Mgahinga NP reduced or discounted gorilla permits in June 2025.
The gorilla trekking permits for Mgahinga National Park were reduced by Uganda’s wildlife authority in 2025 for months of April, May and November. The gorilla treking licenses were $800 by then, but reduced to around $800 per participant. This ad invited the world inside Mgahinga National Park’s hidden mysteries and promoted its unspoiled beauty.
The fee is $800 as of right now; the gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park are not more affordable. The money gathered from the gorilla trekking permits is utilized for park upkeep, ranger guide payment, gorilla treatment, yearly profit from all park operations distributed twenty percent to the surrounding community.
With an area of around 33.7 square kilometers, Mgahinga national park is among the smallest National Parks in Uganda. Three separate volcanoes—Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga, and Mountain Sabyinyo— Shield this mountainous park.
The major activities in the Mgahinga National Park include birdwatching, day-long hiking, gorilla trekking, and golden monkey trekking from the Ntebeko tourist center.
The park, about 39 mammals, over 115 bird species, forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs and others has seen more wild creatures documented to call it home. Among the other occupants of the park are black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others.
What To Do Within Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla walking
One of the few mountain gorilla habitats worldwide is Mgahinga national park. Right now, only one gorilla family in this park has been let visitors see. The family goes as Nyakagezi gorilla family. It was known historically as being nomadic as it would wander into Volcanoes National Park and Virunga national park.
These days, this family has been regularly seen at Mgahinga national park for many years. Mountain gorillas do not recognize the beginning and finish of the political borders; they live freely throughout the globe.
To be allowed to accompany the mountain gorillas, one need a gorilla trekking license for Mgahinga national park.
You have to spend the night in lodging near the Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge in the National Parks. Kisoro has more amenities for lodging.
You have to show up for briefing at Ntebeko visitor center on the day of gorilla trekking, and your ranger guide leads the whole group into Mgahinga forest to begin search. Because its environment is still intact and few people come, this is one of the remaining virgin gorilla trekking parks.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Among the few habitats of the golden monkeys is Mgahinga National Park. Unlike typical monkeys, they are a unique species with golden brown fur and bigger body form. In the forest, they are delightful yet restless. Once you find them, they keep you alert as they hope from one tree to another.
Birding in the National Park Mgahinga
Mgahinga National Park offers chances for keen birders to find uncommon species. Among the rarest bird species in the park are Montane Nightjar, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-tailed Blue fly catcher, Ladgen’s bush-shrike, Rwenzori Turaco, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Alpine Chat and others.
The many kinds of plants found in the Mgahinga National Park provide excellent bird homes. Among them are regenerating meadows on lower slopes health and Afro-alpine moorland on the higher slopes and montane forests with an expansion belt of bamboo (Arundinaria). Every one of these
April through May and November is when one really feels the Uganda birding experience.
The Batwa Trail and Garama Cave
See the ancient Garama cave under a Mutwa’s guidance. About 3 kilometers from Ntebeko, this cave stretches 342km below the plateau on the perimeter of the park. Originally located in the deeper reaches of the park, this ancient cave was Batwa’s hiding place during raids on the Bafumbira farmers. The council chamber was also here.
At the conclusion of the Batwa route, this cave apparently offers a dramatic backdrop for a Batwa music and play performance.
Walking on the Mgahinga Mountains
The Gahinga range consists of three mountains: Sabyinyo Mountain, Gahinga Mountain, and Muhavura Mountain. One day’s journey allows you to return on any of these mountains and take in amazing vistas of this area from above.
Mountain Sabyinyo is 3669 meters high and translates locally as old man’s teeth. Hiking it results in three summits. The first one leads to the second, a long narrow ridge with amazing views of both sides’ worthy descent down the canyon. You go over a hard and muddy struggle to reach peak three.
From the same spot, you may get a 360 view of the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo while at top.
Trekking Mount Everest Gahinga leads you from bamboo forest to the rich green marsh in the crater at the top. This round journey might last around six hours. Locally, Gahinga is the name for little rock mounds. These came from dispersed volcanic rocks in fields used for tidal control.
The Muhavura mountain climb is amazing and leads to the little Crater Lake at summit. Look for amazing alpine greenery and great vistas as you ascend. Experience these spectacular flora by passing the Muhavura trail, which offers the fastest and shortest ascending path; the view includes additional Virunga volcanoes, the rift valley, Lake Edward and Rwenzori mountains. Locally Muhavura refers to the guide and comes from its unique position.
Packing List for National Park Mgahinga
Long sleeved shirts and Safari trousers
Garden gloves will grip more tightly while climbing on creepers.
Shades
insect repellent
Comforts
A pair of binoculars
Safari shoes to guard your feet from wilderness pricking surfaces.
folding safari helmet
First Aid Toolkit
Two stockings will help you to firmly fasten your clothing.
Reversable water bottle
a waterproof bag to hold your stuff.
In the bush, have a rain coat in case it rains to avoid chilly.
You have no time to clean your muddy shoes after gorilla trekking; a shoe bag will help you to keep them.
What More To Combine With Activities in Mgahinga National Park
Game Drives Uganda
Uganda has magnificent wildlife parks where one may go game drives. For wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, get in touch. Here you may engage in even more incredible pursuits such launch trips on Kazinga canal, chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, excellent wildlife filming and photography sites and others.
Your stop along way may be Lake Mburo National Park, where you could witness wildlife such giraffes, zebras, impalas, reedbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, and others.
One may approach Murchison Falls national park either before or after a visit Mgahinga National Park. River Nile divides Murchison Falls National Park between northern and southern sections. You get to see the most powerful falls in the world on a launch journey to the falls. Hiking to the top of the falls causes goosebumps as you see River Nile staggered over a bed of pebbles then forcefully squeeze through a 6-meter wide cleft to catch up with the remainder of the route.
Trekking with chimps in Uganda
The ideal habitat for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is Kibale National Park. Early morning and afternoon visits to Kibale National Park provide two chimpanzee trekking sessions. One might also be part of the period that gets wild chimpanzees habituated to human presence that is Chimpanzee habituation.
Other chimpanzee trekking sites in Uganda include Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and others.
Combining a visit to Mgahinga National Park with Ngamba Chimpanzee Island in Lake Victoria is very worthwhile. Orphaned, abandoned, rescued from poaching and others problem chimpanzees unable to be reintroduced to their natural habitats call this chimpanzee rescue facility home. While seeing the chimpanzees engage in daily activities, enjoy a stroll along the beach, provide a hand in chimpanzee care, chimpanzee up close and much more you help feed the chimps from the visitors platform.
White water rafting Uganda
Among the exciting River Nile activities are this one of the dramatic ones. You must have trust in what your teachers advise you to do; you do not require past knowledge. Itanda Falls on River Nile is where white water rafting in Uganda takes place. All you have to do is be ready to ride the waves from a tube boat.
Seeing the source of the Nile, the longest river in the world is fascinating. At this time, the drama is incomprehensible as Lake Victoria’s serenity separates from the strong River Nile water.
Though not for timid consumers, bungee leaping for courageous ones is available. You dangle by the rope from a rather high precipice to touch River Nile water.
Tours in culture Uganda
Among the cosmopolitan nations in Africa is Uganda Every culture has unique customs and leaders; in Buganda, the monarch is known as Kabaka; in Bunyoro, the cultural leader is known as Omukama; in Busoga, the Kyabazinga is the cultural leader; etc.
Every kingdom has royal emblems and sites like Bulange in Mengo for the Buganda Kingdom, Tooro site for Batooro in Fort Portal, Busoga site at Bugembe and others. Just ask a tour operator on ground if you would be interested in learning about the many cultures that comprise Uganda. A few of the details about these cultural sites in Uganda are not recorded and call for an on-site operator like Katland Safaris.
cultural encounters on Uganda Safari
The home stay activity lets you spend a full day or half day at a house of a local Ugandan, thus learning about the life of a local is possible. You might help with cooking, griding millet, making local cuisine mentioned. Even to total strangers, Ugandans are among the most cordial and inviting people found in Africa. Once asked, almost everyone is thrilled to have a guest in their town willing to share knowledge.
Sport Fishing Uganda
Fishing is possible in many fresh water lakes and rivers found in Uganda. To be allowed to engage in sport fishing in certain areas like River Nile and Lake Victoria, you must get a permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
You must reserve beforehand and have your own fishing gear so that a boat captain assigned to you can have a boat locked for this use.
You could have opportunity to find fish such tilapia, cat fish, lung fish, Nile Perch, and others.
Tours of Kampala City in Uganda
Kampala is the primary capital of Uganda. The city offers wonderful attractions you may visit with a planned schedule. Considering the issue of traffic congestion, you might visit the centers below.
One of the magnificent castles the kingdom of Buganda honors is Bulange Mengo; Kabaka’s lake in Ndeeba is among the few man-made lakes in the nation with such abundance of birds flocking its borders. Rich in history, the Kasuubi tombs one of the burial sites for the Fallen kIngs ( Kabakas) of Buganda.
See one of the Bahai temples in Africa with its own religious ideas and amazing complex. See the protestant church at Namirembe Cathedral; the Muslims at Old Kampala Mosque; the Catholics at Rubaga Cathedral. Visit the shrine of the Namugongo Uganda martyrs, where a fire claimed over thirty religious men and women. With its extensive knowledge about ancient Uganda and where the nation is now, the Uganda museum is worth seeing in Uganda.
Although you may not go through all these in a day, you should create a suitable daily plan and provide time to enable access to some of Kampala city highlights.
