Overview

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a small national park in Uganda. It covers an area of about 33.9 km2. It is popular for its mountain gorilla trekking. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit the park.

Wildlife

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to primates such as mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. One of the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park activities is the trekking of these primates. Tourists from across the world visit the park to enjoy gorilla tracking. It is one of two parks that allow tracking of mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the other destination. Mgahinga is home to about half of these endangered primates.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is another fun activity. Tourists love their sightings as they feed, play, or nurse their babies. After spotting them, you will have about an hour of observing them.

Apart from the primates, the park is home to other species of mammals. You can spot buffalos, elephants, leopards, and rodents among others. The park has over 76 species of mammals.  The best time to enjoy trekking primates is during the dry season. This is between December to January and June to August. But the park is always open.

Birdlife

Apart from the golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park, tourists enjoy bird watching.  The park has recorded over 180 species. They are found in different places in the park such as wetlands, forests, and Buffalo Wall. Some of the common species are speckled mousebirds, black kites, and African paradise flycatchers. You can spot migratory birds between November and April. The wet season (March to May) may interfere with bird watching. Hiking trails may be slippery and roads may become impassable.

Scenery

Mgahinga National Park is home to the renowned beauty of Uganda. The Sabyinyo Gorge walk allows tourists to enjoy the beauty of the park. It leads via the incredible landscape and vegetation of the park. Then, it climaxes in the stunning waterfalls. The volcanic cones are visible from miles away. Their views are out of this world. Tourists enjoy hiking these mountains.

Local community

Formally, the park was home to the Batwa tribe. Cultural tours allow tourists to meet these people. You get to learn about their ancient ways. You will learn about their hunting skills, honey harvesting, and fire making. It is a great opportunity to learn more about African cultures.

Climate

The climate is good for the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park activities. It is usually cold to wet. Its high altitude makes it a cold destination. Temperatures range between 9°C and 20°C. The park has two seasons.

The dry season is between December to January and June to August. But it is not very dry. It can rain. The wet season is between February to May and September to November. Rain may interfere with some activities in the park.

FAQs about Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

• Where is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located?

Mgahinga National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. The nearest town is Kisoro which is about 14 km away. Its coordinates are 1.3641° S and 29.6383° E. It is about 510 km from Kampala.

• Why visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

Tourists enjoy many activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The most common activity is trekking gorillas. Other common activities are Golden monkey trekking, bird watching, hiking, nature walks, and cultural safaris.

• Which is the best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

The park is open across the year. But the best time to visit is during the dry months. This is between December to January and June to August. Rain during the wet season may interfere will most activities in the park.

• How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

You can get there by road or air. The park is about 14 km from Kisoro town. You can drive from Kampala to the town and then to the park. From Kampala, it takes about 9 hours to reach the park. But you can also fly to Kisoro from Entebbe.