding area.
Hiking tours on Mount Sabyinyo
Mount Sabyinyo is also among the mountains found in Mgahinga national park where tourists can engage in hikes during their tours in Uganda.
The mountain is located close to Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo is at an altitude of 3669 meters and it is also a steep climb to get to the summit of the mountain. Hikers go through bamboo forests, moss and sub alpine zone during this hike.
A briefing is done at the park headquarters before embarking on the hike on Mount Sabyinyo which takes about 6 to 9 hours covering a distance of about 15kilometers. The first stop is made at an altitude of 3423 meters and also at 3537 meters.
The 3669 meters peak of Mount Sabyinyo is shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Best time for hiking in Mgahinga national park
Hiking tours in Mgahinga national park can be done throughout the year although the best time for the hikes is during the dry season around December to February and also in June to August.
It is also important to note that the weather around the mountains is also cold and hikers are advised to keep that in mind when packing for the hike. Some of the items to bring for the hike include good hiking shoes, long sleeved clothes, camera, sunglasses, mineral water and snacks, first aid kit and a day backpack.
Other activities to do in Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park offers many other activities for tourists to engage in during their safaris in Uganda and they include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, bird watching and also community tours.
- Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is among the activities that tourists engage in around the destination and it involves spending 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas which are part of the Nyakagezi gorilla family and watching them closely.
Permits for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park cost 800 USD per person and are issued to individuals above the age of 15 years.
- Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park involves interactions with the endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat.
These primates can be seen around the bamboo forests in the national park and tourists get to watch them closely and observe their behavior during this activity.
Community tours around Mgahinga national park involve interactions with the locals communities including the Batwa and getting to know more about their way of life.
How to get to Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park can be accessed by driving from Kampala to Kisoro which takes about 9 to 10 hours via the Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route. Tourists can also access the national park by driving from Rwanda which takes about 3 hours.
