Mgahinga gorilla national park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south western region of Uganda in the district of Kisoro covering total area of about 33.7 square kilometres. mgahinga gorilla national park is one the two parks in Uganda with mountain gorillas. It was gazetted in 199 as the national park. The park has is spectacular offering quite number of Uganda gorilla trekking activities to travellers. Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of over 79 bird species recorded in the park making it a birding spot for bird lovers while on their Uganda primate safaris. Also, different animals can be encountered like bush bucks, leopards, hyenas, giant forest hogs and many others.
Attractions in mgahinga gorilla national park
On a Uganda gorilla trekking to mgahinga gorilla national park, there are a lot of attractions to sight in the park. these encompass the following;
volcanoes;
These volcanoes are three in number and that is Gahinga, muhabura and sabinyo. The Gahinga has a beautiful swamp at the top, muhavura has a crater lake and sabinyo gives you the best experience ever one would wish to have where by climbing it you step in three countries which is Uganda, Congo and Rwanda.
Golden monkeys;
Golden monkey trekking in mgahinga gorilla national park is one of those exciting activities to see and do during this tracing it is always done in for 2 to 4 hours which includes habituating where visitors stay longer with monkeys and it starts from Ntebeko at exactly 8am, and it will be a memory to cherish for years.
Golden monkeys are also known as old world monkeys and can only be found in Uganda.
Mgahinga Garama cave
Mgahinga Garama cave is one of the famous caves in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and they are believed to hv been the home of the Batwa who had lived there for so many years until they were resettled and they used to use them as a retreat centre after raiding neighbours.
Animals
The park has 39 species of mammals and biggest number of mammals include elephants, leopards. buffalos, bush pigs’ others that you can encounter during Uganda gorilla trekking.
What to see when you are in mgahinga gorilla national park
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking can only be done in Uganda and in mgahinga national park and they are also known as old world monkeys and they are over 132 species and during the tracking one can be able to know the behaviours of these monkeys like what they feed, where they sleep like in shrubs and other characteristics.
Nature walks
Nature walks in mgahinga gorilla national park it is the Bestway to explore and enjoy the treasures that nature offers to you on your Uganda safari. During nature walk is one way you would explore how beautiful the park is, nature walks are done through footing in the forest using the trail and these trails will take you to different ways depending on targeted end point and each trail takes you to a certain attraction like water fall passing through Rugezi swamp which is good for bird watchers. Also, nature walk travellers are assured of seeing, meeting and interacting with mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other mammals like giant forest hogs, bushbucks, birds and butterflies and many other species while on a nature walk will be spotted which will it a memorable experience.
Birding
Birding in mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the best experiences birders would which include abertine rift endemic species. They include francolins, western green tinker birds, yellow billed kits, Rwenzori turacos, cape robin chat to mention but a few.
Batwa trail and Garama cave.
This Batwa trail leads from the base of muhuvura cave. And it is conducted by Batwas guides who provide insights into their traditional forest life and culture and that cave today is being used to provide an atmospheric performance of Batwa music to visitors at the end of the visit a trip to mgahinga national park is not complete without the Batwa trail experience.
Volcano climbing
There are three Virunga volcanoes to be hiked on a Uganda safari to in mgahinga gorilla national park and these include muhabura volcano which is about 4127m, mountain sabyinyo 3669m and Gahinga volcano which 3474m and all giving different views of mgahinga gorilla national park.
Best time to visit mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park can be visited all year round though the best time is the dry season the reason is, it is because the trails are less muddy and slippery, making the trip easy, and it can be in the months of June January, February and August.
How to get to Mgahinga National Park
By Road
When travelling to mgahinga national park you will drive from Kampala via masaka, Mbarara, kabale, Kisoro then to the park head quarters and it is about 9 to 10 hours.
By Air
One can Aero link from kajansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip and it will take 2 to 3 hours to arrive and then transfer to park by road.
Accommodation in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla valley lodge
It located on the boarder of the impenetrable forest and set on a steep slope of the lodge and it is on of the unique lodges Imagine waking hearing the sound of the forest and seeing the mountain gorillas moving from the forest which makes gorilla valley special.
Mountain Gahinga lodge
It is located in south western Uganda, near Kisoro town, and it is the only nearest park to stay in when you want to trek gorillas and golden monkeys. Mountain Gahinga lodge gives local and international dishes to guests and it gives all kind of rooms like double or twin rooms to mention but a few.
Virunga hotel
Virunga hotel it is located in Northern province of Rwanda, while at Virunga hotel, visitors have a chance to trek mountain gorillas in the same place which makes trekking easy and enjoyable.
