Nature Walk Adventure in Mgahinga
Due to the park’s rich biodiversity, characterised by pristine forests on mountain slopes such as montane and bamboo forests, marshes, moorland, lakes, and rivers, all these offer a perfect atmosphere and amazing landscape spots for a nature walk adventure in Mgahinga National Park. The park is located in southwestern Uganda along the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering 33.9 square kilometres. Although the park’s primary activity is gorilla trekking due to its endangered mountain gorillas, there is much more to offer from this pristine wilderness, such as nature walks, birdwatching, hiking, and golden monkey trekking, among others.
The park has several incredible and rewarding nature walking trails that lead visitors up to the beautiful village plantations for a close nature encounter with some of the local tribes like the Batwa people, the forest custodians before their eviction in 1991.
Nature Walk Adventure in Mgahinga.
The border trail along the slopes of Mt. Sabyinyo leads visitors to a point where the borders of the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo converge. The trail takes a duration of about 5-6 hours, traversing through different remarkable vegetation zones of bamboo, heath, moorland, forests, shrubs, and grasslands, providing unique opportunities to see primates like the beautiful golden monkeys and the scenic caldera on the Gisozi Hill.
The summit of Gisozi Hill also offers an incredible panorama of the park, including the magical Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the greater Virunga Massif. Some of the trekking trails, like the 5-hour Sabyinyo Gorge walk, are strenuous but rewarding. This trail leads to steep areas of the park and will require good mental and physical fitness levels to complete. The Sabinyo Gorge also entails completing a meandering nature walk on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo to be amazed at the different vegetation zones, stunning volcanoes, and unique bird species.
While stretching for nature walks or exploring any of the trails, always be alert and listen to the melodious sweet calls coming from the resident birds and the sharp loud calls of monkey species as they jump from one tree to another. On a lucky day, you might even encounter one of the elusive large mammals, such as the forest elephants, forest hogs, and several species of antelopes.
A nature walk hike through the lush forest down the deep Sabinyo Gorge offers excellent birdwatching opportunities with high chances to spot the Albertine Rift endemics, such as the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Red-headed Sunbird, and many others. This nature walk stretches through Rugezi Swamp, a birdwatcher’s haven. The stunning nature walks to the Congo border traverse several vegetation zones. It offers scenic and outstanding views, including the calderas on top of the hill and a panoramic view of Lake Mutanda, Kisoro, and Bunagana towns.
Other activities to do in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Tracking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is among the two Ugandan parks that are fortunate enough to be home to endangered mountain gorillas and unique destinations for gorilla tracking. Mountain gorillas in Mgahinga stay at a higher altitude compared to those in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, hence developing fuzzier coats than their counterparts in Bwindi. The park has only one habituated gorilla family, known as Nyakagezi, which is dominated by silverbacks. This Nyakagezi Gorilla family previously used to be very mobile, crossing to Congo and Rwanda, but as of now, the group has settled in Uganda. This is the easiest gorilla family to access compared to other families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga National Park starts at 8:00 am with a briefing about the regulations concerning the trekking exercise. Afterward, visitors are led by park rangers to search for the Nyakagezi family. While in the jungle, expect to encounter several wildlife species, such as primates like blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys; several bird species; and others. The duration of tracking these mountain gorillas depends on the location of the gorilla family and the movement of the trekkers. The search for mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla Park may take 2 to 3 hours.
Golden Monkey Tracking- Nature Walk Adventure in Mgahinga
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park are the only two national parks where golden monkey trekking is currently carried out. These unique golden monkeys are subspecies of blue monkeys, endemic to the Albertine Rift and the Virunga Conservation Area within the Virunga ranges in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The beautiful golden monkeys live in large groups of 15 to 30 individuals led by the alpha male, who plays a vital role as a leader, a protector, and a decision-maker, especially in leading the troop to the food sources and others. Golden monkeys are active primates and too playful, especially in the bamboo forests, spending most of their time in the tree branches.
The activity of golden monkey trekking takes place between 30 minutes and 3 hours, starting at 8:00 am with a briefing at the park information offices. This briefing aims at sensitizing visitors about the dos and don’ts during golden monkey trekking. During rain, these monkeys tend to hide under tree leaves during downpours, and secondly, it’s hard for them to hear the eagles coming as their chief predators.
Birding
Birdwatching is another activity that attracts visitors, especially birdwatchers, to the pristine wilderness of Mgahinga National Park, which boasts a diverse birdlife due to its unique biodiversity and natural habitats such as lowlands, moorland, montane forests, marshes, and grasslands. The park has unique bird species such as the Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Coucal, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Pigeon, Rufous-chested Swallow, Red-throated Alethe Paradise Flycatcher, Red-necked Spur Fowl, Pin-tailed Whydah, Olive Woodpecker, Olive Thrush, Montane Nightjar, Malachite Sunbird, and Kivu-ground Thrush. Alpine chat, Ibis, Handsome Francolin, Bronze Sunbird, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Grey Capped Warbler, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Fly Eagle, Crowned Crane, Collared Apalis, Firefinch, Fire Finch Stonechat, Dusky Turtle Dove, Double-collared Sunbird, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Crowned Hornbill, Chubb’s Cisticola, Cape Robin-chat, Blue-headed Sunbird, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Brown Woodland Warbler, Black-headed Waxbill, Black Kite, Archer’s Ground Robin, Dusky Crimson Wing, and Archer’s Robin-Chat.
Hiking- Nature Walk Adventure in Mgahinga
Mgahinga National Park is one of the famous destinations in Uganda known for hiking/mountain climbing. Travelers planning to have mountain climbing/hiking safaris dare not miss out on Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area with three volcanoes for hiking, and the choice depends on your fitness levels and the time frame. These trails include the Gahinga Trail, the Mount Sabinyo Hike, and Mount Muhavura. However, hiking the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga is total fun, offering stunning vistas and incredible attractions such as unique wildlife species like the rare golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, and other primates.
