Mgahinga National Park
MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
This is the smallest and one of the recently opened up Parks in Uganda. The park covers northern slopes of the three Virunga volcanoes of Mt Muhavura (4,127m), Mt Gahinga (3,474) and Mt Sabinyo (3,745m). It is found in the extreme south west of the country on the borders of Congo and Rwanda and each of these countries has established National Parks in the area to protect the tropical rainforest and wildlife of the Virunga region namely- Parc National des Virunga and Parc National des Volcans respectively. Mgahinga National Park is 33.7 sq km, a small portion (8%) of the total area covering the three countries. Park has great biological importance because throughout the climatic changes of the ice ages, mountains such as these provided protection for mountain plants and animals, which moved up or down the slopes as climate became warmer or cooler. The Virungas are home to a large variety of wildlife, including the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas. The vegetation of Mgahinga is typically afro-montane, with a forest belt, a bamboo zone, and an alpine zone. Many local herbs grow in the park, including a giant tree-sized relative of the herb St. John’s Wort.
The Park supports thirty nine recorded mammal species, although it is believed that there may be fifty more species that remain unrecorded. Besides the Gorilla, the other big mammals already known to exist in Mgahinga Park are the forest elephants, buffalos, leopards and golden monkeys. Also one hundred and fifteen bird species have been recorded among which are the Side breasted Tit, Rwenzori Turaco, Cinnamon bracken Warbler, Kivu ground Thrush and handsome Turaco. Among the bird species found here, twenty are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley region in which Mgahinga falls.
The mountainous terrain of Mgahinga makes Gorilla tracking a hard exercise and visitors should be prepared for long hours of hiking, therefore good physical condition is necessary. Because Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases, for their safety no person with signs of communicable diseases like cough, flu or running nose will be allowed to go tracking. While tracking, please feel free to ask guides to slow down if they are moving too fast and if you need a rest. Feel free to stop and look at birds or flowers, the guide will ensure that you are not left behind. The climate around Mgahinga can be rather cool especially in the morning and evening, and we recommend that you bring with you a light jacket or poncho.
The habituated Gorilla family in the Park is the Nyakagezi group and has about 15 members. However, seeing Gorillas in Mgahinga is not as easy as in Bwindi because the Gorilla families move across the borders of Congo and Rwanda. The gorillas are usually resident in Uganda during the months of April to June and October to December. If these dates do not suit your time of vacation, we can organise similar tours in the neighboring parks in Rwanda and Congo, or Bwindi, Uganda's foremost Gorilla Park. In addition to Gorilla tracking, it is possible to enjoy a one day's hike to the summit of Mount Muhavura or ‘the Guide’ in the local language the highest point in the park. At the summit, you will be rewarded with wonderful views of the other Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi and the Rwenzori Mountain peaks can be seen from its summit. The hike takes about 8 hours round trip and covers 12 kilometers.
Less difficult hikes are available to the top of Mount Gahinga or to the breathtaking Sabinyo gorge, golden monkey walks, a historic Batwa (pygmy) cave, village walks through the Batwa area along the edge of the park, and a unique swamp walk are all interesting activities for those who have extra time to spend in the area.
It is also possible to arrange to visit the gorillas in the Nkuringo area in the southern end of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
If you have interest in expanding your knowledge of culture in the area, visits can be arranged to the local community to see Batwa –pygmy culture with a chance to see the blacksmith and basket weavers at work. Locally produced craft items can be purchased along the road at various craft markets and from the Park tourist office in Kisoro.
Getting there
Mgahinga National Park is 14km from Kisoro town which is about 510km from Kampala. The area is inhabited by the agriculturalist Bafumbira people.