What Makes Mgahinga National Park A Unique Place For Gorilla Trekking In Africa

Mgahinga national park is a renowned for hosting the mountain gorillas but there is more to this ancient forested park. Although its size is about 33 square kilometers, of land, its famous for several reasons because it is survivor of the ice age era that saw a number of forests destroyed and here is what makes Mgahinga National Park a Unique place for gorilla trekking in Africa.

A good number of primates depend on this forest part from the mountain gorillas. Some of the primates include golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey to mention but a few.

The overabundant birdlife including Albertine endemics on the red list of IUCN are residents of Mgahinga national Park. This park has some of the most spectacular birds like Scarce Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Scarlet Tufted Malachite Sunbirds and others. This rich bird life is owed to undisturbed vegetation from montane woodland through bamboo zone, montane forest and Ericaceuos zone.

Highlights Of What Makes Mgahinga National Park A Unique Place For Gorilla Trekking In Africa

• Mountain Gorillas Habitat In Africa
• Only Golden Monkey Trekking Destination In Uganda
• Mgahinga National Park Under Research
• Great Scenery in Mgahinga National Park
• Access to Variety Of Accommodations To Book During Gorilla Trekking
• Cheaper Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost Of Mgahinga National park
• Mgahinga National park Strategically Located Close to Other National Parks
• Possibility of Birding Even During Gorilla Trekking
• Great Nature Walks After or Before Gorilla trekking
• Access to Community Visits After Gorilla Trekking

Mountain Gorillas Habitat In Africa

Mgahinga National park is one of the famous homes of the mountain gorillas. Although one gorilla family is currently open for gorilla trekking that is Nyakagezi gorilla family, the experience in this park is more remote.

At times this family meanders into Rwanda which makes booking the gorilla permits here an on ground matter. For some time lately, this family has steadily live in Mgahinga National park without crossing. The mountain gorillas do not understand political boundaries so lingering freely in the forest is there naturel behavior. No one is allowed to limit there movement to particular location because the wilderness is not a zoo.

When you pay for your gorilla trekking permit in Mgahinga National park, you are sure to see the mountain gorillas and not a probability. You get value for money.

Only Golden Monkey Trekking Destination In Uganda

In Uganda golden monkeys trekking can only be experienced in Mgahinga National park. The golden monkeys are some of the endangered monkeys in the world. They are a special specie of monkeys currently known to be living Virunga area in Africa.

Golden monkeys generally have bodies larger than the commonly monkeys. They have golden brown fur that distinguishes them from other monkeys. There body structure is also bigger than the usual monkeys.

When it comes to following them around, the golden monkeys are swift in movement and exciting to follow because of there acrobatics styles as if choreographed for this display. They have been habituated to be in the presence of humans but this doesn’t hide there charming nature.

You can identify other primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’, grey cheeked mangabey to mention but a few.

Mgahinga National park may be small but it is a biosphere reserve in Uganda no only a home to mountain gorillas.

Mgahinga National Park Under Research

Initially, Mgahinga National park was one of the unsearched parks in Uganda but lately, more information about this untamed park is flashing out because of Research. The ranger guide, park wardens and several domestic and international bodies are doing great work in uncovering the goodies of Mgahinga National park.

The ranger guides are regularly updated on the forest attractions which they forward to clients during gorilla trekking. During the trek, a stop to enjoy such features is worth the effort. This is one of the reasons why attending briefing is very important for this untamed gorilla trekking destination.

Great Scenery in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is worth vising if you want a great scenic view. A choice of hike allows for all abilities. You can hike for 8 hours return trip on any of the surrounding mountains that make up the Virunga ranges.

During a hike on Mountain Muhavura, you get to enjoy alpine vegetation and super panoramic views. You also get to see other five Virunga ranges, the rift valley, lake Edward and on clear day the Rwenzori ranges.

Hiking Gahinga mountain takes you through bamboo forest to the lush swamp located in the crater summit. This hike takes about 6 hours from Ntebeko the main administrative center of Mgahinga National Park.

Climbing Sabyinyo mountain with its three peaks brings into view the borders of the three gorilla trekking nations of the world that is Rwanda, Uganda and D.R.Congo from one pivot. At the start, you climb to peak 1 before heading to peak 2 then move along a narrow ridge that overlooks breathtaking drop into a deep gorge on each side. Then head to peak three by passing through muddy scramble

Access to Variety Of Accommodations To Book During Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national Park requires you to overnight with in or close to the park so as to get to the briefing point on time. Since the park has just one gorilla family to trek, no competition for space overnight at the available accommodations.

You can overnight in Kisoro town too and rise up early to go to the headquarters at Ntebeko center which is about 14 km south of Kisoro. You need approximately 30 minutes to get to the gate for briefing.

Some of the accommodations Facilities you can book for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National park include Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Mutanda Lake Resort, Traveller’s Inn, Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel ,Majambere Iwachu to mention but a few.

Cheaper Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost Of Mgahinga National park

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Mgahinga National park is $700 per person per trek and this park is the most natural location of the mountain gorillas because they live with no limitations to there movements.

You have to inquire at the Uganda wildlife Authority about the presence of the gorillas in this park before booking its gorilla trekking permits. Mgahinga National park is closer to Volcanoes National park than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park so comparing the cost of its gorilla trekking permit to its neighbor, Mgahinga is cheaper.

Mgahinga National park Strategically Located Close to Other National Parks

From Mgahinga National park, you can visit other parks like Queen Elizabeth National park a renowned game park where you may get to see animals like lions, herds of elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, leopards, buffaloes, variety of birds to mention but a few.  If you wish to do double gorilla trekking to Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Cross to Volcanoes National park in Rwanda you can start from Mgahinga National Park.

Even Kibale National park the home of chimpanzee trekking is not far from Mgahinga National park. You need about 6 hours to get there after gorilla trekking.

Possibility of Birding Even During Gorilla Trekking

The location of Mgahinga National Park in the Albertine area attracts a variety of birds to spend there time in its Rich forest. Over 115 bird species are residents of this park. During gorilla trekking and you take the gorge trail that loops halfway up Mountain Gahinga, you go through montane habitats and here you may get to see Handsome Francolin, Dusky Turtle Doves, Rwenzori Turacos, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Malachite Sunbird to mention but a few.

The birds live in the montane forest with extensive belt of bamboo and regenerating pastures on the lower slopes heath and Afro-alpine moorland on the upper slopes. By using the buffalo wall trail you can identify a number of birds but you need a ranger guide to escort you.

The bird list of Mgahinga National Park is still increasing since it had not attracted attention from the beginning.

Access to Community Visits After Gorilla Trekking

After Gorilla trekking adventure in Mgahinga National park, you can visit the Batwa pygmies who are some of the homeless people in the world. They were evicted from the forest which was there sole provider in 1990s to enable conservation of the mountain gorillas.

To support there livelihood, you can take the Batwa trail and Garama Caves tour after gorilla trekking. This is conducted by a Mutwa guide who takes you through their traditional history while in the forest.

This trail begins from the foot of Muhavura Mountain up to Garama Cave. The cave is 342 meters long closer to the Northern edge of Mgahinga National Park. initially the cave lay in the forest and it was a point of return after raiding the Bafumbira farmers.

From this cave also the Batwa council sat to sought their issues. This was the chambers for the Batwa during there early days. Lately, this cave provides a place for cultural Batwa performances where folk music and dance are presented for the visitors.  

How To Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit for Mgahinga National park

Gorilla permits for Mgahinga National park are sold according to availability of the gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi. Its is known to meander into Volcanoes National park at times because no limit is given to the free ranging mountain gorillas. Of late, the mountain gorillas have been stably known to live in Mgahinga National park only.

How To Access Mgahinga National Park From Kampala

By Road

Mgahinga National park is approximately about 540km from Kampala city. The road goes through Kabale to Kisoro for about 8 hours excluding enroute stops. The murram road winds around mountains taking about 2 hours to arrive Ntebeko gate.

Crossing from Rwanda Kigali airport then Cyanika border to Mgahinga National park via Kisoro in another alternative that may take for about 5 hours to 6 hours.

By Flight

Each day domestic flights depart Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air strip fly to Kisoro Air strip in the morning and afternoon. You need a transfer vehicle to your lodge.