Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Gorilla Safari Packages, Uganda Tours

UGANDA GORILLA TOURS

RWANDA GORILLA TOURS

MGAHINGA GORILLA PARK - Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

Gorilla Trekking Mgahinga national park is one of the smallest but scenic national park in Uganda.
It is located in South Western part of Kisoro District, Bufumbira County, with a size of 33.7 sq km, and borders Rwanda in the South and Democratic republic of Congo in the west.

The park is situated in Virunga Mountains, which covers three of the eight Virunga volcanoes; Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabinyo, which cover only 8% of the whole of Virunga conservation area, with the rest of the area extending to Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo.

Situated about 540km from Kampala, the park was gazzeted in 1991, and is best recognized as one of the two National parks in Uganda that harbors the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Uganda.

Mgahinga national park experience afromontane vegetation and a cool climate with Bamboo as the dominant vegetation covering 60%,and is a good delicacy for the Gorillas.
The area is mostly inhabited by Bafumbira who are the majority dwelling on cultivation as their economic activity, with a minority group of crafty Batwa who were Marjory hunters.

The area experience two wet seasons; February-May and September-December, which causes the place to have a tropical rainforest type.

Mgahinga National park is a home to over 76 mammalian species, with Gorillas being the major attraction. Other mammals include golden monkeys, buffalo, rodents, elephants, bushbucks Etc.
There is also 79 recorded bird species with some endemic to the Albertain Rift valley. Some of the bird species include Ibis, speckled mouse Birds, fire finch stone chatgrey capped warbler, waxbills, etc

Some of the activities that are done in the park include;
Gorilla tracking/trekking, which involves moving around the park with the guides to see the gorillas. There is only one group of gorillas habituated for tourists in Mgahinga,The Nyakagezi group which consists of 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and infants.

There is also birding, where one gets an opportunity to see different species of birds some endemic to east Congo Montane region. Examples include fiscal shrike, crowned hornbird, black kite, augur buzzards, crowned crane etc.

Volcano climbing is another recipe for the park, where physically fit individuals get a chance to hike the mountains, where they enjoy a beautiful view of most parts of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda and the park in particular.
Volcano climbing involves Mount Sabinyo (old man’s teeth) which is 3669m high, taking 8hrs with 14km on return.
Mount Gahinga (small piles of stone), which is 3474m,taking 8hrs on return.
Mount Muhavura(the guide) which is the highest with 4127m. Once one is on top of this volcanoe,one gets a beautiful view of the park,Bwindi impenetrable national park, Lake Edward, peak of Rwenzori, Virunga volcanoe, Queen Elizabeth National park.

There is also cave exploration, where the crafty Batwa used to stay. This is 342m in length and 14m deep,now inhabited by bats.

There is viewing platform, where on hikes up on free will and gets a chance to have a beautiful view of the park.

The Batwa also are interesting group of people to visit as they are good entertainers and have unique ways of life. So one can visit the group if interest in cultural exploration.

Gorilla Tours Uganda
3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Tour
5 Days Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
5 Days Chimpanzees, Gorilla Treks
7 Days Uganda Safari Holiday
9 Days Mountain Gorilla Tour
10 Days Uganda Gorilla Holiday

Rwanda Gorilla Safaris
2 Days Volcanoes Gorilla Tour
3 Days Genocide memorial Tour
4 Days Honeymoon tour
5 Days Trek Gorillas Twice
7 Days Rwanda Travel Highlights
8 Days Gorilla Watching Trip