Welcome to Mgahinga National Park, a complete guide for visitors with everything you need to know about the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South West Uganda. We aim to provide free and inspiring advice to help you plan an amazing experience in Mgahinga National Park. Whether you are looking at gorilla trekking in the park, hiking the Virunga Volcanoes, golden monkey tracking, you will find all the information to plan your trip.
The park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries. Each of these countries protects its portion of the Virungas, in the Parc National des Volcans and Parc National des Virunga respectively. The three parks together form the 434-sq. km. ‘Virunga Conservation Area’ or VCA. Mgahinga is 33.7 sq. km, just 8% of the VCA. The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District.
Things to do in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla trekking
through a wetland area where Ibis, Whydah, Speckled Mousebird, and Fire Finch are found. Stonechat, Grey Capped Warbler, Waxbills, and Yellow-Vented Bulbul are common at the campground. Inquire from the guide about the best spots and take your time and move. Bird Species at Semuliki include the Broad-billed Roller, Green Wood-hoopoe, African Grey Hornbill, African Moustached Warbler, rapacious Red-necked Falcon, Black-winged Red-Bishop, White-winged Widowbird, and Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Double-toothed Barbet, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Green-backed Eremomela, Piapiac, Black-chinned Quail-Finch, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, and Western Violet-backed Sunbird, the listing is continual. Walk on your own rate as birding needs no rapidity.
Golden monkey trekking
Mgahinga National Park is remarkable that one place where gold meets silverback. Golden monkey tracking is that one exceptional primate adventure that is offered in this park. Permits for this adventure go at $50 per person and if you wish to take part in golden monkey habituation, you can obtain a permit at $100.
Nature walks
For nature lovers, Mgahinga National Park is perfect while on a nature walk which rewards you with the sights at its lush vegetation, bamboo forest, Rugezi swamp which comes with breathtaking views over the farmlands, Lake Mutanda, and others.
cultural encounters
Pay a visit to the Batwa community and get the best of Africa’s unique cultures. A visit to this community offers you a chance to interact with the Batwa and explore their incredible cultures and traditions.
When to visit Mgahinga National Park
Due to Uganda’s equatorial position and an increasingly variable climate, you should always expect rain when visiting Uganda. However, the heaviest rainfall normally occurs from mid- March to the end of May and then again at the end of September through to November. While the rains in March to May are often short, those in September to November are more often characterised by hours of soft drizzle.
Gorillas can be tracked at any time of year, but it does become harder when the trails are mud-slides and water is running down your neck, soaking you through. So the most popular times to track the gorillas is the drier months of June to mid-September and December, January and February.