Activities in Mgahinga National Park
March 14, 2026
Activities in Mgahinga National Park
Activities in Mgahinga National Park, Mgahinga National Park is known as the smallest National Park in Uganda that covers about 33.9km.sq and is located in the Southwestern part of Uganda. Mgahinga National Park is among the few national parks in the world that harbour mountain gorillas, the rest being in Bwinidi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and Virunga National Park Rwanda. Mgahinga is also blessed with unique primates known as the Golden monkeys which are only seen here in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
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Mgahinga National Park is blessed with unique features like Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabinyo that are situated in the Virunga Ranges which cut into Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Visitors are always thrilled when they hike on these Virunga Mountains.
A safari to Mgahinga National Park is a unique experience for any traveler seeking adventure and new experiences. Here are some of the top things to do in Mgahinga National Park;
Gorilla Trekking:
Gorilla trekking is the main activity carried out in Mgahinga National Park. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga starts in the morning with a short briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters.
After briefing, you will begin your trek into the jungle with an experienced ranger guide. The trek can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas as they usually move from place to place in search of food. Along the way, you will encounter other primate species, birds and a variety of plant species. Upon finding the gorillas, you will be allowed 1 hour with them which allows you to watch them play, feed, learn their behaviour and take photos and videos of them.
You will then return to the park headquarters, where you will be given a certificate that shows you have successfully completed your gorilla trekking experience. Permits can be purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority or you can reach out to Encounter Africa Safaris to help book your permits in advance.
Golden Monkey Trekking:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only park in Uganda that harbors golden monkeys. Trekking starts in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters, and after the briefing, you will head into the forest with your ranger guide in search of the golden monkeys. This can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the location of the golden monkeys .
Trekking golden monkeys is not as strenuous as gorilla trekking because golden monkeys live in lower areas. Once the golden monkeys are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them which gives you an opportunity to play, feed, jump from one tree to another, take photos and record videos of them.
Mountain Climbing:
Mgahinga National Park is home to three dormant volcanoes offering great hiking adventures for visitors. One of the volcanoes is Mount Gahinga, which rises to about 3474 meters above sea level. It is the smallest of the volcanoes and the hike usually takes 6 hours round trip depending on your pace. Once at the summit, hikers can see a crater filled with giant lobelia plants and swamp vegetation.
Mount Sabyinyo rise to 3,669 meters above sea level, and hiking to its summit takes approximately 8 hours round trip. Along the trail, hikers pass through steep ridges and dense montane forests, where they may encounter wildlife such as Golden Monkey, duikers, forest elephants, and many bird species. One of the most unique features of this hike is that the summit sits at the meeting point of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allowing visitors to stand in three countries at once.
Mount Muhabura is the highest volcano among the three volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It rises to 4,127 meters above sea level, and the hike typically takes about 10 hours. During the trek, hikers move through different vegetation zones, and from the summit, they can enjoy spectacular views of other Virunga volcanoes, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Edward, and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Bird watching:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to over 115 recorded bird species, which makes it one of the top birdwatching destinations in Uganda. Mgahinga offers several good bird watching spots, including the bamboo zone, the montane forest, and the scenic Gorge trail between Gahinga and Sabinyo.
Bird lovers have the chance to spot a wide variety of species. Some of the birds commonly seen here include the Rwenzori batis, brown-crowned tchagra, regal sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, streaky seedeater, bronze sunbird, dusky turtle dove, olive thrush, Cape robin-chat, red-faced woodland warbler, alpine chat, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, and the montane double-collared sunbird.
Batwa Trail experience:
The Batwa Trail Experience offers visitors a chance to learn about their traditional way of life and rich cultural heritage. As you move along the trail, a Twa guide demonstrates their traditional skills such as hunting, honey harvesting, and gathering food from the forest. Visitors also learn practical survival techniques, including how the Batwa made bamboo cups and how they created fire by rubbing two dry sticks together.
Along the way, you will visit Garamba Cave, which once served as a food storage area and a hiding place for the Batwa people. The trail concludes with storytelling and lively cultural dance performances presented by Batwa women, giving visitors a deeper appreciation of their history and traditions.
For more information and bookings, feel free to reach out to our team of experts at Encounter Africa Safaris.
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