Mgahinga Gorilla
National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is the smallest park in Uganda but
despite being the smallest park in Uganda it is the prime tour-safari
destination and it’s one of the best national parks in Uganda for gorilla trekking
of endangered mountain gorillas in the world. The park offers some activities
like adventurous climbing, hiking, gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking.
Mgahings Gorilla National Park has hiking trails that
include the Batwe trail which goes across the bottom slopes of two volcanoes
within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Batwe trail leads to forest and you
will view how people in the forest lived. The favorite’s trails for visitors
who come to the park are the sabyinyo Gorge trail and the border trail near Congo
border. Mgahinga National Park has cave called Garama cave and it is said that
it was used by the Batwe people and their king for hiding during the period of
war.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has cool type of climate that
supports the best growth of Afro-montane vegetation and other vegetations types.
The people leaving a round Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the Bafumbira
people who occupy the largest area in Kisoro district and their main activity
is farming.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park does not only offer golden
monkeys trekking and mountain gorillas trekking but also has 76 species of
mammals which include elephants, golden cats, buffaloes, bushbucks, black
fronted duikers, bush pigs and African porcupines among others. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 115 bird species and some of the bird species are endemic to
the Albertine Rift Mountains. Some of the bird species include white-necked
raven, olive pigeon, blue-headed coucal, speckled mouse birds, fire finch
stone chat and many others.
What To Do And See
From Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla Trekking:
Mountain gorilla is endangered wildlife animal in Uganda but
still the gorillas are multiplying in numbers because of the game reserve
policy. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has both gorilla trekking and Monkey experience, the only habituate group is Nyakagezi gorilla family group in
Mgahinga Gorilla Park. In the process of trekking you have a chance of seeing
other animals like the golden monkeys and others wildlife including some bird
species. Actually gorilla trekking start
off at 8:00am in the morning, the Uganda wildlife authority staff will brief
you on rule and regulation of gorilla trekking and went going for trekking
should move with the guide. Gorilla trekking is the best experience should not
miss out.
Golden Monkey
Trekking.
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is
one of the things you should not miss to do. Mgainga gorilla national park has
habituation group for golden monkey and the home is at mount sabyinyo. Golden
monkey trekking starts in the morning and the trekkers take one hour with the
monkeys. For golden monkeys trekking the
number of trekkers is not limited as it’s with the gorillas, permits for golden
monkeys only cost 100 USD per person.
The golden monkeys are sub-species of the blue money and are
always found in the bamboo forest jumping from tree to tree and playing with
the little ones. Mgahinga Gorilla
national park in Uganda offers best opportunity for trekkers by forming
habituation family for golden monkeys.
Batwe Forest Trail.
Batwe forest trail starts from mount Muhavure and it take
around 3 to 4 hours. The Batwe trail goes a cross the bottom slopes of the two
volcanoes that is Muhavura and Gahinga volcanoes in Mgahinga gorilla national
park. The Batwe people use the forest for variety of things like for gathering
food, medicines, and homes for Batwe people, collecting fire wood and many
others. When going for Batwe trail, batwe guide should accompany you. The Batwe
occupation is farming and they are well known for their dance, music and
historical background and visiting their cave known as Garama cave.
Bird Watching.
Mgahinga gorilla national park has 115 bird species recorded
and some of the birds are endemic to the albertine Rift Mountain, the birds in Mgahinga
Park include the pin-tailed whydah, yellow-vented Bulbl, fire finch, speckled
mousebird, Rwenzori nightjar, Double-collared sunbird and many others. Bird
watching in mgahinga gorilla national park is done all year around in the park.
But still the best time for bird watching is Aprils to mid-May and October to
November.
Volcano/Mountain
climbing.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park is so interesting because of
the activities done from it. The park has three Virunga Volcanoes and each Volcanoe
can be climbed per day. The hiker climb the three volcanoes and reach to it is
peak were they can view the Virunga Volcanoes, Rwenzori peak, Lake Edward,
Bwindi impenetrable forest and different creatures on the park. Actually you
can enter the three countries Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic republic ofCongo through Mt. sabinyo.
Hiking and Nature
Walks.
Hiking and nature walks are interesting activities you
should not miss when in Mgahinga gorilla national park. You will walk to the foot
hills of Virunga Volcanoe; the tourist will have wonderful experience during
nature walks because you will have clear views of wildlife, birds, bamboo
forest trees, beautiful swamps.
Accommodation at
Mgahinga Gorilla national park
Accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include
luxury, budget and mid-range lodges, chameleon hill lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort,
kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mount Gahinga lodge, Amajambere Iwacu community camp and
Travelers Rest Hotel.
Location of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in southern west
corner of Uganda in Kisoro district at Bufumbira County and the park comprises
of three volcanoes and three extensive swamps. The three volcanoes include, mount Muhabura, mount
Gahinga and mount Sabyinyo.
The park size is at
33.7 square kilometers and it’s at an altitude range of 2227-4127 metres. Mgahinga
Gorilla National Park is bordering the Republic of Rwanda from the south and
Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and the park is only 10 km from Kisoro
main town.
