Planning a photography safari in Mgahinga National Park in 2024-25

Planning a photography safari in Mgahinga National Park in 2024-25. Mgahinga National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, is the smallest park in Uganda and is under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of setting the park entrance fees and the gorilla trekking permit, and they are the only ones who can make the necessary changes.

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A photography safari in Mgahinga is one of the best ways to capture the beauty of the national park as you participate in different activities. After purchasing the permits and paying the park entrance fees, you are free to take as many photos as you can but remember that if you wish to take videos, especially of the gorillas, you will need first to seek permission and pay for the filming permit that is officially got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. 

What to pack for a photo safari

A good packing list is important for your comfort some of the things that you need to take with you on your photo safari include a camera and we suggest the shoot, extra batteries, lenses, lens cleaner, a bag to carry the camera equipment, a tripod a bean bag, binoculars are also a necessity especially if you are visiting the park for birding, clothes and these include long-sleeved shirts and trousers (please try as much as possible to avoid jeans) and the clothes should be of neutral color for example green, brown or khaki, insect repellent, sunscreen and a sunhat to protect your body from insect bites and the sin, hike boots if possible, waterproof and ankle length boots are recommended, thick socks and gaiters, garden gloves and other essentials like cash for personal purchases and tips, toiletries, first aid kit and a day backpack among others.

What to see in Mgahinga National Park

Before planning a photography safari to Mgahinga, you need first to find out the activities carried out in Mgahinga National Park and these include gorilla trekking, nature walks, taking on the Batwa trail, mountain climbing, and golden monkey trekking. 

Gorilla trekking: Gorilla trekking is the main activity carried out in Mgahinga, and this has made it one of the most visited national parks in Uganda. Located in southwest Uganda, Mgahinga has one gorilla family that is trekked throughout the year. This is the Nyakagezi gorilla family group, which has 15 members led by the male silverback. Since there is only one family to trek in Mgahinga, few gorilla permits are printed daily, so tourists are advised to book in advance to participate in the trekking experience. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga starts early morning at the park headquarters with a briefing from the tour guides about the rules that need to be followed when trekking and the trek starts immediately. 

Some of the rules that need to be followed while gorilla trekking in Mgahinga include no eating when with the gorillas, sick people, especially those with flu and cough are encouraged to avoid trekking, a maximum of 8 people are allowed to trek the gorilla group per session and this is to reduce on the large crowds that might disrupt the gorilla behavioral patterns and the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.

Gorilla trekking involves climbing the terrains found in Mgahinga and it might take between 1 to 8 hours depending on the location of the Nyakagezi family on the trek day. The guides will be in constant contact so that the family is easily located. When you get to the family, every group gets to spend an hour with the gorillas, and this is the time when you get to take videos and photos, but note that when with gorillas, flash photography is not allowed, and you will be asked to turn it off.

You need to purchase a gorilla trekking permit to be able to participate in the gorilla trek exercise and this needs to be done in advance due to their high demand since Mgahinga has only one family, few are printed per day. The cost of the gorilla permit depends on the category of tourists you belong to. For example, foreign residents pay $700 per person, foreign non-residents pay $800 per person, and East African citizens pay $ 300 000UGX and these permits are only valid for a day and expire after the one hour spent with the gorillas.

Mountain climbing: Mgahinga has three volcanic mountains that are perfect for mountain climbing: Mount Gahinga, Muhavura, and Sabinyo. Mountain climbing in Mgahinga can be carried out all year round; however, the best time is during the dry season when the routes are smooth. Mount Muhavura at a height of 4157 meters is the highest among the three, followed by Mount Sabinyo at 3645 meters and Mount Gahinga at about 3474 meters. Hiking up Mount Muhavura lets you see other features like the Rwenzori ranges, Lake Edward, Virunga volcanoes, and Bwindi National Park. Mount Gahinga, being the smallest among the three, takes you through the bamboo forests, and once you get to the peak, you have views of the stone pile gardens and the crater filled with swamps. Mount Sabinyo on the other hand is shared among the three countries and at the peak, you will be standing in all three countries including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. All three volcanoes can be hiked in one day and some of the beautiful scenery you get to see includes the different bird species, primates like golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, animals like elephants and antelopes among others.

Golden monkey trekking: This is the second most participated activity in Mgahinga after gorilla trekking. Golden monkeys are why Mgahinga is sometimes referred to as where silver meets gold because of the gold coating on their bodies. Besides Mgahinga, Golden Monkey trekking can also be carried out in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. About 6 golden monkeys habituated families are open for trekking, and these can be seen all year round, with the best time during the drier months of June to September and December to February. Golden monkey trekking also starts with an early morning briefing from the guides and the same rules followed while gorilla trekking apply to golden monkey trekking. Trekking will take between 2 to 5 hours, and this is because of their playful nature, which sometimes makes it hard to find them. One of the best ways is to follow the bamboo shoots left behind by the monkeys, but most importantly, make sure that you follow the guides and armed ranger rules.

Tourists interested in Golden Monkey trekking need a Golden Monkey permit to participate. It is at 40,000UGX for East African citizens and $100 for foreign residents and non-residents. However, If you are interested in the Golden Monkey habituation experience, the permit is $140 for foreign residents and non-residents.

Guided nature walks: The guided nature walks are usually carried around the footnotes of the Volcano Mountains within the national park. The walk will take you through the bamboo forests, through the gardens on an agricultural tour, and through the Rugezi swamp some of the exciting things that you get to see while on your nature walk include bird species, primates like gorillas, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys, tree species, butterflies and animals like forest elephants among others.

The Batwa trail walk: Mgahinga National Park was previously a home to the indigenous Batwa people before it was gazetted off in 1991 to protect the wildlife and reduce poaching. The Batwa (pygmies) were warriors that survived hunting and gathering wild fruits, honey, and plants for medicine and their stay within the forest can only be experienced on the Batwa trail. The Batwa trail is led by the Twa guides who take you through the forest, telling different stories about their culture, and the trail was organized to support the Batwa community. You will be taken through the hunting skills fruit gathering, enjoy some music and dance, and visit the Garama caves, a sacred place used by the king and this was where the food was kept during scarcity and battles planned during their wars with their neighbors.

Bird watching: Mgahinga is a known birding destination in Uganda with 184 recorded bird species and some of the bird species you should look out for include the western green tinker bird, Kivu ground, Rwenzori Batis, stripped breasted tit, Olive pigeon, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin-Chat, Brown woodland warbler, Bronze sunbird and Black-headed waxbill among others. Bird watching in Mgahinga can be carried out all year round, but the best time is during the wet months of March to May when the migratory birds are around, and note that birding is best carried out in the morning.

Accommodation in Mgahinga National Park

If you are planning on having a photography safari in Mgahinga, there are several options to choose from and while others are near the park, others are found within a driving distance from the national park in Kisoro district. The accommodation is categorized into three categories: basic, mid-range, and luxury facilities, giving tourists a wide range of facilities. Given the fact that Mgahinga is the smallest national park in Uganda, most of the accommodation is located in the surrounding areas and some of which you can choose from include Mgahinga Gorilla Lodge, Mgahinga Community Camp, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Mgahinga Climbers Rest camp, Lake Mutanda safari Resort, Travelers Rest House, Kisoro Tourist Hotel and Mucha cottages among others. Note that the rooms are always in high demand during the dry season and need to be booked in advance.

How to access Mgahinga

Mgahinga National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and can easily be accessed by flying or driving. It is located at the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in the Virunga region, giving it easy access from both countries. 

Road: Mgahinga is an 8 to 10-hour drive from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, to the Ntebeko gate, which is the main entrance to the national park, regardless of the direction that you are coming from. Ntebeko gate is accessible from Kisoro town and there is a signage showing where the park headquarters are. You can choose to either self-drive or book through a trusted tour operator that will help you organize transport using 4x4 safari vehicles that are fit to be used on Ugandan roads. You can also decide to use public transportation, and some buses plow the Kisoro route daily from Kampala. You can also drive from Kigali to Mgahinga, considered the easiest and fastest route since it only takes 6 hours.

Air: Domestic flights can be chartered daily from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, where you land before continuing the journey by road. This is the fastest but most expensive way to get to Mgahinga, and the only downside is that you do not get to enjoy the beautiful scenery that tourists driving experience.

When to visit Mgahinga National Park for a photography safari

Mgahinga is an all-year-round destination with both the dry and wet seasons. The best usually depends on the activities one is interested in, and due to the ever-changing weather in Uganda, it is sometimes hard to predict. The best time recommended is during the dry season (peak season) between June and September and December to February although these months still have rains. During the drier months, it is easier to trek through the forest since the routes are not muddy or slippery, which is the case with the wet months of October to November and March to April, with April and October being the wettest months. 

You can visit Mgahinga any time of the year for your photography safari. Contact us for more information.