Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a compact protected area, but rich in floral and faunal species. The park occupies only 33.7 sq.km of land area featuring the original afro-montane forest cover. Within its diverse vegetation cover, there are different faunal species including the endangered mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys- a section of these have been habituated and open for tourism.
In addition, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park supports other animal species including buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, elephants, black-fronted duikers, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.
Visiting Mgahinga not only rewards you with a meetup with the mountain gorillas but you can also be rewarded with hiking the most incredible three Virunga volcanoes summits, the admirable flora and gorge. For this case, it’s when you will appreciate that encountering gorilla safari to Uganda is something interesting and rewarding.
Mgahinga National Park is one of the parks in Uganda that inhabit mountain gorillas. Head into the park’s dense forests to track Mgahinga mountain gorillas and this can only be assured only if you booked in advance. Once you have located them, you can spend up to an hour watching these magnificent apes feeding, playing and relaxing in the trees.
Gorilla Trekking can be done in Mgahinga Gorilla Park with the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family that is habituated for gorilla trekking tours. It is only one family that is inhabited in this park with the giant silver backs that will always have a welcoming face on them. The moment you spot this family, all the characteristics are more less of human beings and seem to mind their own business as you spend your one hour with them.
This gives you ample time to take photos if interested. The tour guide leads you through the gorillas’ world, surrounded by wild forest and impressive bird life and explaining the gorillas’ behavior along the way. The trekking normally start from Ntebeko Entrance Gate at 8am lasts between 2-5 hours depending on the movement of the Mountain gorillas and visitors spend a maximum of 1hour with gorillas in order to minimize disturbance.
Learn about the lives of the indigenous Batwa on the Batwa Trail. Local guides take you through the 8km gentle trail in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, demonstrating their traditional ways of life along the way, including hunting, gathering honey, fire making and fetching water. The trail culminates with a moving performance in the Garama Cave, an important spiritual and cultural site for the Batwa.
The Batwa Forest Trail” is part of a project to restore dignity and hope by keeping the Batwa Culture and Traditions alive to the Batwa People, give employment to those who are in involved in the day-to-day project of the “Batwa Trail” from the dancers to the guides, pay for school fees for the children, books and beyond that buy land for the community.
The Batwa Trail in Mgahinga Gorilla Park allows you to experience the ways of the ancient Batwa People who once lived in these forests and now show the way of their ancient culture – See the forest through the eyes of the First People of the Forest – the Batwa People who have lived here for 500,000 years. Experience the lives of the Batwa People on the Interactive Batwa Trail in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
History
Mgahinga was officially founded as a park in 1991, and it was a Game Reserve around 1930s and 1950. Part of the present park was turned to crop fields, especially the lower slope. Biological surveys began in 1989 and included training park rangers, destroying wire traps and tree planting to restore wildlife habitat.
Tourism/Activities to do
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is the leading tourism activity tourists come to enjoy in Mgahinga N. Park. There are only 4 parks to be visited to see mountain gorillas and tracking these apes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is done in Nyakagezi group. Gorilla permits for Mgahinga gorilla trekking tour cost USD700 per person. Other places to be visited for mountain gorilla encounter include Virunga National Park (DRC), Volcanoes N. Park (Rwanda) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda).
Batwa trail
The Batwa trail allows you to explore more about the Batwa, their lifestyle, traditions, and cultures. During the Batwa cultural trail experience, you will be led by an experienced local guide. You may also consider visiting the Garama cave –this is the hiding area for the Batwa pygmies.
Birding
About 180 species of birds call Mgahinga NP home. The birds to expect identifying include brown crowned tchagra, montane double collared sunbird, regal sunbirds, handsome francolins, bronze sunbirds, alpine chat, black kite, streaky seed-eaters, dusky turtle dove, cape robin chat, crowned crane, scarlet tufted malachite and more.
Mountain climbing/hiking
Mgahinga National Park is home to 3 Virunga Volcanoes: Gahinga Volcano (3474m), Sabyinyo (3669m) and Muhabura 4127m. All the 3 volcanoes are hiked while in Mgahinga National Park Uganda.
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Travelers interested in trekking in the Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga national park can be accessed either by road or by air. Starting your journey from Kampala city to reach the park estimates 8 to 9hours drives. Then to those are interested in air transport can take scheduled flights from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip and lands in Kisoro Airstrip where you can be picked by the park’s drive or the guide and drives you to your respective lodge.
Where to stay on a gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga Uganda
Some of the accommodation facilities that can make travel’s stay at Mgahinga gorilla national park truly awesome encounter include; Gahinga Lodge and Mutanda Lake Resort.