Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park suitably tacked away in the beautiful town of Kisoro found in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The park was established in 1991 to provide a sanctuary to the endangered mountain gorilla. And is the smallest national park in Uganda occupying an estimated 34 square kilometers. The park is appropriately positioned among the Virunga volcanoes. Which is part of the greater Virunga massif also found in Rwanda. And the southern sector of Virunga national park in the democratic republic of congo. Other than gorilla trekking, Mgahinga national park offers eye catching views of mount Gahinga, mount Sabyinyo and mount Muhabura. It is also covered by savannah grasslands, tropical forest, montane forests, swamps and bamboo forests.
Activities done at the park
Gorilla trekking
The park is home to some of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla including a number of numerous primates. Your day will start early morning after a rejuvenating breakfast. Then head to the park headquarters for a briefing about the do’s and don’ts during the trek. You will then be assigned a guide a gorilla family to trek. The trek can take up to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. But once you find them you will be rewarded with the presence of the majestic yet gentle creature for a photograph moment.
Birding
The park is a bird sanctuary with a variety of eye watering bird species including; Greater Double collard sunbird, dusky crimson -wing, Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu ground, Black-headed wax-bill, White starred robin, Malachite sunbird, Cape robin to mention but a few.
Batwa community tour
The keepers of the forest as they famously known, the Batwa pygmies closely live with the forest and before the forest was reserved lived off of it hunting and gathering also collecting herbs from the forest to cure illnesses. A tour to the community will give some insight as to how they live and how they have adopted to life outside the jungle after the government resolution to evict them in 1991.
Mountain climbing
The eye catching three volcanoes part of the Virunga massif found in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The three volcanoes are named by the locals that is Sabinyo meaning old man’s teeth, Gahinga meaning a pile of stones and Muhavura to mean the guide because it is the highest and draws you in order to see the others. Because of its strategic location mount Sabinyo gives you the opportunity to stand in three countries at the same time which is incredibly exciting. You can climb all the three mountains in a day depending on your physical endurance.
Golden monkey trekking
Mgahinga national park also offers visitors the chance to trek golden monkeys. It’s a fun active adventure because the primates are very active and easier to spot. You can take about 4 hours while trekking after which you will have fun taking photos of the fast and entertaining primates.
How to get to the park
The park can be accessed by road 509km from Kampala through Mbarara-Masaka highway which is 9-hour drive. But the long journey is accompanied by spectacular views of the country side including prominent landmarks such as the equator or may choose to charter a flight from Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro near the park.