Mgahinga Gorilla national park
Mgahinga gorilla national park
Mgahinga gorilla national park, is located in the southwestern Uganda, is a 33.7 square-kilometers park that protects the Virunga Mountains’ unique biodiversity and is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas, part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area, Mgahinga borders with Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park. The park boasts three dormant volcanoes like Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is a habitat for approximately 80 mountain gorillas, in two families that is Nyakagezi and Hirwa and other animal species are located in the park like golden monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks and among others, and over 100 bird species. The park has unique flora that includes lobelia, giant heathers and among others. On a Uganda safari, Mgahinga gorilla national park offers a more off-the-beaten-path gorilla trekking safari experience compared to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, with the stunning scenic views and diverse ecosystems.
Attractions in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Mountain gorillas.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to approximately 80 endangered mountain gorillas, divided into two habituated families that is Nyakagezi and Hirwa. The Nyakagezi family led by the silverback Mark, consists of over 10 members while the Hirwa family led by silver back Munyanga and has over 14 members. These gentle giants roam the park’s Virunga Mountains, feeding on bamboo, leaves and fruits. The visitors can trek and observe the mountain gorillas up close, experiencing their intelligent, social and playful nature. Mgahinga’s mountain gorillas are known for their distinctive thick fur, adapted to the high-altitude climate, and their vulnerability due to habitat loss, poaching and disease.
Golden monkeys.
Mgahinga gorilla national park’s golden monkey’s attraction offers a unique experience to track and observe these rare, endangered primates. The park is a home to nearly 3000 to 4000golden monkeys, known for their striking golden coats and playful nature. Visitors can follow guided treks to witness these agile creatures leaping through bamboo forests, feeding and socializing, providing an unforgettable encounter with one of the Africa’s most elusive and beautiful species.
Virunga Mountains.
The Virunga Mountains are wonderful popular attraction in Mgahinga national park, the total number of the Virunga volcanoes are eight in number that are shared in three safari destinations that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. There of the Virunga volcanoes are located in Uganda like Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyino, these conical extinct mountains are wonderful features to be sighted on a Uganda safari.
Bird species.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is a birders paradise with over 179 bird species that can be spotted on a bird watching safari, the park is a home to endemic species, forest birds, migratory species and the rest bird species. Some of the bird species in the park includes Ruwenzori turaco, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow-billed Barbet, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Olive Pigeon, Bronze Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, handsome francolin, and among others.
Animal species.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to the variety of animal species apart from the primates, the park is known for the animal species like forest buffaloes, forest elephants, golden cates, and side-striped jackals and among many others.
Things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National park.
Gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking is the famous safari activity in Mgahinga Gorilla national park. The park being the home of various numbers of gorillas that’s the reason to why most tourists visit the park to carry out gorilla trekking as to meet up with these gentle giant apes in their habitants. Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning at around 8:00 am with the briefing about the rules and regulations about gorilla trekking at the park headquarters.
After the briefing you can be grouped into the group of 8 members and each group can be led by the well experienced guide that is well experienced with gorilla trekking trails. Gorilla trekking takes a bout of 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas as these creatures keeps on moving in different areas looking for food. Along the way trekking you can come across different biodiversity that is such rewarding, and after finding the gorillas you can spend one hour to be with the presence of the gorillas as you are observing their feeding ways, how they hunt, watching how they make nests, taking their photos and recording their videos and among others using less flash cameras.
Golden monkey trekking.
Golden monkey trekking is a second intriguing safari activity that takes place in Mgahinga gorilla national park, this is where the tourists enjoy being in the presence of the golden monkeys. The activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations to follow during gorilla trekking, after you can be grouped into the group of 6 people and then go to the jungle to look for the golden monkeys. And once the golden monkeys are found you can be given you can be given time to be in the presence of the golden monkeys while observing them as they are climbing from trees to others, taking them pictures and others.
Visit the Batwa people
A safari becomes fully complete in Mgahinga gorilla national park after visiting the batwa trails, the batwa are the people that lived in harmony in the dense forest of both Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park as these people survived on gathering fruits and hunting. During the batwa trials that’s when the visitors get to interact with them, listening to their stories, learning how they prepare their traditional food, enjoying their music and dance and among others.
Volcano climbing in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Mgahinga gorilla national park gives an opportunity the tourists with the stunning volcano climbing experience to the 3 volcanic mountains namely Mount Gahinga that has 3,474 meters above the sea level that takes 6 to 8 hours to reach the top while having the views of the crater lake, Mount Muhavura that is 4,127 meters above sea level that takes 8 to 10 hours round trip where Mount Sabinyo has 3,669 meters above the sea level that takes 8 to 10 hours to reach the top where you will be explore 3 countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Congo. While exploring climbing safari in the park you spot the different wildlife species like golden monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, bird species, different plant species and others. The park offers you unforgettable safari experience through volcano climbing
Golden monkey habituation.
Golden monkey habituation in Mgahinga gorilla national park is a unique safari experience that allows visitors to witness these endangered primates in their natural habitat. Habituation helps researchers and conservationists to understand and protect these rare creatures, while providing an unforgettable safari experience for the visitors.
