Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south-western Uganda in Kisoro district and it is one of the smallest national parks in Uganda with geographical area of 33.7 km2lying on the altitude that ranges from 2,227 to 4,127 m. It borders Rwanda to the south and DRC to the west.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park habits 76 species of mammals but most of them are difficult to see apart from Mountain Gorillas, and Golden Monkeys because of the thick vegetation. Some other animals include, bush pigs, South African porcupines, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, forest Elephants, golden cats among others. There are also bird species where the entire Virunga conservation region contains over 250 bird species and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park alone contains 115 bird species and this is special for bird watching individuals or groups. The bird watching clients will see especially endemic species to the albertine Rift Mountains like Rwenzori Turaco,Dusky Turtle Dove, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, White-starred Robin, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Equatorial Akalat, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Kivu Ground Thrush, Banded Prinia, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler, Collared Apalis, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, White-necked raven, Black kite, Pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbird, Speckled mouse bird, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, and Whydah among others.
The park is the continuation of Parc National des Virunga (240 km2) in the DRC, and Parc National des Volcans (160 km2) in Rwanda which has created the protected area (PA) known as the Virunga Conservation Area covering an area of 434 km2. It was established as a national park in 1991 from an area which used to be a game reserve from 1930s to 1950. It was turned into crop fields in lower altitudes and biological surveys in 1989, wire traps were also destroyed, rangers trained to protect the park and trees planted. Also, Settlers were relocated to areas outside the national park in the early 1990s.
The name Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was derived from one of three dormant volcanoes in the Virunga region and that is Mt Gahinga (3,474m), Mt Muhabura (4,127 m), and Mt Sabyinyo (3,645 m). It covers counties of Bufumbira county, Nyarusiza and Muramba sub-counties in Uganda opposite to the three parishes of Gisozi, Rukongi and Gitenderi in Rwanda. It is believed that Mt Sabinyo is the oldest, Mt Gahinga is the young one and Mt Muhabura is the youngest.The Mountains encompasses bamboo forest, Montane forest, Montane Morrlands and an alphine zone at higher altitudes.
The park is a second home for the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda with one habituated gorilla family named Nyakagyezi usually encountered on Uganda gorilla trekking tours. Besides mountain gorillas, MgahingaGorilla National Park also shelters populations of golden monkeys which only exist in the Virunga massif on the world scale.
CLIMATE
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park climate is mild to cold and wet climate and it makes it the coldest place in Uganda because of the high altitude which range from 2,227m to 4,127m. it has average temperature of 20°C/68°F during the day, becoming cold in the evening (9°C/48°F).
The climate is different in the park because of the wide range of altitude. Temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb. The lower altitude range is the area most visited by tourists.
Dry Season / High Season: The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the dry season and it ranges from June to August and December to January.
Rainy Season / Low Season: These are the coldest month in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and they range from February, March, April and May. Also, from September, October and November. So, you can visit the park but you should have rain gears with rainy jackets and 4×4 Safari land cruiser is highly recommended.
ACCESS / HOW TO GET THERE
BY ROAD TRANSPORT
The park can be accessed from Kampala town via Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, kable and Kisoro high way and it takes 10 hours’ drive on 519km. From Kisoro town to the park it takes 14km to reach to the park headquarters.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed via Kigali in Rwanda to the park from Katuna or Cyanika border points. it takes 144km which costs 5 hours’ drive while in the vehicle.
It can also be reached through the areas of Ishasha sector and Mweya in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It takes 371km distance and 6 hours’ drive to reach the park.
BY AIR TRANSPORT
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be reached by the flight from Entebbe International Airport which costs 2 hours fly to Kisoro airstrip. So, when you arrive on the airstrip, the driver guides will transfer you to the place of stay or accommodation. Please note that Kisoro flights are subjected to the prevailing weather conditions and strictly morning flights operate daily. They depart Entebbe International airport at 0700 hours and arrives to Kisoro airstrip at 0810 hours in the morning.
TOURISM / TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
-
Gorilla tracking or trekking
The park offers Gorilla trekking experience starting at 8:00am with the briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides. It is the second national park after Bwindi Impenetrable National park in Uganda to provide gorilla trekking encounter. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only family in this park withhabituated Gorillas for tracking by tourists. The gorilla trekking activity commences at Ntebeko area or the Muhabura section and it takes 2-6 hours depending on the direction of Mountain gorillas. You will only spend 1 hour with the Gorillas upon finding them and tracking involves hiking the volcanic slopes and traversing the jungle which makes it interesting. So, on your way back the driver guide will pick and transfer back to your lodge.
-
Golden Monkey tracking or trekking
The Golden monkey experience can be done and found only in the Virunga massif region in the whole world especially on the bamboo vegetation especially on Mt Gahinga. Golden monkey trekking which starts early morning with briefing at 7:00 am from the park headquarters before trekkers are placed in different groups. You spend an hour with the golden monkeys after spotting them. it takes half day and after you will be transferred to place of stay
-
Bird watching or Birding at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
With 115 bird species in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, it provides a good experience to the bird watchers especially on the Sabinyo Gorge for theRwenzori Turaco, the birds can also be spotted on MtGahingabamboo area and Sabinyo, and the Boundary Trail at Ntebeko. There are chances of spotting birds like Dusky turtle dove, Bronze sunbird,Olive Thrush, Regal sunbird, Kivu ground Thrushand Cape Robin-chat among others. It will take 3-4 hours and you will be provided experienced bird watching ranger guide who will take you through this trail.
-
Cultural encounters.
Formerly, the Batwa forest people lived in the forests of Mgahinga National Park and depended on the forest for survival in terms of food, medicine, shelter among others. Their eviction from the forest did not erase their heritagefrom the forest and the Batwa trail has been designed traversing the park with the Batwa themselves as the guides taking Uganda safari undertakers through their traditions, their modes of survival including wild honey harvesting, edible wild fruits and roots, their architectural modes and finally their King’s palace at Garama cave where women sing songs of remembrance commemorating their good times in the forest. The Batwa trail takes 6 -7 hours though there is also a shorter trail that lasts about 2 – 3 hours.
-
Mountain Hiking.
With three volcanoes in the park, Volcano climbing cannot be avoided on Uganda safari. Mt. Sabinyo (3,645m) stretches for 14km and lasts about eight hours with a steep climb over the ridge to the top after which you traverse its series of peaks. Mount Gahinga (3,474m) takes six hours round trip since it the shortest of the three volcanoes. Mt. Muhabura (4,127m) is the highest stretching for 12km round trip and takes about eight hours with its summit offering impressive views of Bwindi Impenetrable forest and the peaks of Rwenzori Mountains.
-
Nature walks.
Mgahinga National Park can also be explored on foot. The walks through the Sabinyo gorge offer a rich encounter with nature including birds such as the Rwenzori Turaco. The trek takes 4 hours passing through the Rugezi swamp where a range of birds can also be encountered. There is also the Congo border walk offering encounter with different vegetation zones and sights of calderas on Gisozi hill, Bunagana and Kisoro towns not forgetting the scenic Lake Mutanda across the valley.
ACCOMMODATIONS / WHERE TO STAY
HIGH END LODGES / LUXURY FACILITIES AT MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK
- Mount Gahinga Lodge
MID RANGE LODGE FACILITIES AT MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
- Mucha Hotel Kisoro.
- Travelers rest hotel Kisoro.
- Lake Mulehe Safari lodge.
- Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge.
- Chameleon Hill lodge.
BUDGET FACILITIES AT MGAHINGA GORILLA LODGE]
- Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp.