Things to see in Mgahinga National Park through Kigali

Things to see in Mgahinga National Park through Kigali. Mgahinga National Park is the smallest Uganda National Park, covering about 33.7 square kilometers of forested land. This park is contingent to Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, located on the northern slopes of Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Sabyinyo, part of the six Virunga volcanoes.

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Gorilla trekking is the main activity of Mgahinga National Park, with the Nyakagezi gorilla family being the only one open to public booking. The Nyakagezi family is known for wandering into Rwanda, which made pre-booking of the gorilla permits for Mgahinga a challenge in the past. This gorilla family is steadily living in Uganda and has permits available for pre-booking.

Golden monkey safaris in Mgahinga National Park get you closer to the exciting monkeys in the jungle. One needs a golden monkey permit to access unique monkeys with a population of about 2,000 to 4,000 living in the world.

Hiking the Mgahinga volcanoes is a rewarding expedition. You can take a guided walk on the slopes of Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Sabyinyo. 

You can cross into Uganda via the Gatuna and Cyanika border from Kigali, Rwanda. Still, if you need a visa as a travel document to enter Uganda and Rwanda, the East Africa visa is the best choice. The East African access allows you entry into at least two East African countries where Rwanda and Uganda are members. 

What to Do In Mgahinga National Park from Kigali

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking is the main activity of Mgahinga National Park. At the moment, one gorilla family is open to public booking. The adventurous nature of the Nyakagezi gorilla family in the past made it hard to pre-purchase the Mgahinga National Park permits. This gorilla family used to cross into Rwanda, so the gorilla permits of Mgahinga National Park were sold on the availability of the mountain gorillas.

One must have a gorilla permit before being allowed to trek in Mgahinga National Park. To book a gorilla permit for Mgahinga National Park, you must have a date when you hope to do the trek. A maximum of 8 permits are allowed each day for all gorilla trekking families in Uganda.

 Check the availability of gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park, which we will gladly help you with at Encounter Africa Safaris if you contact us. Upon receiving your inquiry, our tour consultant will check availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list.

Upon finding the gorilla permits, we get back to you as soon as possible because the status of these permits changes at any time. A gorilla permit is only booked with payment on a first-come, first-served basis.

 Golden monkey safaris

In Mgahinga National Park, you can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience. Golden monkey trekking is a safari where tourists follow a fully habituated golden monkey family to spend one hour with them. The golden monkey habituation experience is an adventure where tourists follow a semi-habituated golden monkey troop for four hours with them.

Golden monkeys are a special monkey species with golden brown hairs on their lower bodies. The body size of the golden monkeys is larger compared to normal monkeys. Even though they are habituated, golden monkeys still possess natural traits, so you keep on your toes during the adventure.

You need a golden monkey safari permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Birding in Mgahinga National Park

 Although birding in Mgahinga was less attempted in the past, ornithologists have been able to list over 115 bird species as residents of this forest. When walking or hiking in Mgahinga National Park, opportunities to spot Albertine rift endemics are more open. The gorge trail with montane habitats that traverse Mountain Sabyinyo is the prime birding spot of Mgahinga National Park.

Some birds you may spot in Mgahinga National Park include the Malachite sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, Alpine Chat Kivu, handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, and others.

The long list of birds in the Mgahinga National Park area is attributed to montane forest vegetation, regenerating pasture, Afro-Alpine moorland on the upper slopes, and others.

Nature walks in Mgahinga National Park.

Other than gorilla trekking, you can take a guided walk in Mgahinga National Park, where you may encounter other primates like blue monkeys, grey-checked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, and others.

Watch out for several birds that grace the forest and other wild animals.

The Batwa trail and Garama cave visit

Beneath the Mountain Muhavura in Mgahinga National Park is a 342-meter-long cave called Garama, where the Batwa used to carry out different activities. During a guided visit to the Batwa community, you can visit this historical cave, a council chamber for the former occupants of the Mgahinga forest, the Batwa.

Each Batwa walk is guided by a Mutwa guide who takes you through the forest life of these people. During the mountain gorilla conservation plan, The Batwa were evicted and are now scattered around the Virunga area. They depended on the forest for survival, hunting, and collecting fruits to supplement their meals.

The Batwa can only show their past in demonstrations, folk songs, and dances. At the end of the Batwa trail, you may be treated to a traditional dance or folk song, but this needs prior arrangement.

Mountaineering in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park has a backdrop of three volcanoes that are part of the six Virunga Volcanoes. The Muhavura, Gahinga Mountain, and Sabyinyo Mountains are responsible for the conditioning of this park.

Mountain Gahinga, which locally means 'pile o' stones," can be" hiked in about 6 hours return trip from the Ntebeko visitor center. This hike goes through a lush swamp located in the crater summit. You climb through bamboo and enjoy the green surroundings along the way.

Mountain Sabyinyo locally means old man 'can be hiked in 8 hours return trip. This mountain has three peaks. At the start, you ascend to the first peak, then the second peak is along the narrow ridge that looks into the deep gorges, and height three can be arrived at on a steep and muddy scramble.

 At the top of Mountain Sabyinyo, you see the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo simultaneously from the same point.

Mountain Muhavura is capped by a crater, but you go through beautiful alpine vegetation and incredible panoramas. Using the Muhavura trail, you get to the quickest and shortest ascent route, where stunning plants can be seen.

On a clear day, you can see the five Virunga Volcanoes, the Rift Valley, and Lake Edward Mountain Rwenzori.

How do you get to Mgahinga National Park from Kigali?

By Road

You cross into Uganda from Kigali, Rwanda, via Cyanika or Gatuna borders to Kabale, to Kisoro, and to Ntebeko, which is the headquarters of Mgahinga National Park. The road leading to Mgahinga National Park is winding due to volcanic activities in this area, which led to the formation of different landforms you must negotiate.

Having a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle makes the way more accessible to go through since the routes get messy at times. The drive from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park is about 5 to 6 hours.

By air

Kigali airport to Entebbe airport is another way to get to the top of Mgahinga National Park. Connect with the daily domestic flights to Kisoro airport, and hire a transfer vehicle from Kisoro airstrip to your lodge.

 Charter flight arrangements are available at Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe Airport for 

What accommodation to book For Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park has limited accommodation choices, but more accommodations are available in Kisoro. Kisoro town is about 14 kilometers from Ntebeko, taking approximately 30 minutes.

Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Volcanoes Camp, Traveller’s Inn, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle

How Safe Is Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is safe as there are well-trained park rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the mountain gorillas, other forest inhabitants, and visitors to this park. The park authorities coordinate with other Uganda security agencies to keep law and order in and around Mgahinga National Park.

Any activity in Mgahinga National Park must be guided by at least two ranger guides with some protective gear like a machete to trim vines and a rifle in case of an emergency. The ranger guides are also in constant radio call communication with security on the ground in case backup is required.

For gorilla trekking, the ranger guides walk up early to follow the mountain gorilla, where they nested, and patrol to establish if snares are set in the forest before tourists are let in. 

Tourists are briefed before any activity in Mgahinga National Park so that they keep the rules of the walk in the jungle.

What is the Age Limit For Primate Activities in Mgahinga National Park?

 15 and over is the age limit for gorilla and golden monkey safaris of Mgahinga National Park. This is because of the nature of the topography of this area. The Mgahinga National Park topography is influenced by several highlands around this area, including three volcanic mountains. These mountains form the backdrop of Mgahinga National Park, separating it from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

During the gorilla trekking adventure or golden monkey safaris, one has to hike, but you must have some fitness that children below 15 years may not have.

The time of finding the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park is hard to determine as it is dependent on factors prevailing in the forest, like the proximity of the mountain gorilla feeding area, weather conditions of the day, the pace of other tourists, and others. Some patience is required, which children below 15 years may not have.

What are the Guidelines for Safari Activities in Mgahinga National Park? ( Gorilla trekking)

• No flash photography is allowed when taking photos for the gorilla trekking adventure. This scares the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.
• Never eat or smoke before the mountain gorillas or other inhabitants because it may harm their health. Wild animals must look for their own food and not depend on human supply. 
• Littering in the forest is forbidden because it alters the natural setting where mountain gorillas feed. The mountain gorillas are vegetarian, and this may slowly reduce their food.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas, do not surround them. This makes them feel ambushed. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive to intruders in their vicinity and can charge in case provoked.
• Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole about 30 cm deep if you wish to do a long call. You need to cover everything beyond recognition.
•  Anyone below 15 years is not allowed to do gorilla trekking because the time of locating the mountain gorillas has yet to be discovered, and some patience is needed to complete this trek.
• Volunteer to stay behind if you catch any communicable infection like coronavirus, flu, cough, or cholera. This is because the mountain gorillas can catch human diseases easily. They have a DNA that is about 96% similar to that of humans.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of about 8 meters from them. To reduce the chances of passing an infectious infection to them.
• Never spit on the vegetation because it's food for the mountain gorillas. It is unhealthy and disgusting, too.
• Wear a mask and hand sanitize as an after-coronavirus period precaution. You must change into a clean mask as you approach the mountain gorillas.
• Do not make noise or sudden movements with the mountain gorillas because it may scare them. The gorillas are often afraid of unfamiliar noises in their presence.
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is because they are habituated to be in the presence of human beings for just that hour.

Contact us to plan your safari to Mgahinga National Park today.