Go gorilla trekking tours in Uganda’s smallest but scenic national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers an area of 33 square kilometres and sits on a high altitude of 4,127m. The park is found in Kisoro district in the South-western corner of Uganda bordering Congo and Rwanda. The park was founded in 1991 to help protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is known as one of the only four places in the world where gorilla trekking can be done.
Start with the scenery in and around the park stunning with three extinct volcanoes Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhavura and Mount Gahinga all having their slopes in the park. The forests provide shelter and sufficient food for the mountain gorillas and other park animals.
Although the park is located in Uganda, it is much easier to access it from Rwanda in a journey that takes about three hours from Kigali through the border Cyanika. The park can also be reached by air and road from Kampala, hence giving you the liberty to choose the means of transport to use.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a total population of 80 mountain gorillas, but only one gorilla group is habituated and open to tourists – the Nyakagezi family. The group used to move to Rwanda and Congo but have now settled in Uganda for more than three years. The gorilla safaris to Mgahinga are great because the park attracts fewer crowds. Having one habituated gorilla group means only 8 gorilla permits can be sold in a day.
Visitors are advised to book their permits weeks in advance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala or the Park Headquarters in Ntebeko. Do not hustle with Uganda wildlife and the headquarters for the permits. We are there and much willing to give you the best services, book you permit at the same price.
Target the dry seasons of December to February and June to October. During the dry season the forest paths are not overgrown with vegetation and are less muddy. Tracking gorillas in Mgahinga begins with early morning briefing at the only park entrance – the Ntebeko gate.
You will be briefed about rules and regulations for gorilla tracking. The average length of gorilla tracking in Mgahinga is less than at Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park because the Nyakagezi family lives and feeds in a smaller range which is easier to find.
However, tracking the gorillas can be challenging depending on the location of the family on a specific day. If they move towards one of the three volcanoes found in the park, navigating through the mountain slopes can become tiring. If you are unfit, you might want to read about gorilla trekking for elders.
You will be allowed only one hour with the gorilla family. Use the one hour to take photos and observe the group dynamics. As you track gorillas, chances are very many for you to find golden moneys as well as many bird species making it such a memorable safari.
