What Is Mgahinga National Park Famous For.
Mgahinga National Park is renowned for the following: One of the four well-known and acclaimed mountain gorilla habitats in the world is Mgahinga National Park. It is situated on 33 square kilometers of land in the far southwest region of Uganda.
Despite its tiny size, the forest is a refuge from the ice age, providing a safe haven for many primates, including black and white colobus, mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys.
Mgahinga Park is a unique place to go birdwatching in Africa because of the abundance of species, including albertine endemics. One of the few places in Africa that offers a breathtaking view of the untouched vegetation from the bamboo zone, the Ericaceuos zone, and the montane woods is Mgahinga Park.
Highlights of the Renowned Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking, Gorilla Trekking, Hiking, and Local Community Visits in Mgahinga National Park
The main attraction of Mgahinga National Park is gorilla trekking. The only completely habituated gorilla family in this park at the moment is the Nyakagezi family. To join the gorilla trekking group for the day, you need a gorilla permit, although getting one depends on the gorillas’ availability.
They sometimes move to Rwanda because they are unable to comprehend political borders. They are deprived of the opportunity to live freely in the forest, where they may look for food, when they are confined to certain borders.
Prior to scheduling a gorilla permit, you must request the gorillas’ attendance. The cost of each gorilla permit is $800 per trekper. Every day, just eight gorilla permits are made available for visitor reservations.
Make sure you have the appropriate gorilla trekking equipment so you can hunt in the woods in comfort. Observe the directions given by the ranger guides accompanying you and the briefing crew. They know more about how the mountain gorillas behave.
Search the jungle for additional primates, snap as many pictures as you can to save the memories, and then return to the resort to unwind.
Trekking with Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga National Park
Only the Virunga woodland in Africa is home to the unique species of golden monkeys. These endangered primates take pleasure in Mgahinga National Park’s goodies. The bodies of golden monkeys are bigger than those of ordinary monkeys.
Particularly on the lower back, there is a distinctive golden brown covering. You want to follow them because they are a fascinating species. Even though they have been accustomed, their real character is visible to onlookers since they are always occupied and hopping from tree to tree.
To participate in this once-in-a-lifetime primates experience, you must have a golden monkey permit. Keep an eye out for various primates, such as L’Hoest’s, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, and many more. Mgahinga National Park serves as a gathering place for primates.
Caves of Batwa and Garama Mgahinga National Park visit
It is a historical vacation experience to enter the lives of the Batwa Pygmies, who were the original inhabitants of Mgahinga Forest. This community-based tour is guided by a Mutwa guide who is knowledgeable about their previous existence.
The Batwa hike starts at the base of Muhavura Mountain and ascends to Garama Cave, which is 342 meters long and nearer Mgahinga National Park’s northern boundary. In the past, this cave was located in the deeper sections of the forest and served as a Batwa hideaway when they invaded the farmers of Bafumbira. In their early years, the Batwa also used the Garama cave as council chambers.
After completing the Batwa route, the cave now offers a moody venue for Batwa music performances.
Trek Through Mgahinga National Park’s Mountains
Hiking the Sabyinyo, Muhavura, and Gahinga mountains—three of the Mgahinga volcanic peaks—will test your fitness for the first time.
Hiking to the summit of the three peaks of the Sabyinyo Mountains offers views over Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda.
Hiking Gahinga Mountain leads you through a bamboo forest and up to the top of the crater, where there is a verdant wetland. It takes almost six hours to go to the headquarters from Ntebeko.
You pass through stunning alpine greenery and breathtaking panoramic vistas as you ascend Mount Muhabura, which features a crater lake at its summit. The easiest and shortest way to encounter these striking plants is to climb the Muhabura Trail.
Mgahinga National Park Birdwatching
Some of the most amazing birds may be seen at Mgahinga National Park. The Gorge route, which circles halfway up Mountain Sabyinyo, offers an excellent opportunity to track a variety of birds. Many species, like the Rwenzori Turaco, Alpine Chat, Lagden’s Bush-Shrine, Kivu Ground Thrush, and many more, find a happy home in a variety of settings.
Mgahinga National Park: Is It Secure?
Trekking mountain gorillas and engaging in other park activities are safe at Mgahinga National Park. To maintain peace and order in this region, the ranger guides work in tandem with Uganda security personnel. Despite their enormous stature, mountain gorillas are calm primates. No human has ever been assaulted by them.
Which lodging options are available in Mgahinga National Park?
There are overnight accommodations in Mgahinga National Park to suit every budget. You might stay overnight in Kisoro town as well. Volcanoes Camp, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle, Mutanda Lake Resort, Traveler’s Inn, Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Majambere Iwachu, and Mountain Gahinga Lodge are a few of the lodging options.
How to Reserve a Mgahinga National Park Gorilla Permit
Permits are reserved based on the gorillas’ availability since the Nyakegezi family of open gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park sometimes crosses into nearby Volcanoes National Park. For Mgahinga National Park, gorilla licenses cost $800. All gorilla licenses in Uganda are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
How to Reserve Permits for Golden Monkeys at Mgahinga National Park
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the organization that sells golden monkey permits. We reserve golden monkey permits for our customers at Katland Safaris.
In Mgahinga National Park, when is the best time to go gorilla trekking?
Tourists are permitted to undertake mountain gorilla trekking at any time of year as long as the presence of Nyakagezi mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park is verified. Even though the gorillas sometimes congregate in Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, no nation forbids them from taking use of the Virunga region’s natural resources.
The mountain gorillas look for fresh feeding sites even outside of geographical borders in order to fill their tummies with enough pounds of vegetation to sustain them through the day and night.
Because there is often less rainfall in June through September and January through February, the gorilla routes are less muddy and easier to see. According to Uganda’s tourism calendar, these are the busiest travel seasons.
The terrain is muddy and sloppy due to the increased rainfall from March to May and November. During this season, you must trek up a few hills to reach the mountain gorillas’ feeding area, which is on the slopes.
Even the monkeys are at ease during the dry seasons if you must journey for golden monkeys in Mgahinga National Park. Where they spend the day, the trees are less slippery. Due of their dislike of water, monkeys hide under the thicker tree leaves during heavy rainstorms, making it impossible for people to see them.
How to Get From Kampala to Mgahinga National Park
The most popular route from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park is via road, which covers around 540 kilometers. Including breaks along the way, the travel from Kabale to Kisoro takes around eight hours. It takes almost two hours to go reach Ntebeko Gate along the Murram Road, which twists over mountains.
Kisoro is another way to enter Mgahinga National Park from Rwanda’s Kigali airport, which is followed by the Cyanika border.
Kisoro Air Strip is served by morning and afternoon domestic flights every day from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air Strip.
Things to Bring to Mgahinga National Park for a Safari
A flash-less soundproof camera to capture your images of the Mgahinga National Park’s gorilla trekking and birdwatching experiences
Wear long-sleeved clothing to shield your body from jagged objects, stinging nettles, and other harsh jungle conditions.
In case you get hurt while on safari in Mgahinga National Park, have a first aid package.
footwear for tracking that are secure enough to navigate slick, marshy hills and jagged terrain in the woods.
Binoculars are useful if you see anything intriguing in the forest that could be out of your line of sight.
To relieve thirst and carry drinking water, use a foldable water bottle.
You should refuel with energy foods since you never know when you’ll be able to see the mountain gorillas and other fascinating sights in Mgahinga National Park.
In the thick forest, use insect repellents to shield your skin from stinging insects.
Keep a torch handy in case the lights go out and you have to navigate your room in the dark.
Safari Wear a hat with a wide brim or a cap to shield your head from flying insects and dew that falls from plants.
Because it takes a long time to get money from credit cards, they are seldom used for exchange in Africa, therefore bring some hard cash.
In the event that the battery in the camera becomes low, there is another fully charged battery to swap out.
A travel adaptor in case your electrical devices need to be recharged.
For further information on Mgahinga National Park, get in touch with us.
