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Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Charming Experiences

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The smallest of Uganda’s national parks (34 sq-km), Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,272m and 4,127m. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Afromontane tropical rainforest, with a montane forest belt, a bamboo forest zone and an alpine zone.

The park is nestled in the corner of south-western Uganda within the Kisoro District, approximately 10 km south of Kisoro town. It is bordered by the Republic of Rwanda to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the west.

Mgahinga National Park forms an integral part of the proposed transboundary protected area known as the Virunga Conservation Area – a collaborative effort that involves neighboring Parc National des Virunga in the DR Congo and Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, collectively safeguarding the rich biodiversity of the region.

For a park of its size, it really has got more than enough to offer – from Gorilla tracking/trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano climbing/hiking, birding the Albertine endemics and meeting the Batwa pygmies.

Direction

How To Get To Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Visitors can reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by road or air. By road, it’s a 10-hour drive from Kampala via Mbarara and Kabale, with an overnight stay in Kisoro town, where visitors can then take a short drive to the park. Alternatively, there are daily flights from Entebbe to Kisoro, followed by a 1-hour road transfer. From Rwanda, travelers can take a shorter 4-hour route from Kigali, crossing into Uganda via the Katuna or Cyanika border for quicker access to the park.

Uforgettable Experience

Things to do and see in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla tracking/trekking

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers gorilla tracking with the Nyakagezi family, a group of 9 gorillas. Only 8 visitors, aged 15 and above, can trek to see them, with permits required in advance. Treks vary in length, lasting from a few hours to a full day, based on the gorillas’ location.

Golden Monkey tracking/trekking

After gorilla tracking in Mgahinga, add a day to track Golden Monkeys. Enjoy a one-hour or four-hour Habituation experience on the Gahinga Trail. Permits cost $100, with additional opportunities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, especially on the Gorge Trail, reveals a range of Albertine Rift endemics. With 180 recorded species, you might see Dusky Turtle Dove, Cape Robin-chat, Rwenzori Batis, Shelly’s Dusky Crimsonwing, Olive Pigeon, Malachite Sunbird, and more.

Volcano climbing/hiking

Climb Mgahinga’s volcanoes—Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhavura. Sabyinyo (3,669 meters) offers the toughest hike with views across Uganda, the DRC, and Rwanda. Gahinga is a six-hour trek with great scenery. Tackle all three in three days for $80 each. Prepare with food, water, and a tent.

Meeting Batwa Pygmies

When Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established, the Batwa people, who lived as hunter-gatherers, were displaced. Some now work as porters or guides, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority has created the Batwa Trail experience to share their history and culture. The trail includes a visit to the Garama Cave, a sacred site in Batwa history.

Nature Walks

Mgahinga National Park offers diverse outdoor adventures with its forests, lakes, rivers, swamps, and mountain slopes. Enjoy a walking trail to village plantations and the Batwa community, or take the five-hour border trail along Mount Sabyinyo to see primates and the Gisozi hill caldera. For a challenge, try the Sabyinyo gorge walk for panoramic views of the park, Bwindi Forest, and the Virunga Mountains.