Though gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is not as popular as gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga is home to an interesting gorilla group worth visiting on a Uganda gorilla safari. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda and lies near the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the park has a size of 33.9 square kilometers making it the smallest national park in Uganda, and is under the administration of Uganda Wildlife Authority. The park was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and the main reason was to protect the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is composed of three dormant volcanoes that are Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura, and Sabyinyo. These three volcanoes are covered by thick vegetation cover including Albertine, montane forests, bamboo forests, and semi-alpine forests.
The ranges rise at an average altitude of between 7,000 to 13,000 feet making them the perfect environment for mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and several bird species to thrive. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a popular gorilla destination making four of the only destinations in the world where you can find mountain gorillas, the park is home to only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi. This gorilla family is known for crossing borders to Rwanda and Congo, however, in recent years it has settled in Uganda.
The Nyakagezi family is one of the largest habituated mountain gorilla groups with 4 silverbacks, the group has become a favorite for trackers because they are always available and trekking is less challenging. Mount Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is about 490 kilometers from Kampala and can be accessed by both road and air, the journey starts from Kampala through Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, and finally to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Chartered flights to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are operated by Aerolink and Bar Aviation to either Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip and then drive to the park. However, it is advisable to land at Kihihi airstrip. A gorilla trekking permit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs US$ 700 and there are only 8 gorilla permits available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on a daily.
Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga and Bwindi?
In the whole world, Uganda is the only country with two gorilla habitats that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mountain gorillas in these two parks are the same since they are of the same sub-species, gorilla trekking rules and regulations are the same and the overall cost for gorilla trekking is the same.
Note: it is important to mention that the gorilla trekking experience both in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the same and chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda are very high – almost 100%.
The main differences are that Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is composed of bamboo and montane forests while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is covered with tropical rainforests. Mgahinga has fewer mountain gorillas compared to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which has half of the total population of mountain gorillas remaining in the world, Bwindi has about 420 individuals with 20 habituated groups. This implies that Bwindi gorilla trekking offers more variety.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total surface area of 331 square kilometers as opposed to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with a smaller surface area of only 33.9 square kilometers. Also, Bwindi has four gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma located in the north, Ruhija to the East, Rushaga, and Nkuringo located in the South. Mgahinga has only one point for gorilla trekking which is at Ntebeko.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a wide range of activities to engage in other than gorilla trekking like Batwa trail, mountain hiking, golden monkey trekking, and birding. While in Bwindi, there are fewer extra activities including birding, nature walks, and communities in addition to gorilla trekking. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only park in Uganda where one can track both golden monkeys and gorillas.
What else to do in Mgahinga apart from gorilla trekking
Mgahinga is a small park with many activities to offer in addition to gorilla trekking including golden monkey tracking, volcano climbing, cultural encounters with the Batwa people, and bird watching.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to a large population of golden monkeys which are rare species and only found in the Virunga Mountains, golden monkeys are playful monkeys and their eye-catching color adds to the sparkling nature. Golden monkeys, a subspecies of blue monkeys are very cute and favorite monkeys to many tourists, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the few places in the world where one can the golden monkeys. The park is home to about 5000 individuals normally seen in the bamboo vegetation cover and you will enjoy watching them play and jump from one branch to another.
Nature Walks
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is covered with bamboo and montane forests which are home to several wildlife species including the endangered mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys and other forest mammals, unique tree species, birds, flowers, and reptiles. A guided trek around the park is always great and very rewarding, the main walking trails in Mgahinga are the Sabinyo Trail, the Mgahinga Gorilla Walk Trail, and the Border Trail.
The Batwa Trail Experience
The Batwa Trail experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most popular cultural experiences in Uganda taking you on a visit to the Batwa pygmies a marginalized indigenous tribe in Uganda. The Batwa people once lived in the forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi, when the forests were gazetted as national parks, they were forced out of the forests. They lived as hunters and gatherers for thousands of years, the Batwa trail takes visitors on an exploration adventure in the forest and offers them a chance to understand the kind of life lived by the Batwa. It is led by the Batwa themselves and the trail ends with a visit to the sacred Garama caves, after visiting the forests. Visitors are then entertained through storytelling, traditional dances, drama, and music.
Cave Exploration
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has numerous caves that used to be home to Batwa people, an extensive exploration of these caves in Garamba and Muhavura is very rewarding. As you explore the caves, you can learn more about the ways of the Batwa people, these mysterious caves are very long and filled with bats.
Mount Climbing in Mgahinga
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park comprises three volcanoes offering one–day hiking experiences that are very challenging, Mount Muhavura is the most popular of all the volcanos at 4,100ft high. It is the tallest of all the three volcanoes, it is steep, and recommended that hikers get a hiking stick and boots while climbing it. At the summit, hikers enjoy a great view of the other Virunga Volcanoes, Bwindi Forest, and the mountains of the moon. Mount Sabinyo is shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo standing at 13,540 feet, you can stand in the borders of three countries while on its summit. Climbing up and down Mount Sabyinyo takes about 8 hours. Mount Gahinga is the shortest of the three volcanoes within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park standing at a height of 3,474 meters above sea level and it only takes seven hours to conquer it.
Birding in Mgahinga
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a bird haven with over 76 bird species, the best birding spots in the park are on the slopes of Mount Gahinga and Sabinyo. These birds thrive on the forested slopes of Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Some of the bird species to look out for include Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, common cuckoo, regal sunbird, fire finch, olive pigeon, woodpeckers, Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori nightjar, and the red-throated Alethea among others.
Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park during Gorilla Trekking
Around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there are several accommodation options ranging from budget, mid-range, and luxury. These accommodations include
- Amajambere Iwacu Camp
- Chameleon Hill Lodge
- Traveler’s Rest Hotel
- Nkuringo Safari Lodge
- Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
- Mount Gahinga Rest Camp
- Mount Gahinga Lodge