Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking. You can visit Uganda’s smallest but most picturesque national park by going on a gorilla trek in Mgahinga. Mgahinga National Park is located at an elevation of 4,127 meters and spans 33 square kilometers. The park is located in the Kisoro area, which borders Rwanda and the Congo in Uganda’s southwest. In order to aid in the protection of the critically endangered mountain gorillas, the park was established in 1991. One of the four locations worldwide for mountain gorilla tourism is Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The other three are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in the Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Why Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Is Worth Visiting

With the slopes of three extinct volcanoes—Mount Sabinyo, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Gahinga—the park’s surroundings are breathtaking. Mountain gorillas and other park animals find adequate food and shelter in the trees. Even though the park is in Uganda, it is significantly simpler to get there from Rwanda; the trip from Kigali across the Kyanika border takes roughly three hours. From Kampala, the park is also accessible by road and air. While taking a chartered jet from Entebbe takes about one hour, the road trip from Kampala takes approximately nine hours.

There are perhaps 80 mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Nyakagyezi family is the only gorilla group that has become accustomed to tourists. The gang has lived in Uganda for more than three years after previously relocating to Rwanda and the Congo. Mgahinga is a great place to go gorilla trekking because fewer people visit the area. If only one habituated gorilla troop is available, the Uganda Wildlife Authority sells only eight gorilla permits per day. Visitors should reserve their permits several weeks in advance through a Uganda Wildlife Authority-approved tour operator.The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is $800, whereas in Rwanda it is $1500.

Best Time and Experience of Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking in Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking is organized throughout the year. However, the best time to visit gorillas in Mgahinga is during the dry seasons of December to February and June to October. During the dry season, the forest paths are not overgrown with vegetation and are less muddy. Tracking gorillas in Mgahinga begins with early morning briefing at the Ntebeko gate. Tourists are briefed about rules and regulations for gorilla tracking. The average length of gorilla tracking in Mgahinga is less than at Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park because the Nyakagyezi family lives and feeds in a smaller range which is easier to find.

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking. However, tracking the gorillas can be challenging depending on the location of the family on a specific day. If they happen to move towards one of the three volcanoes found in the park, navigating through the mountain slopes can become tiring. If you are unfit, you might want to read about gorilla trekking for elders. You will be allowed only one hour with the gorilla family after finding them. Use the one hour to take photos and observe the group dynamics.

How does gorilla trekking in Mgahinga compare to Bwindi?

80 percent of the mountain gorilla population in Uganda is found in Bwindi. That’s about 450. Being a UNESCO world heritage site, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a more popular than in Mgahinga. Visitors have a variety of habituated gorilla groups (17 in number) to choose from. Mgahinga only has one gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi family. This is one of the best gorilla groups for gorilla tracking in Uganda. It is a group with one of the highest number of silverbacks in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo. Both parks can be accessed by road from Kampala and by air from Entebbe or Kajjansi. Flights take about 2 hours while the road journey can go on up to 9 hours.

Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking.

Bwindi Impenetrable forest has four sectors where visitors can do gorilla tracking. The sectors include Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma. It is therefore more interesting to do gorilla tracking twice in Bwindi compared to Mgahinga. Visitors can track gorillas in one section and then another section the next day. Watching gorillas twice makes it possible to compare the experience of tracking different gorilla families in Bwindi.

About the Park

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking. Bwindi impenetrable forest is the only park in the world where tourists can spot both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. Mgahinga is the only in park in Uganda were visitors can track both gorillas an golden monkeys.

The likelihood of seeing the gorillas is very high in both parks. The one gorilla family available for tracking has a history of migrating from Uganda to Congo and to Rwanda. They have been in Uganda for the last 8 years but you can never tell when they might decide to pay a visit their brothers in Rwanda or Congo.  It is very rare for one to miss seeing the gorillas in Mgahinga or Bwindi National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking. Bwindi iforest park mpenetrable is located nearer to some of Uganda’s most attractive parks like Queen Elizabeth National park and Kibale Forest Park. Visitors can  conveniently combine gorilla tracking with a safari to spot the big five.

The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda is similar for both Mgahinga and Bwindi. A Gorilla permit costs $800 in both countries but Bwindi impenetrable forest park has more accommodation options than Mgahinga. You might want to look at our 3 Days Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga package.

Other activities during gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

Mgahinga is not just about gorilla trekking, the park has a large population of the endangered golden monkeys, Colobus monkeys, other primates, leopard, porcupines, buffalo, tortoise, bushbuck, golden cats and bush hogs. The Batwa pygmies still live in this forest and a visiting them is worthwhile as we shall see shortly.  Let’s look at these activities in more detail:-

Golden Monkey trekking:

Golden monkeys inhabit only the Virunga ranges, just like mountain gorillas. In Uganda, visitors can find golden monkeys only in Mgahinga. Tourists highly seek these adorable subspecies of the blue monkey, which conservationists classify as endangered. They are among the most beautiful looking monkeys in the world.

Nature Walks:

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking. Guides conduct this activity in different sections of the forest using various forest trails. Visitors can walk along the slopes of the volcanoes, through the forest, across swamps such as Rugezi Swamp, through plantations, and along the shores of Lake Mutanda. A guide leads each walk, and an armed ranger may escort visitors when necessary. The walks provide several opportunities to spot birds, tree species and encounter the forest creatures/primates. Check out the 2 days golden monkey tour in Rwanda if you prefer spotting the primates at the volcanoes national park.

The Batwa Trail:

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking.

The Batwa Trail gives you an opportunity to see the people who originally lived in the forest. They used to hunt and gather food from the forest while living in the Garama caves for thousands of years. These were evicted from the forest and resettled outside the park to reserve the park for tourism and other wildlife conservation activities.

They have been forced to abandon their original way of life and adjust to life outside the forest. The Batwa Trail is led by a Batwa guide who takes visitors through the traditional way of life in the forest for the Batwa. There will be demonstrations like hunting, fruit gathering, singing, dancing, making fire and collecting honey. Visitors may be requested to take part in some of the activities.

Cave exploration:

Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking. This usually involves going to the base of the Muhavura and Garama Caves. This activity highlights the life and history of the Batwa people. The Batwa often fought with their Bantu neighbors and used these deep caves as meeting and assembly points.The caves are now occupied by bats and moving inside requires strong torches. The Garama Caves are thought to be so deep that they reach Rwanda.

Mountain Climbing in Mgahinga

One of the great activities to take part in while in Mgahinga is climbing one of the extinct volcanoes found in the park. Climbing each of the mountains takes only a day and hiking permits can be bought with the help of a Tour Operator. Let’s look at each of the volcanoes in more detail:-

Mount Muhabura or Muhavura:

With a peak reaching 4,127 meters high, Mount Muhabura is the highest and most demanding climb taking between 8 to 10 hours to get to the summit. Climbing this mountain involves navigating through tough, cold and muddy terrain before reaching back to the starting point. The reward for hiking Mount Muhabura is the changing vegetation, swimming in a crater lake, stunning views (of the Rwenzori Mountains, Bwindi impenetrable forest park and the wider Virunga ranges of mountains).

Mount Sabinyo:

Locally means “Old man’s teeth”, is the second highest and most demanding at 3,634 meters. Hiking Mount Sabinyo and descending from the summit takes 8 hours.  A point that marks the border between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is found at the summit. One can therefore put their foot in three countries while at the summit of this mountain.

Mount Gahinga:

Hiking up and down Mount Gahinga takes about 7 hours through bamboo forests. It is the least demanding of the three volcanoes in the park. Visitors will be treated to beautiful scenery while ascending up and spot the great swamps found at the summit.

Birdwatching in Mgahinga

One of the best places in Uganda for birdwatching is Mahinga Gorilla Park. You can see more than 200 different bird species in the montone forests, bamboo forests, marshes, and gorges located in the volcanoes when you go birdwatching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Archer’s Robin-Chat, Banded Prinia, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black kite, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-headed Sunbird, Cape Robin-chat, Chestnut-throa Fire finch, Grauer’s Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush, Lagdented Apalis, Collared Apalis, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Double-collared sunbird.

Olive pigeon, Olive Thrush, Olive Woodpecker, Paradise Flycatcher, Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-throated Alethe, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori night jar, Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Speckled Mouse Bird, Strange Weaver, Strip-breasted Tit, Waxbills, White-necked raven, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Yellow-vented Black Flycatcher, and White-neck, among others.

Accommodation during gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

Finding accommodation while in Mgahinga isn’t a problem. The problem is choosing the right one from the different properties offering budget, midrange and luxury options. These accommodation facilities can be booked  in Kisoro, Ntebeko and near Lake Mutanda.  Lets look at some of the options available.

Mount Gahinga Safari lodge: This luxury lodge is found in Ntebeko and is built with traditional material. It is strategically located at the foot of three stunning volcanoes.

Amajambere Iwacu camp: iS Located in Ntebeko and near the park offices. It offers excellent budget accommodations and even dormitories.

Chameleon Hill Lodge: Is located near Lake Mutanda and offers stunning views of the lake with possibilities to go for nature walks or mountain biking.

Traveler’s Nest Hotel: In Kisoro is one of Uganda’s oldest hotels with beautiful rooms and fire places.

Nkuringo Safari Lodge: Is near Mgahinga and found around the shores of the beautiful Lake Mutanda. It has great views of the three volcanoes in Mgahinga. The lodge offers camping activities and is ideal for those looking for good accommodation but on a budget.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge: Is a luxury lodge located in Kisoro town near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, offering guests easy access to gorilla trekking adventures. The lodge allows one to explore both Bwindi and Mgahinga. The lodge has a fine interior, a fireplace and other luxury specials.

Mount Gahinga Rest Camp: Is located just next to the park gate. Visitors have options of sleeping in tents or grass thatched rooms which overlook Lake Mutanda.

Mount Gahinga Lodge: Offer stunning views of the three volcanoes, fine food, good cabins, complimentary massages, hot showers, free Wi-Fi and runs on solar power.