MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park located in the great virunga ranges shared between Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo. Found in Kisoro District, Mgahinga National Park is home to three popular volcanoes of Mgahinga, Sabinyo and Muhavura.
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Accessing Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park can be accessed from Rwanda just one hour drive from Chanika boarder, driving for about fifteen minutes from the boarder to Kisoro town from where you will drive on rough and stoney road that will lead you to Mgahinga park headquarters. If you are driving from Entebbe/Kampala, then it will take you approximately 9-10 hours drive through small towns of Mbarara, kabale to Kisoro town from where you will then drive to the park headquarters. For those interested in flying, scheduled flights depart from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip from where you can drive to the park head quarters.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park just like Bwindi Impenetrable National park is popularly known for gorilla tracking. One habituated gorilla family is habitat in this national park for gorilla tourism. This gorilla family used to migrate from Uganda to Rwanda as its range is shared between the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC, but of recent, this family has stabilized in and can be trekked occasionally
Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National park
Golden monkey trekking
Golden Monkey Trekking Mgahinga[/caption]
Golden monkey trekking is an active activity that starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After, start trekking in the jungle following trails, Golden monkey trekking takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are located. During trekking you will be able to view other primates such as chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, view bird species, plants among others and once the golden monkeys are located you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record the moments.
Mgahinga national park also offers golden monkey habituation experience and adventurous activity where the golden monkeys are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Golden monkey habituation experience is carried out by a team of researchers, scientists, park rangers, guides among others and it allows visitors to spend four hours in the presence of the golden monkeys.
A golden monkey trekking permit is a legal card that is issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit the habituated golden monkeys.
Gorilla Tracking – Mgahinga National Park
Travel to the Park Headquarters to meet your guides for the day and begin your gorilla tracking experience. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany you on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes. The journey, through dense foliage and up steep climbs, is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime experience of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will have an opportunity to be within metres of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities. This is an experience you won’t soon forget, following the trek, return to your to the headquarters Please note: tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes, not uncommon. Also, mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However viewing success rates are over 90%.
Birding – Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is perfect birding are with 79 bird species have thus far been recorded within the park, including several species endemic to the East Congo Montane region.
For the Virunga Conservation Area as a whole, over 295 species in the Virungas are endemic to the Albertine Rift Afromontane region representing 59% of the total of known endemic species.
Remember to contact the Park Management for a guide who will take around for a good viewing of birds, do not forget your binoculars as you identify species Ibis, Whydah, Speckled Mousebird, Fire Finch are found also the Notable bird species include Rwenzori Turaco, Crowned Crane, Dusky Turtle Dove, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, , Montane Double-collared Sunbird along the trials.
Volcano Climb – Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park Headquarters is where you will meet your experienced guides and begin your climb up one of the Virunga’s majestic volcanoes. This small park, covering just 38 sq km, is set on the northern slopes of the Virungas, providing visitors with spectacular views and the chance to stand simultaneously on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There three volcanoes which you can climb and they include Muhavula, Sabinyo and Mgahinga which are part of the virunga ranges. This climb helps you to have a great view of the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Batwa Cave -Trail Experience – Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park was formally a home to lives of the Batwa( Pygmy) tribe. These native people depended entirely upon the forest for survival until 1991, when they were forced by Uganda’s government to relocate based on concerns about the negative impact their activities were having on the park. Meet tribe members and experience the traditions and practices of these unique people, including a visit to the home of the Batwa King and cultural dances performed in local caves.4