Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Located in the Kisoro district in the country’s extreme southwest, this 33.9 sq km national park is one of Uganda’s famous parks due to its rich biodiversity. Mountain gorillas can only be found in two gorilla parks: Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In 1930, the British government declared the Mgahinga National Park a game reserve. The government formally declared Mgahinga National Park a national park in 1991, primarily to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and their natural habitat.
The Batwa people, commonly known as the forest custodians, were evicted from the Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park forests to relocate to other regions to curb wildlife poaching and preserve the natural vegetation. Leaving Mgahinga, the Batwa made a home at the edge of the national park. Some of the mountain gorillas began their habituation process following the gazetting of Mgahinga National Park, which continued for two years.
By 1993, gorilla habituation was open to visitors who wished to explore and spend some time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The mountain gorilla family of Mgahinga National Park was given the name ‘Nyakagezi’ since they once resided close to an area called Nyakagezi. A diverse plant species found in Mgahinga National Park are Afro-montane, bamboo, montane, woodland, and low-ground plants, which dominate the other parts.
Wonders of Mgahinga National Park
Virunga Volcanoes
The Virunga volcanoes are a group of eight breathtaking volcanoes located in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in East Africa along the Albertine Rift Valley. Wildlife species like the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, various primates, forest elephants, and bird species are all found in the catchment areas of these Virunga volcanoes. Of the eight Virunga volcanoes, three are located in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of which is shared with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and another with Virunga National Park. Mgahinga National Park has three mountains that are suitable for hiking: Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga.
Mountain gorillas
Since there is only one mountain gorilla family (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga National Park, the park contains the fewest mountain gorillas in the world. Mountain gorillas live in the Albertine Rift Afromontane woods along the slopes of the Virunga hills. The park has verdant vegetation in areas where mountain gorillas live. These gorillas are the main draw for Mgahinga National Park’s enormous fame. These endangered primate species can only be found globally in the four parks of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mgahinga National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Golden monkeys
Uganda is home to several unique primate species, including the golden monkey. The bamboo flora on the flanks of Virunga volcanoes, including Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga, is home to these adorable primates, who are unique to Mgahinga National Park. The back and upper sides of small golden monkeys are golden-orange in hue. One alpha male can command a group of up to thirty boisterous golden monkeys. Usually located in bamboo woods, the golden monkeys eat most of their food there. They eat bamboo, fruits, and leaves, though occasionally they may eat insects. While some of the golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park are fully acclimated, others are still going through the habituation process and are available for habituation events.
Birds of Mgahinga National Park
One of those exceptional locations is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is home to more than 180 bird species, 14 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift. With 180 species of birds spread across 33.9 square kilometres, Mgahinga National Park is one of the best bird habitats in southwest Uganda. The best way to see the birds in Mgahinga National Park is to go on a walking safari, though you can see them at various park events. Notable birds to see include the Pin-tailed Whydah, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Rwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin, Cape Robin-Chat, Strange Weaver, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Turtle Dove, Moorland Chat, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Cape Robin-Chat, Double-collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Speckled Mousebird, African Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Olive Woodpecker, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Yellow-billed Kite, Black Kite, Alpine Swift, Hadada Ibis, Western Standard Robin, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Nightjar, and Malachite Sunbird, among others.
Batwa People
Apart from primates, especially the endangered mountain gorillas and other animal species, at the edges of Mgahinga National Park, there live the Batwa pygmies. Living inside Mgahinga National Park, the Batwa pygmies had been forest dwellers for so many years. After their eviction in 1991 by the Ugandan government, some of them chose to find homes along the border areas of the national park. Visitors seeking to learn more about the African culture do not miss out on the Batwa. Tourists visiting Mgahinga National Park usually set aside some time to visit the Batwa’s residences. The Batwa people are friendly and hospitable and prepared to educate you about their way of life. A visit to the Batwa gives you a chance to participate in food preparation, wine production, and traditional dances, and also gain knowledge about the medicinal application of several plants from the Batwa medicinal men.
Accessing Mgahinga National Park
The park can be accessed using both Road and air transport means. On the road, the journey takes about 9-10 hours using the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara to Kisoro highway. Along the way, you will witness Uganda’s serene landscapes with varied vegetation cover. The park can also be accessed using flights from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield using domestic airline companies with flights to Kisoro Air Strip, with air travel like Aero Link Uganda, Bar Aviation Authority, and Kampala Executive Aviation, among others. A flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip takes 1 hour 15 minutes, and visitors are advised to always book about 3-4 months in advance.
The best time to visit Mgahinga
Although Mgahinga National Park has a lot to offer all year long, certain months offer more exceptional experiences than others. The dry season is the best time to visit Mgahinga National Park because the park receives little to no rainfall, making the trekking trails dry and passable. The park can also be accessed by tourists throughout the rainy season, which spans from March to May and October to November. This season favors mainly budget clients and those with ample time, since lodges and tour providers offer discounted rates. However, too much rainfall during these months causes dense foliage, making it difficult to see the landscape and other wildlife.
