Top Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park
Top Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park: Being home to one of the few remaining habitats for endangered mountain gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a major tourist destination in Uganda. Seeing these unusual animals in their natural environment attracts a lot of tourists from abroad. Situated in southwest Uganda, the park is roughly 33.7 square kilometers in size and borders Rwanda and Congo. The smallest gorilla park in Uganda is accessible by car in nine to ten hours or by plane in one and a half hours from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip. In addition to gorilla trekking, Mgahinga provides hiking, birdwatching, and golden monkey trekking.
Along with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Congo’s Virunga National Park, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it is one of the few parks in the world that is home to mountain gorillas. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo share the breathtaking range of volcanic mountains known as the Virunga Conservation Area, which includes Mgahinga.
Top Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Visitors can easily undertake gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a major site for observing endangered mountain gorillas. The walk starts at 8 a.m. and, depending on the gorillas’ location, might take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. Precautions should be taken before walking, including keeping a minimum of 7 meters between trekkers and the gorillas, burying all trash 30 centimetres deep, avoiding flash photography, and making sure trekkers are at least 15 years old. There is a maximum of eight people per hiking group.
A ranger guide will lead you to the gorilla family during the hike, and you will have an hour to spend with them, potentially even seeing the silverback. This might make for a memorable encounter. Nyakagezi is a habituated gorilla family in the park, headed by a silverback who looks out for the group, resolves disputes, and makes sure they obtain food. Visitors from all over the world flock to Mgahinga to take in the splendour of these primates on display.
Golden Monkey Trekking Experience
Being small and swift primates, golden monkeys are unique and uncommon. After two to four hours of golden monkey trekking, you can see and snap pictures of these primates before returning to your camp or lodge. It’s common to walk through picturesque locations with young bamboo branches on the way to locate them. For safety and comfort, it’s crucial to pack a camera, hiking boots, gloves, a rain poncho, binoculars for birdwatching, and a long-sleeved shirt.
This activity mostly takes place at Mgahinga National Park, which is the only location in Uganda where trekking golden monkeys is possible. Watching golden monkeys play and forage in their natural environment is a wonderful experience. Only the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are home to them, and human threats have put them at risk.
Hiking
With Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhavura, the three volcanoes of the Virunga Ranges, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park provides a breathtaking experience. “Old Man’s Teeth,” or Sabinyo, is the entry point between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where you can stand at the summit of three nations. From Kisoro town, the tallest volcano, Muhavura, offers stunning views of the surrounding volcanoes. Because climbing the summits requires negotiating dense foliage, it is advised to use waterproof hiking boots. Mount Gahinga requires a trek through a bamboo forest. You can climb all three mountains in a single day if you’re healthy.
Birdwatching
Nature lovers will love Mgahinga Gorilla National Park because of its abundance of birds despite its small size. Numerous bird species are visible to visitors, including the Rwenzori Turaco, Black-headed Waxbill, Olive Pigeon, Cape Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler. Over 180 different bird species can be spotted in the park all year round. On the Gorge Trail, birdwatchers can spot a variety of unusual birds. It is advised to pack a picnic and binoculars for improved viewing in anticipation of a full day of birding.
Batwa Trail Experience
The Batwa pygmies were hunter-gatherers who inhabited Mgahinga Gorilla Park before its designation as a national park. Some of them still live nearby and serve as skilled porters and guides, for whom tips are valued, but they were later relocated. A visit to the Garama cave, where they hid from invasions, is part of the Batwa trail experience, which takes visitors through their history. Visitors can explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for further adventure.
The Best Time to Visit the Mgahinga National Park
Although the park is available year-round, June through September and December through February are the best times to come during the dry season. Because there is little to no rain during this time, the hiking and gorilla trekking trails are accessible and clear, in contrast to the slick ones during the rainy season.
The months of March through May and October through November are known as the rainy season or low season. Although there are fewer tourists, hotel discounts for guests, and opportunities for birdwatching, it also experiences a lot of rainfall.
Accommodation
The park offers a variety of lodging choices, including regular, mid-range, and luxury alternatives. Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Muga Eco Village, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Mondi Lodge Kisoro, Casa Gorilla Lodge and Campsite, and numerous other lodges are among these hotels.
