The spot offers a thrilling wildlife experience regardless of its small size at just 33.7 square kilometers. For travelers into less crowded spaces, and want to encounter primates right in their natural habitats, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro is the right spot that shouldn’t be missed on any traveler’s bucket list. Primate lovers visiting Mgahinga always engage in both gorilla and golden monkey trekking.
HISTORY OF MGAHINGA.
Mgahinga carries almost the same essence as Bwindi. The protected area was first declared a forest reserve in 1930 given that many years ago, the and its surroundings were originally home to the local communities, especially the Batwa tribe. Along with the vast Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the leading gorilla destination in Uganda with over four hundred gorilla individuals.
The main purpose of declaring Mgahinga as a national park in 1991, was to protect and find a home for the only remaining mountain gorillas. It explains why the nearby communities and those displaced benefit from the tax revenue generated from tourism activities in Mgahinga.
LOCATION OF MGAHINGA.
The park borders Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to form the Virunga massif. It is also in proximity with its sister Bwindi, all lie in Kisoro District, south western part of Uganda. Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabinyo, and Mount Gahinga are the 3 volcanoes that dominate the larger part of the area. The journey takes about 7 to 10 hours of a road drive from Kampala to the primate spot. Many travelers go in for flights, especially those who prefer convenience. Flights are available from the country’s Airport Entebbe, visitors can then fly from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip within 40 to 50 minutes.
WHAT MAKES MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK STAND OUT.
The small size of Mgahinga comes as an advantage in disguise, travelers often praise how breathtaking the spot is, with its misty rain forests, volcanoes, and at the same time less crowded, offering a very personal feeling compared to the bigger Bwindi. The park keeps small numbers of visitors in, so the whole primate experience feels personally intimate. Mgahinga is also home to over 180 bird species, making it a sweet spot for bird lovers. Some of the birds that can be sighted in Mgahinga also include the Europe migratory birds. Other animals can also be spotted in the park including elephants, bush backs, impalas or buffaloes.
WHAT TO DO WHILE AT MGAHINGA.
Gorilla tracking adventure.
Of course, there are so many exciting tourism activities that travelers can dive into even though the most engaging one is gorilla tracking. This activity is enjoyed by many travelers if not given a chance in Bwindi. The park is the second leading gorilla home in the country after Bwindi. Making it a favorite tourism hub for many travelers.
Just like Bwindi, gorilla tracking adventure at Mgahinga also kicks off with a simple briefing right at the park headquarters, before guests hike into the forest accompanied by tour guides and park rangers for safety.
Depending on the weather conditions or nature of roads, the tracking trails can be muddy or steep in Mgahinga and that affects time spent on tracking sessions, given its small size, the hikes in Mgahinga are shorter than that of Bwindi and can take about 4 hours to finally bump into gorillas. Once guests locate the gorillas, only a one full hour session is offered to them to observe, learn and see them feed, play or nurse young ones.
Golden Monkey Tracking.
Mgahinga is endowed with the Virungas, who offer guests with the most ultimate primate experience on Uganda primate safaris. Unlike the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys are highly active, playful and can be spotted swinging in bamboo trees.
Hiking the Volcanoes.
Volcano hiking is yet another exciting tourism activity that’s always on every guest’s bucket list while at Mgahinga. Guests can use some of the most used trails for hiking including that of Mount Gahinga that gives remarkable views and less effort climbs. Mount Muhavura on the other hand is a bit more challenging compared to the latter, but offers the most panoramic views of the Virungas.
The hiking experiences at Mgahinga come with chances to bird sightings, and other smaller mammals. The Batwa cultural experience offers Mgahinga guests to encounter the Batwa natives and learn about their traditional knowledge, hunting techniques, or making traditional crafts.
WHEN TO VISIT MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK?
The 2 drier periods of the year are Undoubtedly the best timing window for both gorilla and golden monkey smooth trekking activities. They hit the sweetest spot when it comes to full ultimate primate experience. There are only 2 dry seasons in Uganda that occur annually, and these include the long dry season and the short dry season. December to February is the short dry season offering good weather, fewer crowds compared to the long dry season.
The long dry season runs from June to September, offering the clearest trails, and clearer views of the volcanoes. The long dry season is also the peak season, that’s why travelers are advised and highly recommended to always book their permits in advance.
March – May is a wet season, as well as October – late November, the conditions bring lush green vegetation even though trails become muddy, hard to maneuver and unclear wildlife views. The wet period is the most favorable period for birding activities, given the mild temperatures about 15 to 25°C during the day, even though nights and early mornings can get cooler at higher altitudes.