Safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, is recognized as one of the minutest National park in Uganda, yet a must tour destination for the outdoor tourists who love to triumph the trails and ascent the heights found here in the park that is in the Clouds having an elevation/altitude of between 2,227 & 4,127 above sea level. Mgahinga National Park is the place where the ‘Gold encounters the Silver’. A situation where you encounter the Silverback Mountain Gorillas & the Golden Monkeys on your trek in the park.

In 2019 this Park (Mgahinga Gorilla) became the “3rd Must Photograph orientation in the World” after an analysis of picture postings on Facebook. The trivial 3.7 km ² in the Clouds park houses 3 of Virunga Volcanoes, the Mufumbiro Mountains that heat. The name ‘Mgahinga Gorilla’ Park comes from ‘Mount Gahinga’. And the word ‘Gahinga’ means the place with little stones in the native language. So these stones were normally as a result of the Volcanic explosions/eruptions in the distant past but stay.

Mgahinga Gorilla Park is situated in picturesque Southwest of Uganda on the border/rim with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. This National Park is part of what is termed as the Virunga chain and shelters Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura & Mount Sabinyo, which are included in Virunga Volcano massif. Apart from sheltering the endangered species of Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys, this Park is also homes 76 species of mammals, much as they are difficulty to see in the thick forest vegetation. They involve the giant Forest Hogs, Bushpigs, Forest Buffaloes, Forest Elephants, Bushbucks, Golden Cats, side-striped Jackals, black-fronted Duikers, etc.

However, in this park there is a variety and total of things to do and spot/see as well, a must-tour park for the gentle giants(Gorillas) and Golden monkey trekkers, hikers, climbers, bird lovers, primate paramours, and those that are fond of being off the beaten track and away from the masses.

Top Things to Do and See in Mgahinga Gorilla Park – Uganda

Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla Park:

Mgahinga Gorilla Park is a National park located and found in Uganda, yet it is best to have a flight in Rwanda and embark on Trekking Gorillas in this park (Mgahinga Gorilla).

The International Airport of Kigali-Rwanda is approximately 3-hrs from Mgahinga Gorilla Park, which is much better than having a flight into Entebbe International Airport if Mgahinga Gorilla Park is your destination of choice.

You can also start your tour in this park (Mgahinga Gorilla) and conclude it having a flight out of Entebbe in Uganda. In between, tour Queen Elizabeth Park and Kibale Forest, where the best Chimpanzee Tracking activity is carried out in East Africa.

Kigali has become the doorway for both Central & South-western Uganda. To start in Kigali is much easier a way then to begin your tour in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Southwest Uganda. Remember there is a time difference of specifically 1 hr between Uganda & Rwanda, therefore transferring to Uganda, you drop 1 hr while retiring back to Rwanda, you profit 1 hr.

Mgahinga Gorilla Park Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda:

When you start discussing anything regarding Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla Park seldom comes up. It is infrequently revealed by most. In Uganda, Gorilla Trekking is identical with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is not a chief Tourist place. It is off the map on most Safari travel plans, making it an inedible tourist place.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shelters about 100 Gorillas and more. Only 1 gorilla family called the ‘Nyakagezi’, can be toured. Nyakagezi is a gorilla family that is habituated and can be tracked. This Gorilla Family Group contains 10 individuals with a spot as the heading Silverback. What makes the Nyakagezi Family exceptional is that 5 Silverbacks are staying together in absolute peace.

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla implies you are Trekking in the Virunga Volcanoes imitating what your trekking would be like if you were in Rwanda at a savings of at least $900. You can still engage in Gorilla Trekking in both Mgahinga Gorilla National Park & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on a four /five-day Tour.

Golden Monkey Trekking: 

The infrequent & threatened golden monkeys can only be toured in Rwanda and Uganda are situated in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.  You can have a joint safari of gorilla trekking literally with golden monkey tracking.

Much as the Chimpanzees and Gentle giants (Gorillas) are habituated, same applies to the golden monkeys, implying that they will not wary away when approached by humans (a course that can yield up to 2 years). Golden Monkeys weigh about 10- 25 pounds, have gotten a golden body, cheeks and tails with black boughs/limbs, their heads have a crown on them, and tail finish.

Golden monkeys are a sub-species of the Blue monkey and are found in the bamboo forests in the Virunga Volcanoes. Mgahinga Gorilla Park offers a golden chance to track the golden monkeys of this park (Mgahinga Gorilla) following the tracking of the mountain gorillas in the same park. There is also the Golden Monkey Habituation Experience where you can spend more time with these golden monkeys

Birding

The diverse homes of Uganda’s minutest park make it shelter to a diversity of birds with 179-184 species verified. This list involves the Ibis, Pin-tailed Whydah, Speckled Mousebird, Stone Chat, Grey-capped Warbler, Wax Bills, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Fire finch, White-naped Raven, Black Kite, Rwenzori Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal, Paradise Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, Double-collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Nightjar.

Of the Albertine Rift’s widespread birds, the following were noted in the Park The handsome francolin, dusky crimson-wing, red-throated Alethe, Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, collared Apalis, mountain masked Apalis, Archer’s ground Robin, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, to mention but a few.

Volcano Climbing- The Mountain that boils-Virunga Volcanoes:

The weird thing about this park is that you can join all kinds of activities here, involving the mounting of 3 majestic Virunga Volcanoes, called locally the Mufumbiro Mountains -which means the mountains that cook. All these mountains- Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura, Mount Sabinyo can be climbed in one day. Uganda Wildlife Authority provides you with guides who direct you. They take you up to the summit and back down again, passing via the 5 vegetation zones. You might spot Gorillas and Golden Monkeys along the Way.

Batwa Cultural Forest Trail:

Spot the earliest forest through the eyes of its origin people (the Batwa people). When the park was formed, these people got ejected and became homeless, then they turned out to be preservative refugees away from their forest. So they have survived/subsisted on the exterior/outside of the park, only spotting tourists come into their earliest hunting and collecting terrain.

This directed walk involves both a nature walks and cultural walk since you get to know and find out the behaviours, /characters of the Batwa People. Get to know how they hunted, collected honey, herbs as remedy, made clothing, ate berries from the forest, etc.  It is undeniably a must-do at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Apart from consulting/meeting the Batwa society as your guide, touring their consecrated Garama cave observing the dance when the walk is conclude, performed by the women with a lingering son (the cave was a place where their king stayed and where they veiled/hid in times of war).This cave is 342 m long, contained the King’s quarter, a kitchen drinking water, collecting & an area for assemblies/gatherings. With the help of litting the burning grass, this provided light and warmth in this cave.

The Batwa people themselves straight profited from this activity since a large part of the charges for the walk goes straight to them. A tip, use Ugandan Shillings would be most cherished.

Hitting the Hiking Trails in Mgahinga Gorilla Park:

You can spend many days here just being involved in the hiking activity, we propose an intermediate level of fitness for the base hike found here. Most of the trails will not surpass 5 hrs, most of them last half-day (up to 5 hrs long) hikes that are just right, and you have an afternoon to yourself to relax. The Park and the trails can be inclusive in your tour with us, but you have to alert us early enough so that we know your desires.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is off the beaten tourist track for most, and on many of the hikes, it is just you and your guides, the more reason for you to hit the tracks in this park.  You will never identify what you venture around the next rotation of the trail.

Is Mgahinga gorilla park safe to visit

This park (Mgahinga Gorilla) is safe and secure for tourists who need to engage in trekking of Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, ascent a Volcano, involve in the hikes.  There is no activity involved in, in Mgahinga Gorilla Park without the company of armed Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers. Further where we can’t reach/see, the Ugandan Army patrols the park plus the local Police, and the Uganda Tourism Police force, and you have a park that safeguards you.

The UWA Rangers are highly skilled to the extent that they are security-minded, yet welcoming, highly Enlighted, and confident in their English speaking.  Uganda is recognized the Best English Speaking Country in Africa.

There has been no security issue for any tourists visiting the Park. 

Best Time of the Year to Visit Mgahinga Gorilla Park:

You can tour the park on your tour with us at any time. Though you are in temperate Africa, the weather is ultimate for Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking, Volcano Climbs, Hikes, the Batwa Trail, etc. It is 25℃ standard.  During night time temperatures drip down to 10℃ if you are living at the Mount Gahinga Lodge.

Months of January through March, late June- early October, and mid-December towards the end of the month is ultimate for Gorilla Trekking, Climbing, and Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. April, October through early December, is ultimate for those that need a lower price at deluxe Lodges such as Mount Gahinga Lodge.

Lodging-Mount Gahinga Lodge

Mount Gahinga Lodge is our commended selection for Lodging while staying at Mgahinga Lodge. The lodge, tough a high class one, defeats hands down. You pay more, but you also get a lot more, luxurious cottage with fireplaces. A free massage during your stay. Free Drinks involving Beer, House-Wine, Sodas, non-premium liquor such as Uganda Waragi.

Activities such as Caldera Walk, a Batwa Heritage Walk, a Visit to the Gahinga Batwa Village are involved in the price, and are directed by Lodge Staff.

Great places to stay while touring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are those lodges that oversee picturesque Lake Mutanda, such as Chameleon Hill Lodge and Mutanda Lake Resort. It is so beautiful to have a lessening evening after a whole day of volcano hiking, try the Ugandan Drink of choice(Uganda Waragi with a Krest Bitter Lemon inclusive.

Add a Day to Relax and Chill Out on Scenic Lake Mutanda

In 2019 the setting of Mgahinga Gorilla Park’s Volcanoes, as sighted from Lake Mutanda, became the “Third in the World Must Photograph Locations.” Various customers spent 1 or 2 Days at the Chameleon Hill Lodge.  This lodge is Africa’s jazziest lodge having perky/bright colors & Pixy story fortress Theme.

Chameleon Hill Lodge is a deluxe/luxury Lodge with one of the fine high spots anywhere. It is an ideal way to conclude your Gorilla Trekking tour in Uganda. The lodge is near the border and just 2 & 1/2 hrs from Kigali capital city of Rwanda.

Lake Mutanda is an unspoiled/untouched Lake with bright green Isles framed by the menacing Volcanoes. One of our customers screamed that it was the most attractive lake he had ever spotted.

You can relish a Sun downer Boat ride while having Uganda’s drink of Choice, (Uganda Waragi, with a Krest Bitter Lemon Soda). Still you can attempt to oar/scull a dugout canoe with your hand.  Birding Walk, island exploration boat rides performances, village walk & nature trails along Lake Mutanda, etc.

Our Take on Mgahinga Gorilla Park

We are well versed with this park (Mgahinga Gorilla). We have triumphed the peaks and Trails, trekked the ‘Nyakagezi Gorilla Family’, and toured the Golden Monkeys residing in this park. We like that it is Off-the-beaten Path, near Kigali, near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an amalgamation/mixture of Primates, Birds, Wildlife, Culture, and Traditions, Hiking and Climbing.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park , a trivial park but with abundance to indulge in/ do and plentiful to spot, definitely not to be missed when touring Uganda (Pearl of Africa