Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National park is one of the famous homes of the mountain gorillas. It occupies a space of about 33.7 square kilometers. The park is nestled amongst 3 mountain ranges that is to say Mountain Muhabura, Mgahinga and Sabyinyo.

These are part of the six Virunga volcanoes that mark the southern limit of the Albertine Rift Valley. These are share amongst Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. This park has the smallest number of Mountain gorillas that at times migrate into Rwanda.

Mgahinga National Park is closely neighbored by Virunga National park in D.R. Congo and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda making it a vast area for the huge apes to feed from.

What fauna and Flora To see In Mgahinga National park

Mountain gorillas are the most renowned occupants of this park. They are some of the remnant of the pre-historic era. The fully grow male develops grey saddle hair at the back acquiring the name silverback.

What you may expect
in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga National Park

The golden monkeys are endangered specie too that Mgahinga National park hosts. In Africa, they also live in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Other primates like the black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons are some of the other occupants of the park

More Details About Golden Monkeys

The park contains about 79 bird species like the Rwenzori Turacos, crowned hornbill, crowned crane, black kite the list is endless.

Mgahinga National park is a forested park with distinctive altitude bands of vegetation. The lower zone is an area of grass and bush which was formerly encroaches and cleared by farmers but currently regenerating.

The undisturbed vegetation starts with montane woodland, bamboo zone, montane forest and Ericaceous zone which has the giant tree heathers. The sequence culminates with the spectacular alpine zone which occurs only on East African mountains above 3000m and includes bizarre giant forms of lobelia and groundsel.

What activities To Do In Mgahinga National park

Gorilla tracking is the number one activity in the park. The park is placed at the pivot of Volcanoes National park In Rwanda and Virunga National park In D.R. Congo. From Ntebeko the briefing center, tourists embark on the search for mountain gorillas at about 0830hrs. However booking the gorilla permits to this park is subject to there presence as they keep migrating from one park to another.

Primate viewing although mountain gorillas are the major primates that live in this National park, you can easily identify other primates that roam around that park like the black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, golden monkeys to mention but a few. Atleast you may not leave the forest without spotting some of those interesting apes.

Golden monkeys in Mgahinga National park

Birding in this park is like another of the to do activities as several birds roam around the park including the Albertine endemics.

Mountain hiking can be arranged on Muhabura which is about (4127m), sabyinyo (3669m) and Mgahinga (3474m).Specialist hiking equipment can be arranged.

A boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi is awesome as you get to visit the Island where several pregnant girls lost there lives as a result of pre-marriage pregnancy. Enjoy the view of the great and deepest Rift valley lake in Uganda. This trip is worth taking. Listen to the historical back ground of the people that live close to this lake.

How To Get To Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National park is located in south Western corner of Uganda which is about 540 km from the capital Kampala. Depending on the weather condition of the day, the drive to Mgahinga National park may last 8 to nine hours and sometimes

10 hours excluding the rest time.

From Kampala, you drive through Kabale and Kisoro but the 80 km section between the two districts is winding because of the mountainous terrain. This may last about 2 hours of your time before getting to Ntebeko gate. This bumpy route from Ntebeko gate may last 30 minutes for approximately 14 km.

Daily schedule flights may be arranged at Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield. A charter flight can also be arranged to Kisoro Airfield.

What Local people Leave close To Mgahinga National park.

The Bafumbira and Batwa who once practiced a subsistence hunter-gather life in the forest. They are the local people who live close to the park although with time other tribes have also encroached on the land.