GORILLA TREKKING IN MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK IN UGANDA

When you talk of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable rain forest will be in every one’s mind just because it shelters the large number of Mountain Gorillas; even though Mgahinga is hardly mentioned but it is a hidden treasure which has not been discovered by many. It is a unique tourism destination in Uganda which can grant an experiential and adventurous experience to a visitor. Mgahinga gorilla national park occupies the Uganda’s side of the Virunga conservation area bordering Virunga national park in Democratic republic of Congo and volcanoes national park in Rwanda.

The park has incredible scenery and it contains part of the three volcanic mountains namely Mount Muhavura, mount Gahinga and mount sabinyo, all these mountains have stories behind their names that is waiting for you to discover. Mgahinga gorilla national park is the second refugium of endangered Mountain Gorillas after Bwindi national park. This park being a mountainous terrain with dense vegetation cover, it is able to sustain the lives of these species. Despite Mgahinga being small in size, gorilla trekking tours remain major tourist activity in this park. The park only has one gorilla family, Nyakagezi, which has been habituated for tracking while on a Uganda gorilla safari. Nyakagezi group has 10 individuals with 1 silver back. This group is led by Mark the dominant silver back, and this group is known of traveling and keeps on crossing borders between Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. However because of the stability in Uganda the group decided to settle in the volcanic highlands of Uganda side hence making it easy to track them on a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda. The permits for trekking Nyakagezi gorilla group in this park were previously booked on ground at Uganda wildlife Authority offices in Kisoro because of it crossing the border, but since the gorilla group is residing in Ugandan side, the gorilla permits have been included in the Uganda Wildlife Authority Reservation system and you can book from the headquarters.

Gorilla trekking activity begins at 8am with briefing at the starting point, Ntebeko visitor center or Muhabura side depending on direction of the gorilla group. Since Mgahinga gorilla national park is noted with 3 volcanic mountains; Muhabura, Gahinga & Sabinyo, this means gorilla trekking will involve traversing steep and challenging landscape depending on the direction of the gorilla group but finally meeting the mighty apes is all worth it. Apart from gorilla trekking, Mgahinga gorilla national park has other fantastic activities such as; golden monkey tracking, Mgahinga is the only place where golden monkeys are seen in Uganda, Batwa heritage trail, volcanic climbing, nature walk and birding.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest forest conservation area and the second park where gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done. We hope you are ready to book a gorilla safari in Uganda so you meet the endangered mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national Park, located in Uganda’s southwestern district of Kisoro.