What to expect on a gorilla trek in Mgahinga National Park.
The dirt on Mgahinga National Park gorilla travel. Uganda’s smallest national park, Mgahinga, borders two other Virunga parks, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and a DR Congo park. If they follow gorilla trek standards, guests may view one gorilla family daily. The lush rainforest of Mgahinga National Park is home to over 100 bird species, gorillas, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and other primates.
It takes at least six months to obtain a gorilla permit in Mgahinga to hike with the Nyakagezi family, the only ones permitted in the park, like in Bwindi. Eight permits are provided daily at Mgahinga, and they are in high demand during peak season, the best time to go gorilla trekking. According to tourist categories, gorilla trekking costs 300,000 UGX for Ugandans and other East Africans, $800 for non-resident tourists, and $700 for foreigners.
Guides at Mgahinga National Park’s headquarters advise tourists on the sole gorilla trekking session each day. You might expect the following when gorilla trekking in Mgahinga:
Depending on the family’s location on the day of the trip, you may spend more than five hours trekking with gorillas or less than an hour.
Visitors should bring bug repellant and long-sleeved clothes since the park has many butterflies and insects.
Rainstorms are possible year-round in a tropical rainforest. Even in dry weather, pack a raincoat.
Our gorilla search will take us off the beaten path.
Rainy season paths are muddier.
Visitors to Mgahinga National Park should be in excellent health since gorilla trekking takes a long time and incorporates different terrain.
Gorilla trekking prep
On hiking day, people have great hopes, yet anything may happen in a forest. Just know it will be a fun and memorable day. After breakfast and a briefing at the park headquarters, the trip may start at 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. if allocation is confirmed. For the safety of everyone, tour leaders emphasize gorilla trekking practices.
To identify the gorilla family, rangers and guides communicate during the trip. Once you arrive, you photograph and video the gorilla family for an hour, studying their customs. Never forget to tip porters or guides.
Gorilla hiking rules in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Gorillas are threatened by poaching by indigenous peoples who live in and around the national park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has made legislation to preserve them. The following policies help maintain the park and conserve gorilla habitat:
Visitors are 7–10 meters from gorillas. This precaution is used to prevent human-gorilla conflict, which is rare.
Trekking gorillas needs 15 years of age.
Don’t turn on the lights while photographing gorillas—they run away.
Food and alcohol are strictly prohibited around gorillas.
Even though gorillas seldom fight, if one approaches, bend down, lower your head, and slowly retreat. Give up sprinting.
No smoking around gorillas.
To avoid sickening the gorillas, dig a hole and cover it before urinating in Mgahinga.
A gorilla family may walk with eight people each day. This would reduce human-gorilla infections and disruptions to gorilla habits caused by large groups.
To protect the gorillas, it is best to offer to skip the trek if you become sick.
Trekking with gorillas requires quiet, gentle speech and no unexpected movements since they can read body language.
If you need to sneeze or cough, avoid monkeys.
No litter in Mgahinga National Park.
Gorilla trekking packing list | Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Since preparation is crucial to a good safari, what to pack on a Mgahinga gorilla walk should be your first consideration. You should pack minimally and intelligently for a gorilla trip. Some must-haves:
Except in emergencies, don’t carry much clothing. Avoid military camouflage, pack green or brown, blue for tsetse flies, and black for heat. To avoid mosquito bites and tree scratches, wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and jeans. Avoid jeans since they become bulky when wet.
Strong ankle-length hiking boots are essential for the walk. Though they don’t have to be new, they should be tight enough to avoid toe blisters, robust enough to withstand the hike’s slippery trails, and waterproof. The muddy and difficult terrain makes this gorilla walk unsafe in shoes or sandals.
Bring lots of big, soft socks and gaiters since pants are commonly tucked up to keep bugs out. They keep you toasty and nettle-free on cold mornings. We propose adjustable gaiters for wet weather.
Safaris need phones, cameras, and binoculars. A camera, cleaning equipment, binoculars, extra lenses, and batteries are included. It’s encouraged to carry a camera, however experienced guides will help first-timers.
Wear a hat and sunscreen. Bring sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat since it may be hot.
Eco-friendly toilet paper and wipes
Raincoats and bulky sweaters should be added to your wardrobe for chilly nights and wet weather.
Gardening gloves will protect your hands when hiking with gorillas. You may use gardening gloves to climb vines and branches on this trek.
Hiking using a daypack may let you carry all your things without weighing you down. For the trek, bring a refillable water bottle, wet wipes, cameras, binoculars, toilet paper, sunscreen, bug repellent, personal hygiene items, and anything else you need.
Bring any insect repellant that keeps insects away. In case you need to reapply while hiking, pack it.
Bring a first aid kit containing painkillers, bandages, plasters, spirit, iodine, and any other drugs your doctor recommends. Most tour guides carry an emergency first aid kit.
More Mgahinga Gorilla Park activities
The main attraction of Mgahinga is gorilla trekking, although safari-goers may also do other activities.
Mgahinga is well known for gorilla trekking, although golden monkey trekking is second. As the inquisitive golden monkeys hunt for food and water, you have a fascinating and amusing experience. Walking with golden monkeys is easier than with mountain gorillas since they live at lower heights. The park’s new golden monkey habitat is open year-round.
Trekking lasts three to six hours, depending on where your golden monkeys are. Players with golden coats, and golden monkeys may be found anywhere on the body. Follow all golden monkey hiking rules. Must have Golden Monkey Trekking Permit. Post-hiking, visitors must spend an hour with the monkeys, stay 7 meters away, and not use flash photography.
While on a gorilla safari in Mgahinga, guests should follow the Batwa track, which is thrilling. To protect the gorillas, the Batwa people—pygmies—were forced out of the national park, but tourists may now meet them. Batwa Path will notify you whether you’ve encountered any forest residents or walked through the forest.
You’ll view exhibits describing the Batwa people’s forest living, hunting excursions, and warriors’ protection and search for food, water, and medicine as you go down the route. Visitors may learn about Batwa culture and lifestyle on the Batwa walk, developed by knowledgeable Batwa people.
Batwa guides accompany tourists down the Batwa walkway, which opened on June 11, 2011, and attempts to conserve the endangered Batwa culture. Although June–September and December–February are the driest, you may trek the path year-round.
You may witness around 184 bird species at Mginahga National Park year-round. Among the birds in Mgahinga are the cape robin chat, gorgeous francolin, white star robin, and western green tinker bird. Best for birding are March–June and October–November, the rainiest months.
A natural hike in Mgahinga is amazing. Birds, trees, and monkeys may be seen at the national park. Going into nature this way is fantastic.
Mgahinga Wildness Lodging
Mgahinga hotels are basic/budget, mid-range, or premium. Reservations are advised during July–September’s peak season. Stay at the Mount Gahinga Lodge, Montana Guest House, Virunga Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mucha Hotel, or Community Camping at Mgahinga, an hour away.
Visitors to Mgahinga National Park may enjoy gorilla safaris, learn a lot, and conduct some study. Please contact us for help organizing a gorilla trekking trip to Mgahinga or one of our other year-round sites.
