Guide to visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Guide to visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one national park that you shouldn’t miss when on Uganda safaris. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers marvelous and unforgettable things, and only when you visit the park will you experience and meet these amazing activities that offer an unforgettable adventure experience. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is famous for its mountain gorillas. The park was gazetted as a national park in 1991, purposely to protect and conserve the endogenous mountain gorillas of Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country, in Kisoro district. Mgahinga gorilla national park covers an area of approximately 434 square kilometers of rainforest, comprising the three dramatic volcanoes of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, such as Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura. These towering peaks offer stunning views and opportunities for hiking and climbing. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers Uganda’s share of the Virunga conservation area and is bordered by Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and volcanoes in Rwanda. The park is home to half of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda is home to one habituated gorilla family available for tourism and research purposes. This gorilla family is known as the Nyakagezi group. The park also boasts beautiful vegetation types that act as food for a variety of wildlife, including bird species and animal species, for example, buffaloes, bushbacks, elephants, giant forest hogs, golden monkeys, hyenas, and black-fronted duikers, among others.

Here are some of the guides to visiting Mahinga Gorilla National Park in 2024-2025.

Gorilla trekking is popular activity Ugandan safaris commonly carry out while at Machinga gorilla national park., as well as Bwindi impenetrable national park. The highlight of any trip to Mghinga Gorilla National Park is undoubtedly gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where visitors get the opportunity to move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of habituated mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to be followed during trekking. After the briefing, you will start the trekking in the forest, which lasts about 2 to 5 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located since, naturally, they move from one place to another in search of food. the park, such as golden monkeys, forest buffaloes, duikers, forest elephants, bird’s species like the Rwenzori turaco, the handsome francolin, and the Rwenzori Batis, and other small primate species such as blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys, as well as forest-dwelling rodents and shrews. Once these fascinated primates are allocated, you will be allowed to interact with them in their natural habitat for only one hour, observing their daily activities such as breastfeeding, playing, and feeding, among others.

Other tourism activities to do while on a Uganda safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Volcano hiking

Mgahinga gorilla national park is situated within the Virunga massif, which is home to three of the eight volcanoes, such as Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. Travelers on a Uganda safari in Mgahinag Gorilla National Park can embark on their safari adventure on guided hiking tours to explore the hidden treasure of the volcanic terrain. During the hike, you will also get a chance to meet a number of attractions, like the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys swinging in the baboon trees, bird’s species, and Virunga volcanoes, among others, as well as astonishing views of the surrounding environment from the summit.

Bird watching

The park is home to over 200 bird species, including several Albertine Rift Endemics. Birdwatching enthusiasts can enjoy guided birding walks in the park in search of colorful species such as Rwenzori turaco, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Handsome Francolin, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori turaco, Alpine, and Yellow-Vented Bulbul, among others.

Guide to visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park — Archer’s Robin-Chat

Forest walk

Travelers on a Uganda safari in Mghinga Gorilla National Park can also embark on a wildlife journey exploring the diverse ecosystems of the park on a guided forest walk, including the baboon forests, montane woodland, and swampy marshes. While on your forest walk, you’ll come to encounter and learn about a variety of the park’s flora and fauna, as well as the conservation efforts. The forest walks in Mgahinga offer panoramic views of the surrounding Virunga mountains and their’ lush vegetation, as well as the opportunity to view a variety of birds and animals.

Cultural encounter

Maghinga gorilla national park is situated in an area inhabited by the Batwa pygmies, who are indigenous forest dwellers. Visitors on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari can also embark on their adventure safari to visit the Batwa to participate in their cultural experience, such as guided Batwa cultural walks, where you can learn about their traditional way of life, hunting techniques, and medical plant usage.

Rules and regulations to follow while in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Don’t eat, drink, or smoke in the presence of gorillas.
Only individuals aged 15 years and older are allowed to participate in gorilla trekking.
Avoid making loud noises or sudden movements that may agitate the gorillas.
Each gorilla trekking group is limited to a maximum of 8 individuals.
Limit your gorilla trekking experience to a maximum of one hour to minimize stress on the gorillas.
Follow designated trails and paths while exploring the park to avoid getting lost and minimize damage to vegetation.
Do not litter or leave any waste in the park.
Do not remove or disturb any plants, animals, or even artifacts within the park.
Participate in a guided activity such as gorilla trekking, nature walks, or even cultural experiences with experienced guides or rangers.
Follow the instructions and guidance provided by your guides to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Follow all health and safety protocols, including COVID-19 guidelines, to protect yourself and others.
Bring adequate supplies of water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any necessary medications.
Keep your permits and identification documents with you at all times during your visit.
Respect the cultural heritage of local communities and refrain from engaging in any disrespectful behaviors.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park

A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to any visitor over the age of 15 years old, allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park cost US$800 per person for foreign non-residents. Foreign residents are charged US$ 700 per person, and 300,000 for East African residents. You are advised to book a permit a month before the trekking date.