Mgahinga National Park is the smallest national park in Uganda, but it packs quite a punch. At only 33.9km sq., this magnificent wonder of nature and one of the best bird watching places in all of Africa hosts the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga was established as Uganda’s first, then the world’s second, fully protected area for great apes. The park’s dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife make it one of the main reasons to visit Uganda. Found in a remote region in the southwest corner of Uganda, it’s a landscape entirely different from the rest of the country. The lush forests of Mgahinga hold secrets that even most Ugandans are unaware of.
The Mgahinga Gorillas National Park, established in 1991, is one of the homes of nearly half the world’s population of these primates. Approximately 300 individuals inhabit this national park, and they are listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Others include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is bordered by the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda to the south and the three parks form the Virunga conservation area. Mgahinga lies between altitudes 2,227m and 4,127m and hosts three of the eight Virunga volcanoes; Mt. Muhavura (4,127), Mt. Gahinga (3,474), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645).
The sleeping volcanoes Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabinyo will gracefully guide you through the heart of a world-class trail. You’ll be able to see the stunning views, animals and ecosystem in all their glory. The hilltop Gahinga has a beautiful swamp right at the top, Muhavura welcomes you with a crater lake, while Sabinyo offers you the best panoramic view and an opportunity to set foot in three countries at once; Uganda, DRC and Rwanda.
Just a few kilometres from the Rwanda and DRC, the park is home to one of the largest and most diverse primate populations in Africa. The park’s lava-capped mountains and lush forests are home to mountain gorillas, as well as 39 species of mammals, including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and giant forest hogs, among others. The experience of meeting mountain gorillas in an open, natural setting is unique; there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world. The Nyakagazi family of mountain gorillas, the only habituated group outside Bwindi Impenetrable resides in the forests of Mgahinga.
Mgahinga National Park, a place of great beauty and uniqueness, is also blessed with a rare type of primates known as the Golden Monkeys. These primates are known for their puffy golden fur and incredible athleticism, They are amazing animals are incredibly playful, cheeky and very cute!. These monkeys are only found in Uganda, so it’s worth making an extra effort to see them. The park also has around 79 bird species, however if combined with the virunga conservation area, the bird species rises to 706.
The park has a fascinating mix of animals, besides the endangered species (including the mountain gorilla, golden monkey and forest elephant) it also has the more common species such as the bushbuck, Baboon and most monkeys. Aside from these you may encounter red-tailed monkeys, baboons, African porcupines, black-and-white Colobus monkeys, buffaloes and elephants
Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the most important conservation areas for the endangered mountain gorilla worldwide; since mountain gorillas cannot survive in captivity, Mgahinga is where you go to see them in their natural habitat and experience the rare opportunity of a gorilla trek.
Even though there are two prime destinations in Uganda for gorilla trekking; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, the bamboo forest of Mgahinga National Park is one of the most stunning ecosystems in Africa because it is unique. Unlike the tropical rainforest in Bwindi National Park, this forest features a slightly different climate with a year-round spring season. This allows for multiple species of bamboo that you’ll find here, including the giant bamboo and tindora bamboo, to flourish.
If you love trekking, wildlife watching and hiking in the company of wildlife, then Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another gem on your bucket list. This park is the only destination in Uganda that harbours the endangered Golden monkeys. The Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Trail commences at the park headquarters. Walking the trail of just a few kilometres, you observe many species of wild animals, including one of the largest populations of rare golden monkeys in all of Africa.
A golden monkey tour typically includes a search for the monkeys in their natural habitat, deep in the rainforest. The guides can track the monkeys’ movements and help you learn about their environment and habits. This activity takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the golden monkey’s location. A trekking guide, a lifelong local and well trained, will lead you through wildlife-rich areas and teach you how to identify the golden monkey’s movements and how to look out for freshly eaten leftover bamboo shoots because golden monkeys rarely leave behind evidence of their previous day’s location.
Mgahinga National Park is home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including endemic frog and butterfly species, while the park’s varied habitats support more than 70 bird species. The best way to experience these wild surroundings is by taking a hike through the forests, hills and valleys of the park. It has three dormant volcanoes that offer great spots for an adventurous trip for the whole family. Mount Gahinga volcano rises 3474 meters above sea level and is also the smallest of the three volcanoes. A round trip takes close to six hours and you will be welcomed with a crater at the top of the summit filled with giant lobelia. Mount Sabinyo which is 3669 meters above sea level offers great scenic views of golden monkeys, forest elephants, duikers and different bird species. Its round trip is around 8 hours of nature at its best. At the top of the summit, you will be standing in three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Mount Muhavura the highest volcano of the three stands at an altitude of 4127 meters above sea level and hiking takes about 10 hours. It offers spectacular views of other Virunga volcanoes, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Edward, Rwenzori mountain ranges.
The park’s main attractions are the mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys, but bird watching is also popular with many species being amongst the highest one can hope to see in Africa with more than 115 recorded bird species. There are many different birding routes in Mgahinga including the bamboo belt, Montane forest, and the gorge trail between Gahinga and Sabinyo. These are great options for birders looking for several species in a day.
This mountain provides vital habitat to an astonishing array of birds and other wildlife. Bird species include the Rwenzori batis, brown crowned Tchagra, regal sunbird, streaky seedeater, Rwenzori batis, cape robin chat, bronze sunbird, dusky turtle dove, blue-headed sunbird, olive thrush, red faced woodland, alpine chat, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird, handsome francolin, Montane double collared sunbird, crowned hornbill, black kite and many more.
Visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are greeted by a park handout that includes a brief history of the area, some cultural information, and a bit about the importance of preserving conservation.
But the really good stuff is found in the cultural centre at the head office where you can read a book about Batwa, see Batwa artefacts and find out more about how this amazing tribe lives.
The path of the Batwas begins with a prayer and a blessing. It’s a way for you to connect with the people, the culture and their ancient ways. You’ll usually get an educational experience that involves a demonstration of their way of hunting game, how to make fire and perhaps an opportunity to try out some honey harvesting. Later, you will visit garamba cave which acted as a food storage and hiding facility for the batwa people. The trail comes to an end with storytelling and dance presentations from the batwa women.
It should be noted that Mgahinga Gorilla national park is part of the Virunga conservation area. the other two parks are Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and all together, they form 7,800-sq.km of this conservation area, comprised of four sectors – northern, central, southern and lake sector – each with an unrivalled diversity of landscapes and ecosystems.
The world’s entire population of critically endangered mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga Massif and Bwindi National Park, which spans parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated to be at around 1000 individuals.
The number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than three times the number in the U.K. Virunga is also the only site on earth to have three types of great apes – the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee.
You can go gorilla tracking year-round in Bwindi, but most travellers choose to do it in the driest months of the year – June to August and December to February. You need to book a Gorilla trekking permit, which we will secure for you upon booking. The permit should be arranged five or six months in advance of your visit as there are only a few permits issued each day and they all get booked up during the busiest months of the year (June to August, as well as December to February). Discounted permits are offered during the rainy season months of March to May and September to November for US$450 a person.
You need to be over the age of 15 to go gorilla tracking and the park reserves the right to allow you to continue tracking in case you are suspected of being sick. Human illnesses can be transmitted to gorillas and have the potential to kill an entire group. Don’t use flash photography, don’t eat or drink in front of them, keep your voice down, cover your mouth and nose and turn away from the gorillas if you need to sneeze.
