Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is attractive and thrilling safari destination which is in southwest Uganda, is well known for being a great place to go on a primate safari. Mount Gahinga, Sabinyo, and Muhavura, the three northernmost Virunga volcanoes, are all covered by the park on their northern flanks. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established in 1991 and has a surface area of 33.9 km2. It is one of only two national parks that protect mountain gorillas; the other being Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla national park.

 

Primates in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The primary reason so many tourists look into and travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is because of the mountain gorillas. A gorilla safari in Uganda takes place in Mgahinga and Bwindi. The majority of visitors do come to the park to see these creatures in their natural habitat. The park’s gorilla trekking safari offers the best chance to see these mountain gorillas in action.

Golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Another one of Mgahinga Gorillas National Park’s distinctive features is the presence of golden monkeys, a highly rare species of monkey that is exclusive to this park and is not found anywhere else in the entire nation. On an African safari, one can see these monkeys in Uganda. They thrive in big groups of up to 62 individuals and may be found in the bamboo forests of the Virunga volcanoes. Their long tails, which are around 72 centimeters long, make them fascinating to watch as they bounce.

Along with the primates, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to a variety of other creatures, such as forest elephants, forest buffalos, bushbucks, golden cats, side-striped jackals, enormous forest hogs, South African porcupines, and more.

Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

The primary attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the Virunga volcanoes. The Virunga range, which is shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contains eight volcanoes. Three of them are located in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Visitors can be amazed by these extinct conical mountains when on a safari in Uganda, where they can see the Virunga volcanoes, which include Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo.

Bird species in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to over 184 different bird species, including endemic birds to the East Congo montane region, forest birds, migrant birds, and resident birds. Birdwatchers will love the park. Some of the bird species that may be found in the park include the Ruwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, Kivu ground thrush, Blue-headed weaver, Black-collared apalis, Dusky crimsonwing, Regal sunbird, Alpine swift, Moorland chat, Ruwenzori nightjar, beautiful francolin, and olive woodpecker.

Activities to do Mgahinga gorilla national park.

 

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

Gorilla trekking safari is the most well-known safari activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The fact that there are several different species of gorillas in the park helps to explain why most visitors come there in quest of the friendly gigantic apes that live there. A briefing on the rules for the safari activity precedes gorilla trekking in the early morning, at 8:00 am.

You will be split up into eight groups after the briefing, with an experienced guide directing each group who is familiar with the gorilla trekking paths. Gorilla trekking might take 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on where the gorillas reside. This is due to the fact that these creatures are constantly on the move in quest of food. While walking, you may come across a variety of creatures. Once you find the gorillas, you get an hour to spend with them watching their feeding rituals, hunting strategies, nest-building methods, grooming ways and other activities. You are allowed to snap pictures of them and make videos.

Volcano Hiking/ Mountain climbing in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park contains the three volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountains, which are situated in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. For hikers visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a trekking safari in Uganda therefore becomes challenging. If the visitor is in good physical shape, they can join in on the walk up all three mountains in a single day. Visitors have the opportunity to partake in the most delightful safari activity when they go on a mountain walk since they may witness a variety of animals and bird species.

Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Another unique safari activity at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is golden monkey trekking, where guests enjoy being in the company of the golden monkeys. The activity starts with a training about the rules to follow when carrying out golden trekking at the administrative center/park headquarters. Then you can be split up into six-person groups and dispatched into the bush to look for golden monkeys. Once the golden monkeys have been discovered, you can spend time with them by taking pictures of them, watching them climb from one tree to another, and other things that is such amazing during the safari.

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

It is possible to go bird watching safari in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is home to a variety of resident, migratory, and endemic bird species from the Albertine Rift. Travellers on safaris have the opportunity to witness bird species such the African olive pigeon, Dusky crimsonwing, Moorland chat, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori turaco, Ruwenzori nightjar,  Blue-headed coucal, Fire Finch Stonechat, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Whydah, Pin-tailed Whydah, lovely francolin, and more.

Visit the Batwa trails in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The batwa are the descendants of those individuals that formerly coexisted peacefully in the dense forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park while surviving off of fruit collecting and hunting. Only after visiting the batwa paths can a safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park be considered completely pleasurable. During the batwa trials, guests can interact with them by learning about their history, taking part in their music and dancing, and discovering how they make their traditional food.

Best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be visited all the year around, but the perfect time to visit the park is during the dry season during the months of June to August and December to January. During this period that’s when the trails can be easy to navigate and spending that precious hour with the gorillas, that makes the gorilla trekking safari the most treasured one.