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Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park: Mgahinga National Park is the second gorilla park in Uganda located in the southwestern Uganda in Kisoro district, Mgahinga is the smallest parks in Uganda covering an area of 33.7 square kilometers and is part of the Virunga Conservation Area stretching along the 8 Virunga Volcanoes.

Mgahinga national park was gazetted as a national park in 1991 purposely to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.

Mgahinga national park is a great primate destination hosting the endangered mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkeys which are only found in the Virunga Area and other areas to find the golden monkeys are Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in DR.Congo all found in the Virunga Conservation Area.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is a home to one habituated gorilla family by the names of Nyakagezi family which is open for gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga national park starts in the morning with a briefing at Ntebeko park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations to follow on this activity.

After briefing, you are grouped into 8 people and with rangers and armed guides you will head into the jungle of Mgahinga looking for the gorillas of Nyakagezi gorilla family. Trekking mountain gorillas takes aboyt 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorillas as they move from one place to another in search of food.

Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend one hour in their presence, during this hour in their natural habitat you will learn about their lifestyle, behaviors, and habits and take a number of pictures and videos.

After a magical face to face encounter with mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the park’s headquarters where you will be rewarded with gorilla trekking certificates and head back to your lodge  marking the end of the experience.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

Nyakagezi gorilla family used to wander between Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and DR.Congo’s Virunga national park, however the park finally settled in Mgahinga national park and has been there for years.

Nyakagezi gorilla family is a unique gorilla family with currently Five silverbacks, two natured from silverbacks into silverbacks thus increasing from three to five.

Nyakagzi gorilla family was habituated in 1991 after Mgahinga national park was established, by then the group was under the leadership of silverback Bugingo who is now over 50 years old. Later Bugingo abdicated and was replaced by his son Mark who is assited by his brother Mafia, Bugingo has taken on the mantle of Mzee (older wise person). Other silverbacks in the group are Ndugutse and Rukundo , the group also has two females and children.

Cost of a gorilla permit in Mgahinga national park

A gorilla permit is a document that is issued to visitors intending to visit Mgahinga national park for gorilla trekking visiting the critically endangered mountain gorillas.

Note: only visitors of 15 years and above are allowed to participate in gorilla trekking.

A gorilla permit costs US$ 700 for Non – Foreign Residents, US$ 600 for Foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.

When to book a gorilla permit for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

In Mgahinga national park only 8 gorilla permits are issued on a daily, because of the high demand for these permit they get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. To avoid disappointments you are advised to book for your permit about 2 – 3 months before the dates for your gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park.

What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga National Park

For a comfortable and amazing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park, you need to carry various essentials since you will be going into the jungle. These include

  • Long sleeved shirts
  • Trousers
  • Hiking shoes (comfortable and well-fitting)
  • Camera
  • Rain jacket and poncho
  • Insect repellent
  • Energy giving snacks such as chocolates
  • Gardening gloves
  • Waterproof backpack
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

The best time to travel to Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking is during dry season that is from December to end of February and June to October, in these seasons the trails used for gorilla trekking are passable and less muddy like in the rainy season.

Since Mgahinga National Park is a tropical destination, expect rain at any time of the year.

Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park on a gorilla trekking safari

Mgahinga national park offers a variety of accommodation ranging from up-market, midrange and budget and camping grounds. Accommodations in the park include Mgahinga Rest Camp, Travelers Rest House, Virunga Hotel, Mgahinga Community Camp, Mgahinga Gorilla Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Camp, Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge, Mt. Muhabura Climber Resort among others.

Getting to Mgahinga national park

Mgahinga national park is located in southwestern Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means.

Road transport: by road it is a drive of approximately 9 hours to get Mgahinga national park from Kampala City via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro then to the park’s headquarters.

Mgahinga national park can also be accessed from Kigali City – Rwanda, you have to fly to Kigali International Airport and connect to Mgahinga by road via Katuna or Cyanika border which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.

Air transport:  Mgahinga national park can be accessed by air, there are domestic flights from Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip. These flights are offered by Aerolink and BAR Aviation.

 

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