Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a beautiful Uganda gorilla destination, one of the two national parks to find mountain gorillas in Uganda and one of the 4 national park mountain gorilla parks in the world.

At 33,7 square kilometers, Mgahinga Gorilla national park is the smallest national park in Uganda. Also the smallest among the 3 national parks making up the Virunga Conservation Area, the other two are Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda all forming 434 square kilometers.

Mgahinga gorilla national park lies between the altitudes of 2,227 m and 4,127 m and covers 3 Virunga volcanoes that are Mount Muhavura (4,127), Mt. Gahinga (3,474), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645).

Mgahinga gorilla national park was established in 1991 and was put under the administration of Uganda Wildlife Authority, the park’s name Mgahinga was derived from the Kinyarwanda word Gahinga that means the “Pile of Volcanic lave stone heaps where cultivation is carried out”. All the names of the three volcanoes found in Mgahinga gorilla national park have a meaning behind them, Sabinyo means “the Old man’s teeth” and Muhavura means “The Guide”, Mount Gahinga has a beautiful swamp at the top, Muhavura has a crater lake and the Sabinyo Mountain offers you a chance to stand in 3 countries (Uganda, DRC and Rwanda) while on top

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a stunning national park established majorly to protect the mountain gorillas and the endangered Golden monkeys.

Mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park hosts a total of 80 mountain gorillas with only one habituated gorilla group which is open to tourists that is the Nyakagezi family.  This family is composed of 9 members, 4 silverbacks, 2 infants, 2 Ault females and 1 juvenile and it under the leadership of silverback Mark who took over leadership from his father Bugingo. Members of the park include Mathew and Mafia which are silverbacks, Nyiramwiza and Nshuti – adult females, Nkanda – Juvenile, Mutagamba and Rujundo – infant.

This gorilla family used to move to Rwanda and Congo but has now settled in the Uganda in Mgahinga national park

Wildlife in Mgahinga gorilla national park

  Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to about 39 mammals and these include mountain gorillas, cape buffaloes, elephants, endangered golden monkeys, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, leopards, spotted hyenas, black fronted duikers among others.

Birds in Mgahinga Gorilla national park 

Mgahinga gorilla national is a great birding destination hosting approximately 115 bird species including some species which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Mountain. Birds in Mgahinga Gorilla national Park include White-necked raven, Black kite, Pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbird, Speckled mouse bird, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Whydah, Speckled Mouse birds, Fire Finch Stonechat, Grey Capped Warbler, Waxbills, Yellow-Vented Bulbul.Alpine chat, Alpine, Archer’s robin-chat, Blue-headed coucal, Dusky crimson wing, Kivu ground-thrush, Olive pigeon, Olive woodpecker, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori nightjar and Ruwenzori turaco among others.

Things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla Tracking 

Gorilla tracking is most breathtaking Uganda safari activity to do in Mgahinga gorilla national park, the park hosts only Nyakagezi gorilla gorillas which is tracked on gorilla tracking experience.

Gorilla tracking experience starts early in the morning with briefing at the park’s headquarters in Ntebeko where all trekkers are briefed about the rules and regulations to follow, you are also grouped into 8 people they head into the jungle looking for the Nyakagezi group.

On this activity, you need to be physically fit since it is a challenging hike through the hilly landscape of the forest, valleys and the steep slopes. The activity takes approximately 2- 4 hours since it depends on where the gorilla group is and where it spent the previous night, as you move in the forests you will enjoy sights of several bird species and primates such as black and white colobus monkeys.

When you encounter the member of Nyakagezi gorilla group, you will spend one hour watching them and their behavior, you can take pictures as long as your flight is off as it irritates the gorillas.

Volcano/Mountain Climbing

Volcano/mountain climbing is a thrilling and adventurous experience offering you an opportunity to climb one of the 3 volcanoes found in the park including Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo.

Mount Muhavura “The Guide”

Mount Muhavura stands at 4,127 meters high, this volcano can be climbed in 8 hours covering around 12 kilometers, as you climb this volcano you will hike through the small shrubs, grasses and the rock ground offering you the best views ever. When you reach the top, you are able to see the peaks of Mount. Rwenzori, Virunga Volcanoes, Bwindi Forest, Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth national park among others.

Mount Gahinga “A pile of lave stones”

Mount Gahinga named from a local word meaning a pile of lava stone heaps around which cultivation carried out, hiking this volcano takes around 6 hours and it will take you through the bamboo forest. As you reach the top you will find a swamp, the hike is about 8 kilometers and along the way you will see the stone piles in some gardens.

Mount Sabinyo “Old man’s teeth”

Hiking Mount Sabinyo to its top is quite challenging and takes approximately 8 hours, though very great and an adventurous experience. On top of Mount Sabinyo you get a remarkable experience of standing in 3 countries at once that is in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Birding

Mgahinga gorilla national park is a birder’s haven with around 79 species of birds and can be carried out through the bamboo forest, in the gorge between Mt. Sabinyo and Gahinga and in the montane forest. Some of the birds you encounter include Pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbird, Speckled mouse bird, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Whydah, Speckled Mouse birds, Fire Finch Stonechat, Grey Capped Warbler, Waxbills, Yellow-Vented Bulbul, Alpine chat, Alpine, Archer’s robin-chat, Blue-headed coucal, Dusky crimson wing among others.

Hiking and Nature walks

Hiking and nature walks in Mgahinga gorilla national park are done around the edges of the volcanoes and is a very rewarding experience taking you through wild vegetation, bamboo forests, the Rugezi swamp which gives them a chance to have a beautiful scenic views of agricultural areas, beautiful lakes like Lake Mutanda and several bird species.

Golden Monkey Tracking

Mgahinga gorilla national park is the only home for the endangered golden monkeys and is the only place to do golden monkey tracking in Uganda, on this activity you will come face to face with the beautiful golden monkeys as they play of bamboo trees, take amazing pictures among others.

Cultural Encounters

Cultural encounters in Mgahinga gorilla national park are done in the indigenous Batwa people who used to stay in the forests of Mgahinga before it was designated as a national park. During the visit, you will be entertained by local dances and drama, see how they love, eat and dress among others.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National park is 510 kilometers away from Kampala

Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

There are various accommodation facilities in Mgahinga Gorilla National park ranging from campsites, budget, and midrange to luxurious lodges and hotels and they include

• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Nkuringo Safari Lodge
• Traveler’s Nest Hotel
• Mgahinga Rest Camp
• Mount Mgahinga Lodge