Eco-friendly gorilla safaris in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is a good place to go for an Eco-friendly gorilla safari in Uganda with over 200 gorillas and one habituated gorilla family. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga with 10 members headed by the dominant male silverback and is open for trekking all year round. One may wonder why there is only one family in Mgahinga this is because Mgahinga is located at the border of Uganda with Rwanda and DRC and many of the gorilla families used to migrate among the three countries and it is only recently that the Nyakagezi gorilla family settled in Mgahinga hence the one habituated family.

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An Eco-friendly gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga is one that you shouldn’t miss out on and we are here to help you organize the safari as an exciting and Eco-friendly one for you. Get in touch with us to plan your safari on time and you will not only have fun but contribute to the conservation of the Mountain gorillas in Mgahinga and also ensure that their natural habitat is well taken care of. As you plan for this safari, there are a few things that you need to know about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and these include:

A gorilla permit in Mgahinga

The gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for African residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African Citizens. Mgahinga National Park has only one gorilla family and therefore only 8 trek permits are issued per day. Gorilla trekking permits have to be bought in advance to allow proper planning of the safari.

Gorilla permits in Mgahinga need to be purchased in advance since they are limited in number and Encounter Safaris is here to help you with the purchase. Get in touch with us with your details and our staff will be ready to help you purchase the gorilla permits and organize your Eco-friendly gorilla safari to Mgahinga National Park.

Why you should go for an Eco-friendly gorilla safari in Mgahinga

Mgahinga is a national treasure, home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family, and one of the only two safari destinations in Uganda where gorilla trekking is carried out. This is the smallest national park in the country and has one gorilla family making it the best place to go for a gorilla safari for tourists who don’t like large crowds. 

Trekking rules and regulations

Eco-friendly gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is possible if you listen and follow all the rules and regulations that were set up to protect the endangered Mountain gorillas. These rules are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and all trekkers are to follow them. The rules and regulations for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga include:

• The trekking age limit in Mgahinga National Park is 12 years and above. Anyone who is below the age of 12 will not be allowed to trek gorillas and age verification will be carried out before the permits are issued to each individual.
• Mgahinga has only one gorilla family and a maximum of 8 people trek the family per day to protect the gorillas.
• Each group of trekkers has an hour with the Mountain gorillas but note that the time can be cut short on advice from the lead guide if there is an issue with the Mountain gorillas.
• You are not allowed to feed or eat when with the Mountain gorillas.
• You have to keep a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the Mountain gorillas.
• There are no toilets in Mgahinga National Park and in cases where you need to use one, dig a 30cm hole and cover it up well after with all that you have used so that the gorillas cannot find it.
• Tourists who are sick will not be allowed to trek gorillas in Mgahinga National Park and this is to protect the mountain gorillas because when one falls sick, it can gravely affect the entire gorilla family.
• You have to ensure that you turn away from the Mountain gorillas when sneezing and coughing to avoid infections and cover your mouth as well.                      

What to pack for an Eco-friendly safari to Mgahinga

Below is a list of the most important items that you should pack for the Eco-friendly gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park.

Clothes: Clothes are extremely important because you need to be comfortable to have the best Eco-friendly gorilla trek safari in Mgahinga National Park. The right clothes to pack should be of neutral color avoiding colors like blue, white, and camouflage. The clothes to bring include long-sleeved shirts for extra protection from tree and branch scratches and to keep you warm, long trousers make sure that they are not jeans, Garden gloves to protect your hands from thorns and blisters, thick socks for warmth, ankle-length strong hike boots which should also be waterproof and comfortable. 

Snacks and water: Although meals are served throughout the safari, you need to pack energy bars and your favorite snacks to eat during the trek. Note that you will not be allowed to eat when with the gorillas but if you get hungry, there are spots where you can safely eat from with advice from the lead guide. A refillable water bottle is the best to carry for your safari and if possible, we advise that you get a foldable one.

Gadgets: Gadgets are the heart of the safari because, without them, you will not be able to keep your memories alive. The first gadget that you need to pack is your camera and all the necessary equipment that comes with holding a camera. You are going to be tracking through the forest and some of the things that you will need with your camera include a tripod, lenses, extra batteries, storage devices, and a waterproof camera bag. You will also need to carry a pair of binoculars so that you can see all the wildlife around the forest, and your phone, and do not forget to carry charging adaptors.

Cash: Even after fully paying for your gorilla safari to Mgahinga National Park, you still need to bring in cash for purchases, tips, and paying for extra activities that are not part of the safari package. It also comes in handy in case of emergencies.

A waterproof backpack:  the backpack will help you carry all the essential things that you need on your safari including insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks, water bottles, personal items, a camera, and many more.

Other items you can bring on your safari include insect repellent, a gorilla permit, a waterproof rain jacket, a warm sweater, fleece, a First aid kit, toiletries, recognition books, and adjustable gaiters.

Other Eco-friendly activities carried out in Mgahinga National Park

Golden monkey trekking: After gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking is one of the highly participated activities in Mgahinga. Mgahinga is sometimes referred to as the place/area where the silver and gold meet and this is because of the presence of the Golden monkeys. Mgahinga has more than 100 golden monkeys with only 6 habituated gorilla families that can be trekked throughout the year however the best time is during the dry season. Golden monkeys are also endangered species and need to be protected and that is why you will need a golden monkey trekking permit issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be able to access the golden monkeys.

Bird watching: Mgahinga is home to over 184 recorded bird species and some of the bird species to look out for include the olive pigeon, Brown woodland warbler, stripped-breasted tit, and the western green tinker bird among others. Birding in Mgahinga is best carried out during the wet season experienced from March to May and October to November when the migratory bird species fly into the country.

The Batwa trail: The Batwa trail will take you through a memorable cultural experience led by the Batwa warriors. The trail will give you an insight into how the Batwa people lived during their stay in the forest, learn how they hunted, gathered fruits, and also took care of their communities when there were attacks. The Batwa people have an exciting culture you will enjoy the visits to the Garama caves before ending the trip with dancing and singing at the community villages with the locals.

Guided nature walks: These are led by experienced guides who know the best routes to use for the guided nature walks. The guided nature walks will take you through the forest where you get to see numerous wildlife including golden monkeys, bird species, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and L’hoest monkeys among others.

The cost of the Eco-friendly gorilla safari in Mgahinga     

The cost of the Eco-friendly gorilla safari to Mgahinga is affected by different factors including season of travel, accommodation, size of the group, and other safari activities on your itinerary.

Season of travel: Two seasons of travel are the dry/peak and the wet/low season. The dry season is an expensive time for tourists to travel and this is because many tourists travel to Uganda during this period since it is the best time and in turn, prices are hiked on the different commodities and services including accommodation and transport. The wet season on the other hand has few tourists and reduced costs making it the best time to travel if you are on a budget.

Accommodation: There are three categories of accommodation including basic, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities. The choice that you make depending on your budget will determine whether you have a budget-friendly Eco-friendly safari or a luxury one.

Other safari activities: After the purchase of the gorilla permit, other safari activities that you would wish to add to your itinerary are paid for separately. The more activities you include in your safari, the more you are going to spend on your safari and vice versa.

The size of the group: large groups of tourists traveling for an Eco-friendly gorilla safari tend to pay less for the safari because the safari costs are shared and solo or private safaris tend to cost more because all the costs fall on one person.

Tips and personal purchases: These greatly affect the cost of the gorilla safari and even though they are minor, they still contribute to the cost of the safari. Tips to the staff helping with your safari to show gratitude (driver guides, porters, lodge staff, and many more), personal purchases for souvenirs, and purchase of the packing list items increase the cost of the safari.

Accommodation in Mgahinga National Park

Due to the small nature of Mgahinga National Park, most of the accommodation is located in the nearby towns near the park and these come in three categories including basic, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities. Accommodation is always in high demand mostly during the peak season and needs to be booked early enough to get the best deals. Some of the accommodation facilities that you can book for your Eco-friendly gorilla trek safari in Mgahinga include Travelers Rest House, Mgahinga Climbers Rest Camp, Mgahinga Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mutanda Safari Lodge, Mucha Cottages, Mgahinga Community Camp and Kisoro Tourist Hotel among others.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga can be accessed by road from Kampala and it takes 8 to 9 hours. 4x4 safari vehicles are used to get to the national park with a few stopovers for lunch and stretching of legs. You can also access Mgahinga by road from Rwanda by using either the Kyaninga border or the Gatuna border. This will take about 4 to 5 hours a much shorter drive as compared to driving from Kampala. 

Domestic flights can also be charted from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip. From the Airstrip, you will be able to connect to the national park by road in a 4x4 safari vehicle for the remaining journey. Contact us to plan your safari today.