Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the few places in the world where the endangered mountain gorillas live which contributes a lot to Uganda’s tourism board because it attracts number of people from different countries to come see these unique creatures in their nature habitats. Furthermore, the park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda bordered with Congo in the west and Rwanda in the south. The park covers an area of about 33.7 square kilometers of its low land. There is no doubt about Mgahinga Gorilla National park because is one of the leading tourism places in Uganda since it harbors these unique attractive primates. Besides that, the park can be easily reached by road transport approximately 9 to 10 hours’ drive or by air from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airstrip which lasts 1:30hours, Activities in Mgahinga. 

Below are the things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as follows;

Gorilla Trekking Tour

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the finest home to world’s endangered mountain gorilla making gorilla trekking much easy for the tourists. Gorilla trekking experience starts early in the morning at 8am and lasts 2 to 8 hours’ durations depending on the location of the gorillas. But there are few guidelines to keep in mind before you go for gorilla trekking, a few to keep in mind before then always keep a distance of about 7meters away from gorillas, all waste must be buried 30centermeter deep, flash photography is not allowed and all trekkers should be 15 years and above of age. Only 8 individuals per trekking group are allowed. You start hiking in the forest trailhead accompanied by the range guide who leads you to the gorilla family you’re to trek, once you locate them one hour will be given to you to watch these great apes in jungle as your reward for the trek maybe silverback out of the one family as well as picture taking. What unforgettable experience you will ever have in life time! Mgahinga is a place worth a visit.

Activities in Mgahinga
Gorilla trekking tour

Golden Monkey Tracking

Golden monkeys are small and fast making it a rare primate. Golden Monkey Tracking can take 2 to 4 hours when you are allowed the opportunity to view, take photograph of the primates before descending back to your lodge or camp. The route you take to find the monkeys may be attractive where you tread looking for young bamboo branches. A hike is taken through the bamboo forest. Along this activity always remember to carry your camera to freeze your golden monkey tour memories, pair of binoculars for birding, hiking boots, hand gloves, a rain poncho, a long sleeved shirt thus making you safer on your visit to the park.

Volcano Hiking/Mountain Climbing

This is a fabulous experience done in Mgahinga gorilla national park that your eyes will not go missing such as the three volcanoes that form part of the Virunga Ranges in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Uganda. Their names include Sabinyo which means Old man’s teeth, Gahinga means Pile of stones and Muhavura which means a guide. Mount Muhavura is the highest among the three Volcanoes with an advantage of viewing other Virunga Mountains from its peak. It can also be viewed from as far as Kisoro town. However, Mount Sabinyo is a gateway to Rwanda and DR Congo while in Uganda, while at the peak you’re geographically standing in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo at same time. And the way that heads to the summit of Sabinyo is filled with mushy vegetation whose uncomfortable impact can be voided by dressing code in waterproof hiking boots. One to be able to climb up Mount Gahinga requires a hike through a bamboo forest. All three of these mountain can be climbed up to their summits in a day as long as you are in good health, Activities in Mgahinga.

Bird watching for Albertine Rift Endemics

Mgahinga gorilla national park is small in size but boosts with variety of bird life which can be encountered during tourists visit at the park. The list of bird species to be spotted include; Cape Robin-chat, Black-headed waxbill and streaky seedeater, Dusky turtle dove, Handsome Francolin, White Starred Robin, Kivu Ground Thrush and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Greater Double collard sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Shelly’s Dusky Crimson wing, Olive Pigeon, Archer’s Robins chat, Black headed waxbill, Western Green Tinker bird, Malachite Sunbird, Cape Robin, White-starred breasted Tit, Malachite and Scarlet –tufted sunbirds mentioned but few. Since the park havens with over 180 species of birds which can be sighted all year around. Mgahinga has a good list of the Albertine rift endemics that can be easily encountered on the gorge trail. Be ready for the fully day birding therefore you should carry your packed lunch and pair of binoculars for clear viewing.

Activities in Mgahinga
Shelly’s Dusky Crimson wing

Batwa Trail Experience

Before the area gazette into a national park, the Batwa pygmies used to live here and thrived in these forests and mountain areas as hunter gatherers. They were later displaced but some of them still live around the park and have been trained as porters and guides. Tipping for their services is highly welcomed. A Batwa trail experience is an activity that takes you through their history, visit the Garama cave. The garama cave is a cave where they used to hide from Bantu invasion many years ago. The way they bustle through the forest and glide uphill is awe of stay, home is best to the Batwa. Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for more adventurous.