Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered Golden Monkeys. As well as being important for wildlife, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivalled.

Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.

The park is home to one gorilla family called the Nyakagezi 

Size

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park covering an area of 34 square kilometres sitting right at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the famous Virunga massif.

Location 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in extreme southwestern Uganda at the base of the volcanoes near Kisoro town which is the main tourist city for travelers 

Things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Being small Mgahinga offers a wide range of activities that clients can enjoy while visiting the national park

• Volcano Hiking or Mountain climbing
• Mountain Gorilla Trekking
• Golden Monkey Trekking
• Birding for Albertine Rift Endemics
• Batwa Trail Experience

When to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is open for gorilla trekking the whole year, but the best time is during the drier seasons from June to August and December to January. At this time the trails tend to be easier to navigate and spending a precious hour with the gorillas might be more pleasant when it isn’t raining.

Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits perfectly at the base of Mount Gahinga and there is only one option of luxury here which is MT Gahinga Lodge which is just a few minutes from the starting point and Amajembere Iwacu small budget community camp can also be used however, most clients would prefer staying at lake Mutanda and take the 1-hour drive to the park for activities or in Kisoro town.