Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park
Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park: Situated near the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in southwest Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, home to mountain gorillas, is the country’s smallest gorilla park, covering 33.9 km². While gorilla trekking is the park’s primary attraction, Mgahinga Gorilla Park offers much more. Other pursuits include hiking, birdwatching, and golden monkey trekking. Among the few places in the world that are home to endangered mountain gorillas are Mgahinga National Park, along with Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. The Virunga Massif, which consists of a variety of breathtaking volcanic mountains, is located inside the Virunga Conservation Area, which contains Mgahinga National Park.
Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park
Mountain Gorilla trekking
The gorilla trekking experience attracts visitors from all over the world to come to Mgahinga Gorilla Park to experience this most popular activity and take part in the primates‘ natural beauty. The park is home to just one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi, led by a silverback who serves as the family’s protector from attacks, mediator, and decision-maker. They serve as the troop’s leader, making sure everyone is secure and directing them to food sources. It goes above and beyond to love and care for the young gorillas and resolve disputes within the group.
The most popular activity in Mgahinga National Park is, without a doubt, this. In Mgahinga, it is among the most intriguing habituated gorilla families. There are probably more silverbacks in this group than in any other group in Uganda and beyond. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is more private due to its lower tourist density than Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which makes it an interesting alternative.
Trekking on foot in search of mountain gorillas is known as “gorilla trekking.” Following the briefing at the park information offices, a group of eight people is given a ranger guide to go with them into the bush to look for the mountain gorilla family. Depending on movement and location, it could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to find the gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. When you view the gorilla family, you are permitted to spend an hour watching them and learning about their behaviours, including feeding, nursing, and tending to their young. Make as many unforgettable films and pictures as you like.
Golden Monkey Trekking Experience
Mgahinga National Park is the only spot in Uganda where golden monkey trekking is available. It is a unique opportunity for primate and nature enthusiasts to see these curious primates in their natural habitat. Golden monkey trekking entails traveling into the forest in pursuit of these uncommon and exquisite primates. You can also spend an hour watching the golden monkeys as they play, socialise, and forage in the bamboo forests. Golden monkeys are found only in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just like the mountain itself. Travellers and aficionados of primates adore these cute, endangered monkeys. They frequently play with the African eagle, and humans are their only threat.
Birdwatching in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Mgahinga National Park is home to more than 185 bird species, including 12 Albertine Rift endemics, because of its varied environment of lowland and montane forest cover. Many guided treks in the park allow birdwatchers to witness Afro-alpine endemics, like the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird. The most sought-after species are the Ruwenzori Turaco, Grey-crowned Cranes, Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird and double-toothed barbet, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-headed Coucal, Paradise Flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Fire Finch Stonechat, Rwenzori Nightjar, Ruwenzori Turaco, Olive Pigeon, Archers Robin-chat, and Grey-capped Warbler, among others.
Hiking Mount Sabinyo
Another popular, difficult, yet rewarding activity in Mgahinga National Park is this one. Depending on your pace, the hike takes about 8 hours total, 4 hours to reach the summit, and another 4 hours to descend. The vegetation zones that hikers pass through are diverse and include sub-alpine regions, bamboo woods, hypericum forests, and many more. These provide opportunities to see a variety of animals, including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, buffaloes, leopards, forest hogs, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and forest elephants. In addition to providing hikers with a unique panoramic perspective, the summit offers the chance to be at the meeting peak point, which simultaneously offers views of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Accommodation in Mgahinga
Following the activities to do in Mgahinga National Park, different types of lodging are available at Mgahinga Gorilla Park, including conventional, mid-range, and luxury alternatives. Because Bwindi is close to Mgahinga National Park, there are plenty of options for guests who would like to stay overnight or longer, including Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, and many more. As a result, guests must get up early and get ready to arrive at the park information offices on time for the briefing. In addition to Mount Gahinga Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Virunga Hotel, Montane Guest House, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, and numerous other lodges outside the park, Mgahinga Park offers a reasonably priced camping site called the community campground close to the park entrance.
