Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda

Mgahinga National Park, Uganda Gorilla trekking, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Batwa people (Pygyms)

A Uganda safari to the mist Where Gold meets silver – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The national park covers the norther slopes of the northmost Virunga Volcanoes of Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Mgahinga and Mt. Sabinyo where it derives its name. Gahinga is a Kinyarwanda” word from the people of Rwanda meaning a pile of volcanic lava stone heaps, Mahavura meaning guide and sabinyo meaning old man’s teeth, therefore have a guided walk through a pile of volcanic lava stone heaps to the old man’s teeth on your Uganda tour. This area was previously home to a variety of refuge wildlife during the Pleistocene ice age that trekked up and down the forest according to the weather and the park established in 1991 to protect the rare mountain gorillas.

The mountain gorillas are rare but guess what!!! Uganda has two national parks that play host to the remaining gorillas in the whole world. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park together with Bwindi impenetrable national park have the great jungle ape and yes, you can trek and have a close view when you plan a Uganda safari.

Brief Facts about Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda

Location: Kisoro District Uganda
Nearest City: Kisoro
Coordinates: 01°22′10″S 29°38′25″E
Area: 33.7 km2 (13.0 sq mi)
Governing body: Ugandan Wildlife Authority

What to see at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda | Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda

golden monkeys in mgahinga

Gorilla & Golden Monkey Safaris; The gold and silver meet here therefore the gorilla and golden monkey are key wildlife species in the park. The habituated gorilla group is known as Nyakagezi with 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants, the gorillas are part of about 480 gorillas in the Virunga massif. The other wildlife includes the golden monkeys, African porcupines, black fronted duikers, side striped jackals, forest buffalos, bush pigs and bush bucks that you will encounter on your Uganda gorilla safari.

birds in mgahinga national park

Birds; Birds too love these altitudes, about 184 species have been spotted in the Virunga dormant volcanoes including the White- naped Raven, Black kite, Rwenzori Turaco, Blue -headed coucal, Grey – capped Warbler, Wax Bills, Ibis, Pin-tailed whydah, speckled mouse bird, stone chat   and many more easily spotted and known on your birding safari in Uganda.

mt muhavura

The Gahinga, sabinyo and Muhavura mountains; The Gahinga, sabinyo and Muhavura mountains are worth exploring during a Uganda gorilla trekking safari with an unrivaled enchanting view when you get to mt. Sabinyo that has deeply eroded, deep gorges and ravines as you set foot on all the tree countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Gahinga has a swamp-filled crater about 180m wide and Muhavura has a small crater lake about 36m at its summit with remarkable views.

What to do at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda | Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Trekking the Silver back Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla

Trekking the Silver back Gorillas and Golden Monkeys; in this inter migratory region is exceptional. Uganda gorilla trekking safaris in Mgahinga’s thick forest as you find the rare mountain gorillas takes you through trails where you sight other forest specie like the golden cats, African porcupines, bush bucks, learn about the gorilla character like feeding time and do birding along the way. Getting close to this human like jungle ape will get you excited and wishing not to leave yet. A triple experience can be better gotten when you tailor your safari for a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari and Congo gorilla trekking safaris.

Hiking Mt. Muhavura

Hiking to the 3 out of the 8 Virunga volcanoes of Mt. Sabinyo, Mt. Gahinga and Mt. Muhavura; with breath -taking drops into deep gorges and ravines. Mt. Muhavura is the highest at 4,127m with a relaxing view of Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward at Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Rwenzori mountains (the Switzerland of East Africa) and it will take you about 8 excruciating hours to get to this whole new world. Mt. Gahinga the second highest is 3474m taking about 6 hours and Mt. Sabinyo is 366m where you get an all East and Central African experience on Uganda gorilla trekking safaris and tours as you set foot on Uganda, Rwanda and Congo just within 8 hours.

Historical Exploration of the Dormant Volcano Areas

Historical Exploration of the Dormant Volcano Areas; will lead you to the caves formed by lava tubes on the steep slopes like Garama cave near Ntebeko -the park head quarter that was a hiding place for the Batwa(pygmies) with their king during times of conflict. The Batwa forest trail will give you a remarkable Uganda Cultural safari as insights of the forest are revealed to you by the former owners of the forest(Batwa) as they demonstrate life skill that helped them survive in the jungle.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda Map

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda;

By air: From Entebbe International airport, Aerolink Uganda 121 has 1 flight daily to Kisoro airstrip at 12:45 – 13:55 all week for about 1h 10m then a road drive 0f about 15.5km in 46min via Kabale-Kisoro road.

Road distances: There various routes for your mountain gorilla trekking /tracking safaris to Uganda at Mgahinga National Park; From Kampala the fastest route is Kampala-Kabale-Mbarara road 495km about 9h 5min. Kampala-Mubende -Mbarara road 649km about 11h 34min. From Kisoro town, Mgahinga National Park is 13.3km about 43min via Kabale-Kisoro road. Kisoro-Cyanika road is 14.5km about 44min. From Kigali, Mgahinga gorilla national park is 141km via Ruhondo road if you decided to land in Kigali, Rwanda. Kigali-Katuna road is 187km about 4h 33min. From Congo in Virunga national park, Mgahinga National Park Uganda is 357km via Ntungamo-Katunguru road about 7h 48min. From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (the bigger home of mountain gorillas), Mgahinga National Park is 44.7km via Kabale -Kisoro road about 1h 57 road drive.

Best Uganda safari/tour/visit time to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Uganda safari time to Mgahinga National Park is best during the months of December-February and June-September when the rains are low and the trails are less slippery. The dominants of the park are also out to feed and relax in the warm weather compared to during heavy rains.

Safari to Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and have the best of the wild gold and silver from the silver back mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Of course, there’s nothing better than gold but more, more and more gold.

Accommodations, Safari Lodges & Safari Hotels in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Accommodation include; Luxury safari accommodations , Mid – range safari accommodations & Budget safari accommodations.

Luxury Safari Accommodation Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Luxury Safari Accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park;Is availed at facilities including Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel in Ruhengeri 10km to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Gahinga Lodge close to the park entrance. Read More

mid range Safari Accommodation Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mid-Range Accommodations in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park;Is availed in accommodations including Davinci Gorilla Lodge in Kinigi 9.5km from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mucha Hotel Kisoro at the banks of river Mucha, Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro 14km from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Read More

Budget Accommodation Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Budget Accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park;On your Uganda gorilla safaris and tours are availed at La Locanda in Ruhengeri 15.6km from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, The Garden Place Hotel in Ruhengeri, Amajambere Iwaco Community Camp, Amahoro Guest House, Virunga hotel in Ruhengeri 16.5km, Kisoro Tourist Hotel. Read More

Short Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour Packages

The short gorilla safaris in Uganda are designed to enable mini break holiday makers to enjoy the taste of nature and encounter the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. These short Uganda Gorilla Safaris range from 3 Days Uganda gorilla safari to 4 Days Uganda gorilla safari, 5 Days Uganda gorilla safari and 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari. The short gorilla safaris are less costly and enable the limited time clients to have an encounter with attractions that they never thought of. The short gorilla safaris to Uganda are well detailed and designed to maximize your Uganda safari experience thus worth undertaking. View More Short Uganda Gorilla Safaris

Long Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour Packages

The long gorilla safaris in Uganda are designed to last a couple of days and are designed to enable Uganda gorilla safari undertakers have an extended encounter with gorillas along with other Uganda safari attractions like other primates, wildlife, scenery and culture. The Long safaris in Uganda extend up to 24 days and are comprehensively designed to enable Uganda safari undertakers to explore Uganda in detail. The destination Uganda is very diverse and every corner has got rich attractions and activities can keep you mesmerized throughout your long gorilla safari in Uganda. Taking you to the virgin wilderness of Kidepo up to the Impenetrable forests of Bwindi in the south west for gorilla trekking while traversing the Chimpanzee trekking destinations of Kibale, wildlife havens of Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park along with scenic wonders of the snowcapped mountains of the moon among other attractions like the worldly hospitable people. View More Long Uganda Gorilla Safaris

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