Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park consists of traversing the park’s dense rainforest & bamboo in search of mountain gorilla families. Treks begin at Ntebeko, where a Uganda Wildlife Authority official provides a briefing and assigns ranger guides. Mgahinga gorilla treks offer opportunities to observe gorilla behavior in detail and capture memorable photographs.
While in Mgahinga, expect to visit the Nyakagezi family group, the only group present for trekking in this park. A valid gorilla permit is an important requirement if you are to go trek the Mgahinga gorillas. To obtain a valid permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), your local expert, Montero Safaris, can assist you. Each of the permits costs USD 800 per person for all non-residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, UGX 300,000 for East African citizens/Ugandans, and the Rest of Africa guests USD 500 per visitor.
Mgahinga lies in the Kisoro District, Southwestern Uganda, and forms part of the Virunga Conservation Area. This is also the smallest of the 10 national parks in Uganda, covering an area of only 33.7 square kilometers. Besides wildlife, Mgahinga National Park also shelters up to 3 scenic conical volcanoes, such as Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga. Mgahinga’s altitude ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 meters, with its landscape consisting of dense forests, rivers like Ntebeko, Nyabirerema, and Kabiranyuma.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers more than mountain gorilla trekking tours. Below are among the numerous safari activities you can add to your bucket list of experiences while planning a tour to Mgahinga.
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga
Mgahinga is one of the best locations to visit for a golden monkey trekking adventure. A guided golden monkey trek in Mgahinga National Park takes you through the lush bamboo forest in search of the habituated golden monkey troop. The standard trekking session with a troop of golden monkeys takes between 2 and 4 hours, which includes an hour for an up-close and personal encounter with the golden monkeys. Several of the golden monkeys can be spotted around the base areas of Mgahinga’s Virunga Volcanoes.
Golden monkey habituation
Golden monkey habituation is exceptional in the sense that you have up to 4 hours to explore more about golden monkeys, but the focus is mainly on the semi-habituated troop. If one hour given for up close during the standard golden monkey treks isn’t adequate, then embarking on habituation is the perfect option for you. To be allowed to enjoy golden monkey habituation, a permit is essential, and you can book one for USD 100.
Volcano climbing/hiking (Explore the conical peaks)
Mgahinga offers thrilling hiking adventures in its 3 conical Virunga Volcanoes. The 3 Virunga Volcanoes that exist in Mgahinga are shared with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The three Virunga Volcanoes can all be hiked from Mgahinga National Park, each taking you to a varying elevation. Mount Gahinga stands at an altitude of 3,474 meters, Mount. Sabyinyo (3,669 meters) and Muhabura Volcano (4,127 meters).
Bird-watching
Mgahinga harbors over 180 bird species within diverse habitats, including Albertine Rift endemics. Guided birding tours may reveal Rwenzori batis, grey-crowned cranes, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, olive woodpecker, dusky crimsonwing, yellow-billed duck, alpine chat, streaky seed-eater, bronze sunbird, montane double-collared sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, and red-faced woodland-warbler.
Other birds to find on a birding tour in Mgahinga include montane sooty boubou, African paradise flycatchers, yellow-billed kite, stripe-breasted tit, Chubb’s cisticola, African hill babblers, Banded prinia, Hadada Ibis, handsome francolins, and Cape robin chat.
The Batwa trail excursion
An addition to the Batwa cultural experience offers tourists a chance to enjoy authentic African cultures and traditions. The Batwa trail introduces you to the inspirational cultural history of the Batwa pygmies who lived in the Mgahinga and Bwindi forests as hunters and gatherers. An experienced Batwa guide takes the lead of the guests on the Batwa trail and expects to explore the unique hunting techniques and ancient honey harvesting skills.
Gorge walk
The guided Sabyinyo Gorge trail experience shouldn’t be missed on a tour in Mgahinga National Park. This trail rewards visitors with 4-6 hours of guided walking through the scenic vegetation and ushers you deeper into the Sabyinyo gorge, which lies between Mt. Sabyinyo & Gahinga Volcanoes. The entire trail extends up to 6 km and offers moderate to strenuous hiking adventures. The Gorge trail offers an exceptional birding opportunity, with birders having a chance to sight the Rwenzori turacos. Along the same trail, you to spot some of the mammals like duikers and golden monkeys.
Nature walks
Nature walking is one of the rewarding experiences that awaits you on a visit to Mgahinga National Park. During the guided nature walks, expect to explore the different trails, including the border trail, which takes between 5 and 6 hours; the bamboo trail, and theRugezi swamp walk trail –this is best for birding excursions.
The platform viewing experience in Mgahinga
Other than gorilla trekking, Mgahinga is also most popular for its rewarding Mgahinga Platform Viewing Experience. The viewing platform lies 800 meters uphill from the Ntebeko Tourist Centre. Guests have a chance to enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the Mgahinga National Park and the surrounding conical peaks: Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. Visitors can embark on a self-trek to enjoy the Mgahinga platform viewing experience.
The best time to visit Mgahinga
The majority of the safari experiences in Mgahinga can be enjoyed at any time of the year. But the dry season offers the most favorable weather conditions for exploring Mgahinga National Park (June to September or December to February). Even in the rainy/wet season, there is a possibility to organize a tour to explore Mgahinga National Park’s wonders, and this is from March to May or from October to November.
Accommodation Facilities
The best places to consider booking in and around Mgahinga include Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Mt. Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Traveler’s Rest Hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gahiza Island Resort, Ntebeko River Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, and many others.
How to reach Mgahinga to experience the best of Uganda?
Mgahinga National Park can be safely accessed by road, and from Kampala, it takes about 9 to 10 hours to get to the park. But you can also drive for only 4-5 hours from Kigali and cross via the Katuna/Chanika border. Or you can take less than 1-2 hours on a flight from the Entebbe Airport to the Kisoro Airport, where you can have a transfer by a safari vehicle.
Conclusively, Mgahinga is one of the best destinations in Uganda where you can experience more than mountain gorilla trekking adventures. Expect to also enjoy other captivating experiences, including golden monkey habituation, birding, golden monkey trekking, nature walks, and mountain climbing or volcano hikes.