Mgahinga Gorilla National Park inhabits one habituated gorilla group known as “Nyakagezi”. It offers amazing gorilla trekking experience, with clear pictures and videos, and easier to hike, highly recommended for old people, and those with hiking difficulties. The park can be accessed through Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Rwanda (3hrs drive) or Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Uganda (8hrs drive).
Detailed Itinerary for the 3 Day Mgahinga Gorilla Tour in Uganda
Day One: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
Pick up from Kigali Airport (KGL) in Rwanda for a 3-hour drive to the park through Cyanika border. Alternatively, we can pick you up from Kampala or Entebbe Airport (EBB) for an 8-hour drive with lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight at Mt. Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Campsite or Travellers Rest Hotel in Kisoro town on the edges of Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Day Two: Gorilla Trekking Adventure, Batwa Trail
Early breakfast at the lodge and assemble at the park headquarters by 07:30h for a briefing about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park. Later you will be led by professional guides, accompanied by armed rangers and porters to assist you during the hike. The trek in Mgahinga is quite easier compared to Bwindi National Park. You are allowed to stay with the mountain gorillas for 60 minutes maximum, take pictures (without flashlight) and videos.
Descend to the park headquarters for your certificates after the successful gorilla trek, lunch at the lodge, relax as you wait for the Batwa Trail where you will learn more about the historical ways of the life of the Batwa People (Pygmies). Overnight stay at your lodge on Day 1.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trek, Departure
Kigali Departure: If your departure flight is from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, we start a day by golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga National Park which ends by 11:00h. We have early lunch and hit the road back to Kigali (3hrs) where the tour ends.
Kampala Departure: If your departure flight is from Kampala (Entebbe Airport), we start a day by breakfast and immediately hit the road (8hrs) to Entebbe Airport with en-route stop lunch and at the Equator for photographs, arrive at Entebbe Airport by 16.00hrs to catch your onward flight.
End of the tour
About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The Park covers 38 km in size, is the Ugandan part of the bigger Virunga Conservation Area, which is a jointly protected area with Congo and Rwanda. It includes three extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabinyo (3.669m), Mount Gahinga (3.474m), and Mount Muhavura (4.127m). Mgahinga is part of the bigger ecosystem of the Virunga Conservation Area (434km sq) and it includes Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The park derives its name from “Gahinga Kinyarwanda word for a pile of volcanic lava stone heaps around which cultivation is carried out.”Mgahinga” is named after Mount Gahinga plus the initial of Mount Muhavura.
- Species
Mgahinga National Park vegetation is made up of bamboo forests. It is a habitat to 76 mammal species such as Leopards, buffaloes, Bushbucks, and elephants, then 115 bird species such as Rwenzori Turaco, black kite, and crowned crane, and crowned hornbill among others.
The park further hosts a large population of golden monkeys and a few mountains gorillas in a group known as “Nyakagezi” a trans-boundary species to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Congo Republic.
Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park
- Volcano hiking ( Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura volcanoes)
- Gorilla Trekking
- Golden monkey tracking
- Birding and Nature walks through Sabinyo Gorge trail and Rugezi Swamp trail
- Garama Caves exploration in Ntebeko which is 432m long.
- Batwa Trail
- Photographing
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be accessed by road or air.
- By Road
The park is about 480km from Kampala and takes about 8 hours via Kabale on an excellent paved road surface. Public transport by bus is available on a daily basis to Kisoro town. It is 13km from Kisoro town to the park headquarters.
From Kigali, it is only 3 hours drive to Mgahinga National Park through Cyanika border.
- By Air
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is accessed by domestic flight from Entebbe Airport (EBB) to a modern tarmac airstrip in Kisoro. Credit to Aerolink Uganda that offers daily scheduled flights along this route.
Accommodation facilities
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accommodation can be organized from the basic Camp-site to the deluxe hotels and safari lodges, and these include Traveler’s Rest Hotel, Sky Blue, Mt. Gahinga Rest Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Virunga Hotel, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Amajambere Campsite, Rugigana Campsite and Mubano Hotel among others.
