Booking gorilla permits and Accommodation in Mgahinga

Booking gorilla permits and accommodation in Mgahinga. To confirm a gorilla permit for Mgahinga National Park, you need to book it first, and no gorilla permit is reserved without payment as a policy set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Mgahinga National Park, at the moment, has one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. This family used to wander into Rwanda in the past, making it quite hard to pre-book its gorilla permits. The Nyakagezi gorilla family of Mgahinga National Park is fully settled in Uganda, and permits are available for pre-booking.

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The number of gorilla permits open for public booking in Mgahinga National Park is 8 per day. Still, you need to book them in advance because they are restricted for conservation reasons.

Mgahinga National Park accommodations options are limited as fewer people used to visit this park in the past. Still, with this park's expanding list of activities, demand is growing. You can also book accommodation from Kisoro town since it's about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive away from Mgahinga National Park Ntebeko visitor center.

Besides gorilla trekking, Mgahinga National Park's 33.7 square kilometers, the smallest Uganda National Park, hosts endangered golden monkeys. This rare monkey species has a larger body structure than normal monkeys and golden brown hairs on its lower body. Although the golden monkeys are habituated, they still possess their natural traits because when with them, you keep on your toes. 

Excursions mountaineering on the three volcanic mountains in Mgahinga National Park, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhavura are also available. 

How to Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit for Mgahinga National Park

Choose a time for starting and ending the gorilla trekking tour in Mgahinga National Park. If you wish to do gorilla trekking on specific days for personal reasons, you can suggest this, too. State the number of gorilla permits you wish to book in Mgahinga National Park, considering that only one gorilla family is open to the public ( 8 gorilla permits).

The minimum number of days for gorilla safaris in Uganda is three days.

When you enquire from us at Encounter Africa Safaris about doing a gorilla tour in Mgahinga National Park with the above details, our tour consultant checks availability from the list of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

As soon as he or she becomes available, he or she get back to you in a short while because the status of the gorilla permits changes at any time without warning. The number of gorilla permits available in Mgahinga National Park is eight from the Nyakagezi gorilla family.

Purchase your gorilla permits before they sell out, especially those for the peak Uganda tourism season: June, July, August, September, December, and January. The demand for these gorilla permits escalates as the season draws closer, creating scarcity and frustration for late bookers.

For identification, forward personal details to add to your gorilla permit card, like your full name as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth, and so much more.

How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost for Mgahinga National Park?

From 1st July 2024, the cost of the Uganda gorilla permits, including Mgahinga National Park, will be $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents internationals, and 300000shs for East Africans. 

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit covers park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, mountain gorilla conservation, one hour with the mountain gorillas, community support, government tax, certificate, and much more.

Exclusions in the gorilla permit cost for Mgahinga National Park include porter hire, treats, packed lunch, and much more.

Which accommodation should you book for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

After booking the gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park, book the accommodation for your stay. The demand for gorilla permits in Uganda is just as high as accommodation bookings around Mgahinga National Park facilities.

Accommodation availability in and around Mgahinga National Park is choice-limited. The accommodations for Mgahinga National Park are categorized into up-market, mid-range, and basic facilities. 

Kisoro town accommodations can also be optional while on a gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park. Still, you have to rise early to drive for about one and a half hours to the Ntebeko visitor center. 

Mgahinga accommodation: Traveller’s Inn, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu, Community Camp, Mountain Gahinga Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort.

How Sure Can I Be To See The Mountain Gorillas In Mgahinga National Park?

There is a 99% chance of seeing mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park. Although only the Nyakagezi gorilla family is currently open to the public in this park, it is under the watch of the ranger guides. Each day, a team of ranger guides wakes up early to patrol the Mgahinga forest and find out where these primates spent the night and possible hangout points.

Mountain gorillas are always present in Mgahinga National Park, regardless of the dry or wet seasons.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family is fully habituated to human presence. The gorilla habituation process helps the mountain gorillas get used to human presence without altering nature. This process enables the tourists to be with the mountain gorillas in the wild for at least 1 hour. You have to follow the rules of gorilla trekking to accomplish this adventure.

If you fail to find the mountain gorillas, the refund policy of Uganda Wildlife Authority is invoked, and you may be reimbursed 75% of the total cost. You can still do the gorilla trekking adventure if you are available the next day.

How difficult Is gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is tiring because of the steep slopes of Mgahinga National Park resulting from volcanic action in this area. The topography of Mgahinga National Park is influenced by volcanic action, which led to the formation of three mountains in this park: Mountain Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo .

The trails in Mgahinga forest are bordered by dense undergrowth, huge tree trunks with large buttress roots, and draping vegetation that covers plateaus and ridges along the way. When trekking to find the mountain gorillas, these may obstruct the way. The ranger guide carrying a machete uses it to trim some of these vines to create a way.

Since less sunlight is let into the ground through the dense canopy, the trails are slippery and soggy from the regular rains that fall. This makes the trek to find the mountain gorillas challenging, so you need to wear waterproof boots and the proper safari attire in wilderness-friendly colors.

Carrying a walking stick to give you extra support while on the gorilla trek saves you from getting tired before finding the mountain gorillas.

Are mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park Aggressive?

Absolutely not. Mountain gorillas may have a daunting outlook, but they are very serene primates. Their dark-furred huge bodies are frightening at a glance, including their knuckle locomotion style. In reality, you realize how vulnerable these primates are by the elapse of trekking time. 

However, this does not guarantee they cannot charge at you when agitated. When angry, the mountain gorillas thump their chests, pull vines around them, and may move into hiding.

Upon witnessing such odd behavior about the mountain gorillas, do not panic, as this may escalate the situation. Stay calm and wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter, as sometimes the mountain gorillas may be teasing you, have power struggles, just playing, and much more.

Follow the ranger guides' advice because they know how to act when they witness certain behavior with the mountain gorilla.

What else to combine with gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Golden Monkey Safari in Mgahinga National Park 

You can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience. The golden monkeys are a special monkey species scientifically called Cercopithecus mitis kandti. These primates have a larger body compared to other normal monkeys.

Searching for the golden monkeys is exciting. Although habituated, their charming nature keeps you on your toes.

For golden monkey trekking, only one hour is allowed with a fully habituated troop of these monkeys. During the golden monkey habituation experience, four hours are allowed with a semi-habituated community of golden monkeys.

Excursion mountaineering in Mgahinga National Park 

Hiking any of the three Volcanic mountains in Mgahinga National Park is exciting. The walk through various vegetation zones that make up the slopes of these mountains is exceptional. Mountain Sabyinyo has its highest point at 3474 meters above sea level, Mountain Muhavura is 4157 meters above sea level, and Mountain Gahinga is 3474 meters above sea level.

The round trip to these mountains is about 8 hours. While on top of Mountain Sabyinyo, you get a view of Rwanda, Uganda, and the D.R.Congo border.

Birding in Mgahinga National Park

The list of birds in Mgahinga National Park is expanding over time, with more than 115 bird species recorded, including Albertine rift endemics recorded. Some birds you may spot in Mgahinga National Park include Handsome Francolin, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, and many others.

Nature walks in Mgahinga National Park.

Mgahinga forest is one of the prehistoric forests in Uganda that is worth exploring. The botanists have a lot to research about in this one of the few virgin forests in the world. The park hosts other primate species like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and many others.

Other close Uganda safari destinations 

Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi, each with an exciting view and tranquility away from the noisy city. While in Lake Bunyonyi, you can explore the 29 Islands of this lake, including Akampene Island, where girls who get pregnant out of wed-locks are abandoned to die or drawn.

Lake Mutanda provides a soothing environment where you can wind and unwind from the chaotic life while listening to the sound of the jungle.

Game drives are in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee safaris are in Kibale National Park, and so much more.

What To Pack For The Gorilla Safaris In Mgahinga National Park

• First aid kit with emergency items that you may need.
• Rainproof gear to wear while moving in the forest to search for mountain gorillas
• Safari boots to protect your feet from sharp items in the jungle that can hurt your feet.
• Extra clothes to change into after the gorilla trek.
• Garden gloves to protect your palms from stinging nettles you may touch.
• A torch to use for lighting when lights run out in the night. Most lodges in this area use solar energy for lighting and water heating. 
• Some cash to exchange into local currency to use it for purchasing any thing in ground.
• Use a camera to take photos of your experience with the mountain gorillas. These memories are worth enjoying.
• A long-sleeved shirt and convertible trousers to protect your body from harming surfaces in the jungle.
• A backpack to carry with your items while going in the jungle so that they don't scatter
• Sunscreen to protect your body from strong sun rays you may go through on your way to the gorilla trekking destination.
• Bug spray to spray in your room in case it is attacked by bugs.
• Travel adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your gadgets.
• Extra batteries to exchange with in case the ones you have run low while trekking the mountain gorillas.
• Some warmers like a sweater or shawl because it gets cold early morning and late afternoon. To avoid getting cold, you have to be with some warmers.
• Flipflops to change into after a long day in the jungle 
•  A pair of binoculars 

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