Things to see and do in Mgahinga National Park from Kigali

Things to see and do in Mgahinga National Park

From Kigali, you may explore Mgahinga National Park, which offers a plethora of attractions. Reachable from Kigali, Mgahinga National Park is in southern Uganda; it shares borders with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Gorilla trekking, habituation, and tracking, as well as golden monkey tracking, are just a few of the many activities that visitors may enjoy in this unique park, which is home to both gorillas and golden monkeys. There are two possible departure points for the excursions organized by Katland Safaris: Entebbe (8-9 hours drive) or Kigali Airport (4-5 hours drive), depending on your point of arrival. Starting and ending in Kigali makes this trip more practical since it cuts down on travel time, which may be better spent doing other things.

How to go to Mgahinga National Park from Kigali and what to do while there

The drive to Mgahinga National Park from Entebbe takes nine hours, but if you go from Kigali, you may see a lot more on the way, reducing the distance to five hours. As a first stop on your tour of Rwanda, you must visit the Genocide Museum in Kigali. This somber institution houses artifacts from the country’s tragic past, including the bodies of more than 300,000 victims of the genocide in Rwanda. An emotionally moving story that serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the importance of selflessness.

The main attraction here is definitely the gorilla tracking. There is only one gorilla family, Nyakagezi, and there are only eight permits available each day. If you want to make sure you don’t miss out, you’ll need to book your gorilla permit in advance. Luckily, Katland Safaris can take care of that for you as long as there are still permits available. Mgahinga gorilla permit costs USD800.00.

Get in touch with Katland Safaris with the specific dates you want to visit this stunning national park if you want to undertake mountain gorilla trekking. We’ll see whether permits are available and, once you pay, we’ll reserve them for you.

There is also the option of going golden monkey tracking. Additionally, in Mgahinga, you have the option to combine this with the gorilla tracking excursion. Just like the gorilla permit, this too needs previous booking; just supply us with the dates, and we will take care of it. According to this, you need to go to the park no later than 7:00 in the morning; trekking begins at 8:00; and once you encounter the Golden Monkeys, you have a maximum of one hour to spend with the primates.

If you’d want to spend even more time with the majestic golden monkeys, you may elect to participate in the Habituation Experience. You get to spend at least four hours with the Golden during the encounter.

The experience of the Batwa people. Participate in this exercise to learn about the pygmies’ unique history, culture, and way of life. The Batwa people lived in the thick woods at the base of Mgahinga. They were formidable fighters and hunter-gatherers who relied on the forest for everything from housing to food and medicine, a practice that was handed down through many years of expertise.

These indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their homes and forced to adjust to a new way of life when the region was designated as a national historic site. On this guided walking tour, they will show you around their homesteads. Along the way, you’ll see the Batwa construct bamboo cups, hunt, collect honey, and identify medicinal plants.

At long last, visitors are extended an invitation to the hallowed Ngarama Cave, the former dwelling place of the Batwa King. Here, the ladies of the community will serenade you with a melancholy song that will reverberate through the pitch-black cavern, leaving you with a profound and poignant impression of the cultural wealth of this rapidly disappearing civilization.

It is normal practice to go for a nature walk in the park on the day before your aircraft departs for Kigali. This gives you an additional day to explore the park and its various routes, which you can tailor to your interests.

Some of these walks, like the Sabinyo Gorge path, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhavura, may be completed in a single day, including the ascent and descent, and provide breathtaking vistas from their peaks. Along the way to the waterfalls, you may follow paths that may lead you to see a variety of primates, such as forest elephants, gorillas, and golden monkeys, depending on the day’s chance. We can put up a safari package that covers all of this and more if you book with us.

Excursions for birdwatching and other wildlife viewing.

With over 950 bird species and many endemics, Mgahinga National Park is just one more reason why Uganda is a birdwatcher’s paradise. This national park offers birdwatchers a variety of paths to explore in search of these species. For the perfect birding experience, Katland Safaris collaborates with Mgahinga National Park’s ground crew and a team of seasoned bird guides.

If you are looking for a way to combine a trip to Africa with some community service, Katland Safaris is a great option. You may volunteer at several initiatives throughout the park. Volunteering with organizations that aim to assist local communities, widows, orphans, research scientists in their fight against environmental threats, hospitals, and health centers are all viable options.

Another option is to teach fundamental productive topics to children in remote African villages who are battling to modernize. Additionally, in Kisoro District, there is the Gorilla Doctors facility, which was set up to guarantee the well-being of gorillas, and it is open to anybody interested in wildlife conservation or the fascinating lives of gorillas.

Lodges and other places to stay in and around

From simple camp-sites to five-star hotels, visitors to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can choose from a variety of lodging options, such as the Traveler’s Rest, Mt. Gahinga Rest Camp, Virunga Hotel, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Kisoro Tourist’s Hotel, and Golden Monkey Guesthouse, to name a few.

There is plenty of room for “Do it Yourself Camping” near the park entrance and Mt. Gahinga Rest Camp for those who are really into camping. Additionally, the local community manages several fantastic traditional Bandas.

When you book your safari with Katland Safaris, you’ll be working with a staff of knowledgeable professionals who are committed to going above and beyond your expectations. You may expect a prompt answer to your query.

When planning your day trip from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park, Katland Safaris is the company you can rely on. Our safaris in Rwanda and Uganda are reasonably priced and provide great value. Both enthusiasm and competence characterize our approach. If you are interested in learning more about our unforgettable sightseeing experiences and amazing deals, then do not hesitate to contact us.