Uganda safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Mgahinga gorilla national park is ugandas’ smallest national park but not the least popular that was created in 1991 covering the total area of 34km squared. The park is found in south western part of Uganda in the Virunga Mountains surrounding the three inactive volcanoes that includes; Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount sabinyo.  The park is situated 15 kilometers drive south of Kisoro town and 55kilometers drive west of Kabale town (The largest city in the region). The park is one of the 2 areas where you can track gorillas for (Gorilla Tracking activity ) in the dense forest in Uganda  (It is also the home of Mountain gorillas) apart from Bwindi Impenetrable national park and golden monkeys. The park has over 80 gorillas with only one gorilla group called Nyakagezi.

How to get there; you can be in Bwindi forest impenetrable national park either by tour agent/company or self- drive. It takes approximately 9-10 hour’s drive (502km) from Kampala /Entebbe international airport via Masaka-mbarara –Kabale- kisoro  road or 1-2 hours domestic flight from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro /Kihihi airstrip using Aerolink or bar aviation. The park can be accessed using different gates/sector.

How to track gorillas and Golden monkeys ;

To trek gorillas in Mgahinga, you have to be having Gorillapermit that’s the authorization card given by (government body) Uganda wildlife Authority in charge of Tourism to Tourists to be allowed to access the natural habitat of gorillas. Gorilla permit can be used in a single day (24hours) for trekking gorillas in Uganda in Mgahinga national park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

A gorilla permit is at 700$ per adult non foreign residents , 600$ per adult foreign residents and 250,000ugx per adult Ugandan.

Children below 18 years of age are not allowed to trek gorillas. You can as well stay in Rushaga Bwindi and track in Mgahinga national park since its just 2 hours’ drive.

A golden monkey permit is at 60$ Per adult non foreign residents and Park entrance fee of 40$ per person , 50$ per adult Foreign residents and 30$ park entrance fee and 40,000ugx per adult and park entrance of 20,000ug shillings.

There are more than seven hundred and eighty six mountain gorillas in the whole world. Uganda hold close to half of their total population, and the majority of them live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, whereas the others are found in Mgahinga national Park..

The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla national park and trek both Mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys is February, March,  June, July , September, October  and December .

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking

There are many activities to do while in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 

Gorilla trekking experience;  This is walking through the jungle of forest in search of gorillas  in order to be able to get the glimpse of fascinating primates swinging on the tree branches .It takes 2- 3 hours depending on the location of the primates and on finding them ,visitors are limited to only an hour in the presence of the primates  .,Children below 18 years of age are not allowed to track the primates. Gorilla habituation experience ; This where researcher and tourists spend most of time with gorillas mimicking their behaviours.

Golden monkey tracking experience; this involves travellers hiking the forests in search of golden monkeys in their habitat. Golden monkeys live in lower areas, lower tree branches swinging on trees not like gorillas . It takes 3-4 hours depending on the movement of monkeys. Golden monkey habituation .

Cultural experience where guests are entertained with traditional dances of the Batwa and the story of how batwa lived in bush ,what they were eating while in bush and many more.

Birding/ bird watching in the forest since there are many species of birds in Mgahinga . You listen to the whispering and singing  sounds of birds, Nature walks etc.

Mgahinga gorilla national park has different categories of lodging/accommodation inside and outside with budget option, mid- range and luxury that meets guests choices.

Budget lodges in  Mgahinga national park include;  Travelers’ rest camp, mucha lodge , ichumbi hotel  , Ntebeko home stay, Amajambele iwacu community camp , golden monkey guest house among others.

Mid- range lodges include;  lake mulehe lodge , Chahafi resort  , Mgahinga gorilla triangle lodge  among others.

Luxury lodges in Mgahinga  national park include;  Mount gahinga lodge , lake mutanda resort among others

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