Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking in Uganda From Kigali: Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in the Kisoro area of south western Uganda and is part of the Virunga volcanic mountain system, which is famed for gorilla trekking safaris. The park encompasses Uganda’s portion of the Virunga massif, which is bounded by Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is located on the northern slopes of Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Sabyinyo, and Mt. Muhabura, which are all part of the six Virunga mountain series that marks the southern end of the Albertine rift basin. The endangered mountain gorilla may be found in all of these parks.
At 33.7km, this is Uganda’s smallest national park, yet the experience it provides makes it worthwhile to visit. The park is a tropical rain forest that includes lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, montane rain forests, and flooded woods, among other things. The diversity of vegetation encourages the presence of varied animal and bird species, which promotes tourism.
Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking in Uganda From Kigali.
The primary activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is gorilla tracking, and there is one habituated gorilla family available for guests to view. This gorilla family has just recently settled in the park after migrating between the three gorilla national parks. The Nyakagyezi gorilla family, like other gorilla parks, is visited by eight individuals each day, which means two permits are available per day. Travelers are able to spend an hour with the gentle giants, giving them the opportunity to appreciate the human-like characteristics that distinguish mountain gorillas.
The national park is the perfect destination for visitors looking to trek mountain gorillas from Kigali. The park’s strategic location in the Virunga Massif is what makes it a great place to track the endangered mountain gorillas, given that it is close to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda as well as Virunga national park in Congo.
How much is a gorilla permit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
A gorilla permit in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs in 700 USD per person. You can book your gorilla permit through a trusted tour operator like Explore Rwanda Tours. It’s always recommended that you book your gorilla permit at least 3-6 months in advance prior to your actual date of travel.
How to access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali.
The park may be visited in one hour from Rwanda by crossing the Cyanika border from Rwanda to southern Uganda. Then take a bumpy route to Kisoro town and the park headquarters.
How to access Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kampala or Entebbe in Uganda.
The park is 510 kilometers from Kampala and takes around 8 hours to go from the south west of Uganda to Kisoro district. If you are on a safari, you may reach Mgahinga National Park in approximately 3-4 hours from Queen Elizabeth National Park or in about 5-7 hours from Lake Mburo National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Luxury guests can also charter an aircraft to Kisoro airstrip and drive to the park headquarters.
Other Activities offered in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Golden Monkey Trekking
This is another intriguing activity that distinguishes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as a unique destination. To make trekking easier, two colonies of golden monkeys have been habituated for trekking at a cost of $100 dollars, making it more inexpensive than gorilla trekking. Unlike gorillas, golden monkeys are active, playful creatures who constantly hop between trees, making a meeting with them an unforgettable experience.
Volcano Climbing
Aside from wildlife, Mgahinga gorilla national park is ideal for volcano climbing due to its proximity to three extinct Virunga volcanoes. Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura are all accessible through hiking trails in the national park. Travelers can choose which volcano to climb based on their physical fitness and available time. Interestingly, each volcano’s park rewards visitors with beautiful views over the whole Mgahinga national park, neighboring nations, and local towns, making the trip even more delightful.
Batwa Trail Experience
A visit to Mgahinga gorilla national park would be completed without a Batwa culture path. Make an effort to meet and interact with Batwa pygmies who will show you about their traditional forest life. On the route, Batwa accompany visitors into the forest, where they show traditional forest life like as hunting, fruit harvesting, honey collection, and ceremonies, among other things. Travelers that participate in the Batwa cultural route get vast information about these indigenous people, their traditions, conventions, and beliefs.
Other activities in Mgahinga gorilla national park include bird viewing, mountain biking, forest treks, and caving, among others, which create a full package to Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Uganda in general.
