Mgahinga Gorilla National park is the smallest national park amongst all the 12 national parks existing in Uganda. Mgahinga is one of the forested parks covering a total surface area of 33. 7km2. It takes its name from Gahinga which means piles of Volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot hills of the volcanoes a local name being using by the surrounding community; the Bafumbira. Mgahinga Gorilla national park started as a game sanctuary declared by the British administration which was later gazatted into a national park in 1991. The park is found in the southwestern Uganda approximately 510km from Kampala through Kabale and Kisoro road.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits, at an altitude between 2,227m and 4,127m above the sea level. The park lies within the Virunga transboundary bordering 2 other national parks; that is Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga National park in DRC both of which also host the endangered mountain gorillas. The government of Uganda gazatted it to protect the few endangered mountain gorillas remaining in the world. Uganda hosts more than half of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park. The park also harbors the spacious endangered golden monkeys that inhabit the bamboo with in the park. The park has 1 transboundary habituated gorilla group called Nyakagezi which supports gorilla tracking activity with in the park
The original occupants of this forest before it was gazatted in 1991 were the Batwa tribe(pygmies) who were relocated by the government of Uganda to the neighboring community for resettlement, and thus they still attach a lot of cultural significancy to this park. They used to survive entirely on the forest for all the necessities including food, clothing, shelter, medicine, fighting weapons, making fire, getting water among others all extracted from the forest itself. The surrounding community now practices agriculture along the lower slopes because of the rich volcanic soils that support crop farming
It was also gazatted to protect and conserve the beautiful scenery formed by the 3 striking extinct volcanoes which lie along the border region of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. They include Sabinyo measuring about 3669m, followed by Gahinga 3474m, and Muhavura being the highest at 4127m. Their slopes contain various mountaine vegetation with various ecosystems giving it an astonishing beautiful scenery. This acts as water catchment areas to the surrounding communities.
Access to Mgahinga Gorilla national Park;
- By road from Kampala through Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale -Kisoro road
- By air from Entebbe/Kajassi to Kisoro air strip.
- By road from Kigali through Katuna /Kyanika border.
Tourism activities in Mgahinga gorilla national park include;
Gorilla trekking;
Mgahinga Gorilla national park has 1 habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi which is tracked on daily basis. It’s a transboundary group, which used to migrate to Rwanda back to Uganda but important to note is that since 2012, it’s been stable in Uganda. The gorilla tracking starts at Ntebeko visitor information center with briefing from UWA ranger Guides on the do’s and don’ts regarding gorilla trekking and what to expect. Nyakagezi group has 9 members in the family and on a lucky day, you will be able to sight all of them. This activity takes 3 to 6 hours dependent on the movement of the gorilla family on the tracking day. Once you meet the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour observing them and taking photos in close range. Thereafter, the guides will lead you back to the point where you started for debriefing and award of certificates. This is one of the unique activities you should never miss to do. It comes once in a life time.
Volcanoes climbing; Mgahinga gorilla national park has three volcanic mountains that is Muhabura being the highest, followed by Gahinga and then Sabinyo. These are extinct volcanic mountains that are found in the Virunga transboundary in the border of 3 countries including Rwanda, DRC and Uganda. The volcanic mountains harbor montane vegetation that gives it a very beautiful scenery loved by all the mountain climbers. This hiking activity takes an entire day starting very early in the morning from Ntebeko. All the 3 volcanoes can be hiked in one day or depending on the fitness of visitors, they will decide if to climb all or chose either one or two of them. Hiking Sabinyo may take you close to 6 hours following a steep ridge up to the peak. Sabinyo peak stands in the boundary of three countries, Rwanda, DRC and Uganda. Standing at its peak gives you an opportunity to be in 3 countries at the same time. Gahinga has a swamp filled crater and giant robelia, and may take you close to 8 hours. Once at the peak of Muhavura being the highest, hikers on clear day are rewarded with the views of the Virunga volcanoes, lake Edward, Bwindi impenetrable and the peaks of Mt Rwenzori.
Golden Monkey tracking; Mgahinga-Gorilla National Park also hosts the endangered golden monkeys found in the bamboo forest within the park. Just like gorilla tracking, it starts with the briefing by the UWA ranger guides at Ntebeko visitor information office explaining the do’s and don’ts about golden monkey tracking. This activity takes about 2-5 hours depending on the movement of these primates on that particular day. Just like gorillas, you will also spend 1 hour with them taking photos in close range in their natural habitat. This activity can only be done in the Virunga’s in the whole of East African region. It should not thus not be missed on a vacation.
Batwa Cultural Experience:
The Batwa were the original occupants of the forest before it was degazetted into the national park. The forest was their survival in terms of getting food, water, clothing, shelter, hunting and defense weapons, medicine among others. This was their ancestral home. Later, they were moved out of the park and settled in the neighborhood communities surrounding the national park to receive civilization and leave the forest for conservation. Therefore, this activity is done in liaison with the Batwa living in the community to support their livelihood. They will guide you through the forest with enriching stories on how they used to stay and survive on the forest for their livelihood. This will give you an enriching cultural experience that will last a life time. This activity ends with getting to Ngaramba Cave which is one of the largest caves in the virungas that used to act as a palace and parliament for their Kingdom. The Batwa dancing group will welcome you with lots of entertainment with in the cave and outside the cave before being led to the finishing point.
Accommodation in Mgahinga National park:
- Mount Gahinga lodge
- Gorilla nest
- Amakoro Songa hotel
- Virunga hotel and camp site
- Lake Murehe resort
- Lake Mutanda resort
Other hotels in Kisoro town.
