3 NIGHTS & 2 DAYS IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK

We at Kyamba Safaris are excited to make your trip to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park unforgettable. The Kampala-Kabale-Kisoro Road connects to the park at a distance of around 510 kilometres (317 miles), and the trip takes 9 (nine) to 10 (ten) hours.

Located in southwest Uganda, this remarkable national park is a breathtaking protected area. It straddles the Virunga Mountains, a volcanic mountain range that connects Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is the second-smallest national park in Uganda after Lake Mburo. It occupies an area of around 33.7 square kilometres (12.9 miles).

The altitude of the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park ranges from 2,227 to 4,127 metres above sea level. It was established, as its name implies, to protect the rare mountain gorillas and the endangered golden monkeys that are found in its large forests. The wider Virunga Conservation Area, which encompasses three countries—Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The park is located in the Virunga Mountains, a series of volcanoes that straddles the borders of all three countries.

The park takes pride in its distinctive features, which include the three towering volcanoes, Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabinyo. The park’s incredible splendor is amplified by these volcanic peaks, which also present opportunities for daring pursuits like trekking and hiking.

The history of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is centered on efforts to conserve the area’s mountain gorilla population.

Before the 20th century, the indigenous Batwa people, also called “Pygmies,” lived in the area around the Virunga mountains where they relied on hunting and had a close relationship with the forest and its inhabitants, including mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas were first discovered in the vicinity by European explorers and adventurers like Carl Akeley and Walter Baumgartel in the 1930s. These encounters prompted international conservation initiatives for gorillas and their habitats.

The government designated the Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve as a protected area in 1939 to safeguard mountain gorillas and their habitat. The initial size of the reserve was 8 square kilometres (3.1 square miles). Later, in 1991, the reserve was given national park status and given the new name Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The tweak was made to enhance the park’s management and conservation.

An estimated total of 80 mountain gorillas live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where one gorilla family known as the Nyakagyezi family has been habituated and is accessible to tourists. The Mgahinga trek differs from the one in Bwindi since the hike is done along a range of ancient volcanoes.

The word “Gahinga,” which refers to piles of volcanic stones removed from agriculture at the volcanoes’ footprints as well as important wildlife habitat, is used locally to refer to this park. Over 76 mammals, including elephants, huge forest hogs, buffaloes, leopards, bush pigs, and bush backs, as well as over 180 bird species, including 14 endemic Albertine rift species, such the kivu thrush and turaco, are present in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Today, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers visitors the opportunity to go gorilla trekking, where they can observe and learn about these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. The park also provides a range of other activities, including volcano hiking, birdwatching, and cultural encounters with the Batwa community, offering a unique and diverse experience for visitors interested in wildlife and conservation. The gorilla population in the park is part of the larger Virunga population, which also spans across the neighboring Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Golden monkeys, which are native to the Albertine Rift region, are among the other fascinating animals that are found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in addition to mountain gorillas. Montane forests, bamboo forests, and open moorland are all part of the park’s multifaceted environment, which serves as a home to a wide range of bird species, mammals, and plant life.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a rich cultural heritage in addition to its natural wonders. Visitors can learn about the Batwa pygmies’ customary hunter-gatherer lifestyle and cultural practices because the park is close to their ancestral territories. Initiatives for cultural tourism have been created to support the Batwa community and promote knowledge of their history.

Gorilla trekking is the main form of tourism in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park because it enables tourists to experience and interact with these amazing primates in their natural environment. In order to conserve the gorillas and their habitat, gorilla trekking permits are necessary and must be secured in advance. The park also provides other activities including bird watching, nature hikes, hiking volcanoes, and tracking golden monkeys.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a rare opportunity to see endangered species and take in the breathtaking grandeur of the Virunga Mountains. It is a true gem of conservation efforts in Uganda and provides tourists with a memorable adventure right in the middle of Africa’s natural treasures.

The nearest airfield to the park, Kisoro airstrip, is accessible to travellers via scenic domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport. The distance to travel from the airstrip to the park once you arrive in Kisoro is roughly 14 km (8.7 miles). When travelling by road, it may take 9 to 10 hours to reach the Kisoro Airstrip, taking into account rest stops for leg stretching, lunch, and refreshments.

Activities;

• Mountain Gorilla tracking
• Volcano Climbing
• Batwa Pygmy visit
• Birding

Trip cost begins from US$300 per person