The piles of volcanic stone that formed at the base of the volcanoes found in this area contributed to the name of this park. It was established to protect lives of the prestigious mountain gorillas. In 1930, the park was declared a game sanctuary by the British and finally in 1991 it was crowned a national park.
Uniqueness of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- It is the only park in Uganda where the magnificent golden monkeys can be spotted. There is no other park in the country that tourists can enjoy these rainbow-like primates in the country.
- Mgahinga is the smallest national park Uganda but offers breathtaking experiences. The Park has a wide collection of animals, vegetation, birds, mountains, caves that tourists can enjoy while visiting.
- Mgahinga national park prides in possessing the third highest volcano among the eight components of Virungas. Mount. Muhavura takes the third position of towering among the eight volcanoes and it’s found along the Uganda-Rwanda boarder.
- Silver meets gold in this park. This phrase was developed because mountain gorillas and golden monkeys share a common habitat here. While the mountain gorillas are glued to mountainous areas, the golden monkeys enjoy racing around lower bamboo plantations.
Attractions found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- Birds
If anyone starts to record different species spotted in this park, they can come up with a checklist of about 184 bird species. While in the park, endemic species like Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori turaco, crowned hornbill, paradise flycatcher, ibis whydah, waxbills, Ruwenzori Batis, olive woodpecker among others.
- Garama cave
In a flourished forest a few kilometers from Ntebeko lies this magnificent cave found under a plateau. If walls would talk, the surfaces of Garama cave would narrate the history and culture of Batwa pygmies without censoring.
Batwa people are early inhabitants of Mgahinga forests who enjoyed hunting, farming and roaming around, before they were evicted from their homeland and this cave was reserved as a council chamber and a retreat hide out after wars and raids. A guided nature walk to this cave lasts just 4 hours that involve magnificent views of surrounding areas and revealing truth about the life that Batwa people lived in the good old days.
- Wildlife
Mgahinga national park might be as small as the dust of the earth, but it’s huge on the number of animal species resident in this park. With about 39 mammal species, visitors get to glimpse on wonders like herds of forest buffaloes, bush pigs, antelopes, elephants, primates among others.
- Virunga volcanoes
The Park raises above sea level with three out of the eight towering mountains that make up Virunga ranges. Mount. Gahinga the mountain behind the name of this park offers beautiful scenery by the bamboo forests and swampy caldera at the top always tasks tourists to endure the 6-hour hike and lose focus to its beauty.
The beauty of Mount. Sabyinyo is that it’s in the center of all the three countries that make up the Virunga massif but it can only be hiked from Ugandan side. The last tower of Virungas found in the park is Muhavura standing at 4,127m above sea level.
- Golden monkeys
While the mountainous zones are homes to mountain gorillas, lower forests and bamboo areas work best for the golden monkeys. These small creatures enjoy leaving extendedly with members of about 60-80. The beauty of these creatures is unmatched as they have a mixture of gold, black greyish and red eyes all on one small natural creation.
- Mountain gorillas
Every safari in Uganda is marked by the endangered mountain gorillas and if not appreciated from Bwindi, Mgahinga offers a replica of what happens in the impenetrable forest when it comes to tracking gorillas. The Park has only one Nyakagezi gorilla family that has four silverbacks, 2 infants, 2 females and a juvenile.
Safari activities done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- Mountain climbing
While in the park, even the blind will feel the presence of towering mountains found in the park’s neighborhood. Three magnificent mountains have trails that lead to their revealing and secret cracking peaks. Climbing Sabyinyo gets visitors at the center of being in three different countries at the same time, Gahinga and Muhabura test tourists into managing hiking through thick bamboo forests as they aim for the peak that is endowed with a caldera.
- Batwa trail experience
A hike from the park to Garama cave offers splendid insights into the former occupants of these forests. Tourists get to enjoy the transition of these forest dwellers and their history that is entirely linked to the caves.
- Birding
Mgahinga national park is situated in the rift valley, therefore visitors take the pride of gazing at the birds which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. While in the park, dazzles are given off by handsome francolin, Kivu ground thrush, white starred Robin, Shelly’s Dusky among others.
- Golden monkey trekking
This is quite an adventure because the small primates run marathons on top of tree branches. freezing the exciting moments given off by the golden beautiful belles with cameras in the hours that tourists spend with the small primates.
- Gorilla trekking
Uganda is mainly known for mountain gorilla trekking because it owns almost half the population of these creatures. Visitors hit the bush as early as 8:00am and walk through thick and thin for about four hours to enjoy the beauty given off by these huge gigantic creatures.
While they spot them, an hour of admiration is offered to visitors to engage in photography, appreciation that they would love to have with our forest siblings.
How to get to this park?
Approximately 9-10 hours are used by tourists to go through a variety of scenic towns like Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale before they reach Kisoro where the park is found. Drive through rewarding views given off by the Kigezi hills, local markets, banana plantations among others.
By air, tourists can schedule their travel through chartered or scheduled domestic flights from Kajjansi to Kisoro Airstrip. Usually, the flight takes one hour and lands at Nyakabande airstrip in Kisoro.
Best time to visit the park?
Trekking is effectively done during the dry months of June to September and late December to February because the trails are easier to walk through and animals are easily spotted as they search for food.