Best Activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Mgahinga Gorilla National park is located in Kisoro district in the southwestern part of Uganda and is among the smallest national parks in the country, which covers a total surface area of 34 square kilometers. In 1991, it was established as a national park and currently it is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and published under the ministry of tourism with an aim of protecting its endangered mountain gorilla species that live within the dense forests in the park. This national park is neighbouring with Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Mgahinga National Park encompasses three colonical Volcanoes, which are marked as the main attractions in the park and these include; Mount Gahinga, which is 3474 meters high, Mount Sabinyu that is 3645meters high, and lastly, there is Mount Muhabura, which is 4127 meters high, Best Activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga National Park harbours a variety numbers of unique wildlife species such as; Golden Monkeys, Buffaloes, forest elephants, Giant forest hogs, bushbucks, Duikers, I’hoest monkeys, and bird species like handsome francolin, African paradise flycatchers and Olive pigeon and many more. Mgahinga National Park offers its tourists with a number of many interesting activities which they engage themselves during their stay on a Uganda Safari and these include;
Best Five activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- Golden Monkey trekking.
Golden Monkey trekking activity in Mgahinga National Park always takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on how long it will take the tourists to trace where the golden monkeys are located because they do not keep in one place, they move a lot searching for food. Once the visitors are able to find the golden monkeys, they are given one hour to spend watching how monkeys jump up in the tree branches, how they feed and how they play, rest. Visitors always use this moment to take pictures and record videos to show the people back home after their safari.
Golden monkey trekking activities in the park begin in the morning hours but before the visitors head to the jungle to trace the golden monkeys, they are first given a short briefing at the park headquarters and also given a well-experienced park guide who is well conversant with different trails to follow to lead and guide them during the activity.
- Batwa Trail experience.
The Batwa trail experience in Mgahinga National Park activity commences from the base of Muhavura Cave and is conducted and led by the Batwa guides. This activity becomes interesting because tourists get an opportunity to interact with the Batwa people and learn about their traditional life, their culture and listen to the story telling part of how they used to live in Mgahinga forest before it was gazette as a national park, they also learn how to make bamboo cups, and learn the gathering and hunting techniques of the Batwa people.
Tourists during this trail they also get to enjoy watching the traditional cultural dance performances and listen to the sorrowful songs about their way of living in the forest by the Batwa women, they also get to look at the medical plants which are used to cure all different kinds of diseases, as they also grab a great opportunity to visit the sacred Ngarama cave which used to the kings place, Best Activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- Bird Watching.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is known to be one of the best birding destinations in Uganda, which is a home to over 184 bird species, which attracts a number of tourists to travel to Uganda in order to get a chance to look at these birds. During bird watching activities, tourists are always accompanied by an experienced bird guide who guides and helps them to spot different kinds of bird species like; Blue headed coucal, alpine swift, cape robin chat, moorland, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, Olive Woodpecker, dusky crimson, yellow vented bulbul, Olive pigeon, fire finch stonechat, African paradise flycatcher, white necked raven, Kivu ground thrush, Archers robin chat, speckled mouse bird, double collared sunbird, and black kite among others and these are specified in different categories such as Albertine rift endemic species, Migratory birds and forest birds.
- Volcano Climbing and Hiking.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated within the Virunga Mountains and involves three extinct Volcanoes, which include the following; Muhabura, Sabyinyo mountains and Gahinga mountains and these are the mountains available for tourists to climb and hike in the National Park during their safari.
Mount Sabinyo.
Mount Sabinyo has an altitude of 3,669 meters above the sea level and it takes tourists hiking this mountain good 8 hours to begin enjoying the scenic views of lake Kivu, Rwenzori rangers and many others and as soon as they climb and reach at the top of Mount Sabinyo, they will be standing in three countries at the same period of time and these countries are; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mount Muhavura.
Mount Muhavura rises at an altitude of 4,127 meters above the sea level and this makes it the highest Volcanic Mountain in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Hiking Mount Muhavura requires only tourists who are fit and in a good health. It takes Tourists Hiking this mountain about 10 hours to reach at the top of the mountain where they capture amazing, classic views of Lake Edward, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Rwenzori Mountains. More so, tourists while hiking, they get to pass through different zones as they enjoy sightseeing wildlife animals such as; golden monkeys, buffaloes, forest elephants and many others.
Mount Gahinga.
Among the three Volcanic Mountains in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Gahinga is marked as the smallest Volcano standing at an elevation of 3,474 meters above the sea level and it takes tourists only 6 hours to hike to the top of this mountain depending on each individual’s level of fitness. When tourists reach at the top of Mount Gahinga, they are able to enjoy the stunning views of a crater-filled swamp with sub- alpine plants and lobelia, Best Activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- Gorilla Trekking.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is most famous for the Gorilla trekking activity. This park harbours one gorilla group, which is known as Nyakagezi gorilla group. Gorilla Trekking activities begin in the morning at 8:00 am but the tourist are expected to be present at the park for registration and the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow and the indivuals are in groups of 8 members each group as they are given a well experienced park guide who is well conversant with the gorilla trails to follow.
Gorilla trekking activities take about 30- 7 hours and after allocating the gorillas, tourists are are given one hour to have a direct contact with them but noting that they have to keep a distance of at least 7 meters between them and the gorillas. In addition, during this hour, Tourists always get a chance to learn about the gorillas lifestyle, behaviours, watch them play, rest, feed. Breastfeed and how they groom their young ones. They always use this chance to take photos and record videos but they are always advised not to use flashlights in their phones and cameras especially when they are in presence of the wild animals. During this trekking, tourists are able to view other primate species such as, baboons, I’hoest monkeys, plant species and bird species.
How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Tourists planning to travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is located in the southwestern region of Uganda, can use either Road or Air transport.
Air Transport.
Travelers moving to Mgahinga National park will book their charter or scheduled flights with Aero link Uganda from Entebbe International Airport or from Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro Airstrip.
Road transport.
Tourists opting to use the road transport means will take a drive of about 3 to 4 hours where they will drive from Kampala city via Masaka- Mbarara- Kabale- Kisoro and then connect to the Parks headquarters which are located in Ntebeko.
Book with our trusted and experienced tour operators such as Achieve Global Safaris for your Uganda safari tour and get to explore in these best five activities done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
