What to do in Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest gorilla park that spans 33. 9km.sq, located in southwestern Uganda at the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many travellers ask what to do in Mgahinga National Park, the park is famous for gorilla trekking experiences; however, there is much more to Mgahinga Gorilla Park than Gorilla Trekking. Other activities include Golden Monkey trekking, hiking, and bird watching, among others. Besides Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park is one of those few parks in the world that host endangered mountain gorillas; others include Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga National Park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area that is home to the Virunga massif, which includes a range of spectacular volcanic mountains that are shared by the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking
This is the most popular activity in Mgahinga Gorilla Park attracts tourists from different parts of the world to come and witness the natural beauty of these primates. The park has only one habituated gorilla family known as Nyakagezi under the leadership of a silverback back which plays a vital leadership role in the family as a protector from any attack, a mediator, and a decision maker. They lead the troop, ensuring the safety of the group, and also guide the group to food sources. It goes the extra mile to mediate conflicts within the group and also provides love and care to the young gorillas.
Undoubtedly, this is the most well-liked pastime in Mgahinga National Park. It is one of the most fascinating habituated gorilla families in Mgahinga. Perhaps no group in Uganda and abroad has as many silverbacks as this one. The fact that Mgahinga is less tourist-heavy than Bwindi Impenetrable Forest makes gorilla trekking there more private, which makes it an intriguing option.
Gorilla trekking involves visitors moving on foot in search of mountain gorillas. After the briefing at the park information center offices, a group of 8 members is assigned a ranger guide to accompany them in search of the mountain gorilla family in the jungle. This may take from 45 minutes to 2 hours in Mgahinga Gorilla Park to locate the gorilla family, depending on the movement and the location. Upon seeing the gorilla family, you are allowed to spend an hour observing the family as you study its behaviors, such as feeding, nursing, caring, and nurturing their young ones. Take as many memorable photos as you wish and videos as well.
Golden Monkey trekking Experience
Golden monkey trekking also takes place in Mgahinga National Park, and this is the only location in Uganda that offers golden monkey trekking, an exceptional experience for primate and nature lovers to observe these playful primates in their natural environment. Golden monkey trekking involves hiking through the forest to search for these rare and beautiful primates, with an opportunity to spend an hour observing these golden monkeys as they play, interact, and forage in the bamboo forests. Golden monkeys, like the mountain itself, are restricted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Travelers and primate enthusiasts admire these adorable monkeys, who are endangered. Their sole threat is people, and they play a lot with the African eagle.
Hiking Mount Sabinyo- What to do in Mgahinga National Park
This is another popular activity in Mgahinga National Park that is quite challenging but a rewarding experience. The hike takes around 4 hours to reach its peak and 4 hours descending, totaling 8 hours round trip, depending on your pace. Hikers traverse through a wide range of vegetation zones, including sub-alpine zones, bamboo forests, and hypericum forests, among others. These offer potential sightings of several wildlife species such as mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, leopards, forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and other species. The summit offers hikers a unique panoramic view and an opportunity to be at the meeting summit point, where one can see Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same point.
Bird watching in Mgahinga
Due to its diverse habitat of montane and lowland vegetation cover, Mgahinga National Park is home to over 185 bird species, including 12 Albertine Rift Endemics. The park has several guided hikes which offer birdwatchers a chance to see some of the Afro-alpine endemics such as the Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird and others. Some of the rare species include the Double-toothed Barbet, Rwenzori Turaco, Shelly’s Crimsoning, Rwenzori-Double-collared Sunbird, Shelly’s Dusky Crimsonwing, most sought species are the Ruwenzori Turaco, grey crowned cranes, Ruwenzori double collared sunbird and double toothed barbet, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-headed Coucal, Paradise Flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Fire Finch Stonechat, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, Olive Pigeon, Archers Robin-chat, Grey-capped Warbler among others.
Accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Mgahinga Gorilla Park has a diverse range of accommodation options, ranging from standard to Mid-range to Luxury. This means that visitors who would wish to spend a night or even longer are readily catered for around Bwindi, which is not far from Mgahinga National Park, such as Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, and many others. This means that visitors have to wake up early and prepare to meet for the briefing session at the park information offices on time. Within Mgahinga Park, an affordable campsite known as the community campground near the park entrance is readily available, and other lodges outside the park include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Virunga Hotel, Montane Guest House, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, and many others.
