Are you a birder, climber, hiker, trekker or primate lover? Have you heard about Uganda’s smallest national parks? Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) is Uganda’s smallest national park that lies in the extreme South-west, Kisoro District just about 10 kilometers from Kisoro Town. The park is surrounded by Rwanda in the South and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the West and it covers almost 33.7 square kilometers. Regardless of its smallest size, the park has a series of activities especially for the experiential and adventurous trekkers, hikers and climbers, those interested in gold monkey tracking, among several outstanding things. Have you ever heard about the Virunga Massif or Mufumbiro Mountains? The Virunga Massif (Virunga Volcanoes) has a chain of almost 8 (eight) volcanoes of which, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a refuge to three of them. Mgahinga’s volcanoes are locally called the “Mufumbiro Mountains” which denote the “Mountains that cook!”
Despite the world’s rare mountain gorillas, the park is also renowned for its rare golden monkeys, 76 mammals, Giant forest hogs, bush pigs, forest buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, golden cats, black fronted duikers, African porcupines and side stripped jackals.
Habituated Gorilla Families in Mgahinga Forest
Nyakagezi group
This is the only family in Mgahinga National Park led by a male dominant silver buck known as Mark. The group has 10 members including 1 silver buck. The nyakagezi group kept on travelling and crossing borders of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda though it is trying to settle on the Ugandan side since 2012. Permits for tracking this group can only be got at local Uganda Wild Life Authority.
Things to Do in Mgahinga Forest
Below are some of the activities for you to make your stay memorable in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mountain gorilla trekking/tracking
Despite its size, the park is one of the places that offer visitors with ultimate gorilla trekking experience. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a home to about 80 mountain gorillas out of 1000 individuals that are renowned to be surviving in the world, while 400 of them live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The park has only one habituated gorilla family (Nyakagezi gorilla family) for tourists to track these spectacular wild creatures. Previously, the gorillas in this group used to cross up to DRC and Rwanda, however they have now stabilized at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and they can easily be tracked in their family. Tracking mountain gorillas in the park also comes with a combination of benefits such as encountering rare golden monkeys, numerous birds and several primates. Like other national parks, gorilla trekking in the Mgahinga also starts at 8:00 am local time at Ntebeko entrance. As long as you are above 15 years, there is no reason why you should miss this life time experience in the shadows of popular three (3) volcanoes that rise over the park. With many tourism activities, gorilla tracking remains the leading activity at Mgahinga and interestingly, about 75% of tourists to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, come for primate watching.
Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga is best done during the two dry seasons when the park is easily reached. During this period, the park is not muddy and it is easily accessible especially in December to February and June to October. However, mountain gorilla tracking can be done all the year round.
Golden Monkey tracking
Golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers tourists yet another golden opportunity for them to strike their imaginations with these astounding wild creatures as they blend themselves high in thick bamboo forests on Gahinga Trail. Golden monkeys are estimated to be 3000-4000 in the Virunga area and 42-60 of them are habituated in Mgahinga for tourists’ experiences. Remember golden monkey tracking is only done in Uganda and Rwanda. Golden monkeys have a weight of about 10-25 pounds and they have golden bodies, cheeks and tails with black limbs. They are sub species of the blue monkey. Uniquely, tourists also have opportunity to do Golden Monkey Habituation Experience which is only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park across East Africa.
Bird watching
Are you a birder? Uganda offers a home to about 11% of the world’s bird species and Mgahinga has several habitats for various bird species which count about 179-184 species in record. If you are a birder, then your dreams can be achieved with Ibis, Speckled Mouse bird, Pin tailed whydah, Stone Chat, Grey capped Warbler, Wax Bills, Fire finch, Yellow vented Bulbul, White napped Raven, Black Kite, Rwenzori Turaco, Paradise Fly catcher, Rwenzori Batis, Blue headed Coucal, Double collared Sun bird, Rwenzori Nightjar. Mgahinga as well offers tourists with another perfect birding ground within the beautiful sceneries especially in the gorge between Mount Gahinga and Sabinyo, via the Bamboo forest and the montane forest where you can sight the Rwenzori Turaco.
Mountain/Volcano climbing
Do you love mountaineering? Hiking on top of all the three volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another strenuous experience for adventure lovers. Climbing on their summits is one thing that rewards visitors with incredible view from Rwanda, DRC, the Rwenzori, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Virunga and Lake Edward. Small as it is, tourists can combine several activities and at end of it all you have varied experiences within a short period of time. Though climbing on these volcanoes doesn’t require any technical experience, some strength is worth needed for persons interested in this adventure.
The Batwa Forest Trail
Besides mountain gorillas, Mgahinga is another rare destination where you can explore the ancient forest inhabitants, gatherers, hunters and fierce warriors who co-existed on with the forest specifically for basic needs. The Batwa pygmies spent centuries while in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but due to conservation policies, they found themselves out of their lovely home and currently they guide tourists through the forest and introduce them to their previous home and most importantly their unique life style at a time. Uniquely, they have amazing height in human life! Staring at their heights isn’t enough but getting into their sacred Garama Cave is another incredible thing that gets visitors to astonishing dance where they will proceed to listen to the Batwa women’s songs of sorrow “why they were removed from their home?” The Garama Cave was once Batwa King’s Palace which acted they could run to seek for safety during times of wars. The cave extends about 342 meters in length.
Nature walks and hiking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also offers tourists with lovely nature or hiking experiences. While exploring the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, tourists get a chance to spot on incredible forest birds, Rugezi swamp, beautiful wild vegetation, bamboo forests and magnificent views of the adjacent lakes and agricultural villages.
How to get to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
There are two ways that you can easily access the park;
On road, you take the Kampala through Kabale to Kisoro route where you will spend almost 8 hours driving. By air: You can fly from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip which is adjacent the park.
Lodging facilities in Mgahinga
For your relaxation overnight, Mgahinga has several lodges for you to choose from and most of them can be got around Ntebeko, Lake Mutanda and Kisoro. Around Ntebeko, they include the Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge and Amajambere Lwacu Camp. In Mutanda, there is Lake Mutanda Chameleon Hill Lodge while in Kisoro you can stay in Kisoro Traveler’s Rest Hotel and River Mucha Hotel.
In conclusion, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is tourism paradise when it comes to experiential activities. Visitors have are free to combine their safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Rwanda with Mgahinga and then enjoy a range of tourism activities from primate walk, birding and cultural encounter, hiking and climbing. Mgahinga’s hidden treasures a wait for your visit!