Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers the Ugandan slopes of three of the Virunga volcanoes; Muhuvura, Gahinga and Sabinyo. Though small in size, just 33.7km2, it adjoins Volcanoes NP in Rwanda and Virunga NP in Congo. Collectively, these three parks form the transboundary Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) which protects half of the world’s 780 mountain gorillas (the rest live in nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park). Gorilla conservation on the Virunga dates back to 1925 when the Belgians gazette the portion of the range in present day Congo and Rwanda as a national park. The British administration declared the Ugandan section as a game sanctuary in 1930. This was upgraded to national park status in 1991.
Mgahinga Gorilla NP is home to 76 mammal species, including the endangered mountain gorilla and golden monkey. Other large mammals include elephant, leopard and giant forest hog though these are rarely encountered in the dense forest. Though the park’s bird list currently stands at just 115 species, this includes many localized forest birds and Albertine Rift endemics, including the striking Rwenzori turaco.

Activities & Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

NTEBEKO VISITOR CENTRE

The Visitor Centre at Ntebeko is the trailhead for nature walks, volcano climbs, and golden monkey and gorilla tracking. Exhibits inside the building explore themes relating to the Virunga environment. A trail along the adjacent drystone Buffalo Wall (built to keep animals out of neighbouring farmland) provides good birding and views of the park’s dramatic volcanic backdrop.

GORILLA TRACKING

Following a trail of trampled and snapped vegetation across the slopes of the Virunga to spend an hour in the company of a family of mountain gorillas ranks among the world’s most sought after wildlife encounters. Contact time with Mgahinga’s habituated gorilla group is restricted to one hour and participants must be aged 15 or over.

GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING

Mountain gorillas are not the only endangered primates on the Virunga. The volcanoes are the last stronghold of the golden monkey which can be tracked through its bamboo habitat on the slopes of Mt. Gahinga. As with gorillas, contact time with this rare primate is limited to an hour. Visitors who sign up for the habituation experience, however, can spend all day following this striking orange-coated monkey in the company of researchers.

VOLCANO CLIMBING

Mgahinga Gorilla NP rises upwards to three of the Virunga’s six volcanic summits, all of which can be climbed in a day. Views from the peaks – into Rwanda and Congo, and towards the rift valley and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – more than justify the effort.

The park’s highest peak is Muhavura. The ascent passes through montane forest, bamboo stands and heather groves, before encountering bizarre forms of giant lobelias and groundsels at the summit. The 4,127m summit, which is adorned by a crystal clear crater lake, 40m in diameter, commands panoramic views along the length of the Virunga chain.

Mount Gahinga (3,474m) is the smallest of the Virunga volcanoes and its bamboo-covered slopes rise up to a lush, swamp-filled crater, about 180m wide. The jagged crown of Sabinyo bears several summits, the highest of which provides the rare privilege of standing 3,669m high whilst in 3 countries – Uganda, Rwanda and DRC – at once.

BIRDING

Keen birders can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds in a range of scenic locations that include the Sabinyo Gorge ( prime habitat for the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco); the saddle between Mounts Gahinga and Sabinyo; and the Boundary Trail at Ntebeko, with its incomparable volcanic backdrop.

THE BATWA TRAIL

The generations, Mgahinga’s dense forests were home to the indigenous Batwa Pygmies, hunter-gatherers and warriors, who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine. Today, Batwa guides lead visitors through the lower slopes of the forests, introducing them to their old home and demonstrating the skills they used to survive in it. The highlight of the Batwa Trail is the descent into the Garama Cave for a subterranean performance of music and dance.