Mgahinga National Park

Where Silver Meets Gold

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey.

The park takes its name from “Gahinga” – the local word for the piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes.
The British administration declared the area a game sanctuary in 1930; it was gazetted as a National Park in 1991.
Mgahinga has one habituated transboundary Gorilla group. It is Uganda’s smallest National Park with a size of 33.7km^2.

Popular tourist activities include mountain gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking, nature walks including the gorge platform, bird watching and meeting the Batwa community. Popular tourist activities include mountain gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking, nature walks including to the gorge platform, bird watching and meeting the Batwa community. Tourists visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park make a 9-hour drive from Kampala to reach the park. The park is also connected by daily domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport and on to Kihihi Airstrip, which land at Kisoro Airport.

The area experiences two wet rainy seasons: February to May; and September to December. The average monthly rainfall varies from 250 mm in October to 10 mm in July. Primates present in the national park include mountain gorilla with around 30 individuals split between one habituated and two unhabituated groups, and golden monkey, an Albertine Rift Endemic whose range is now restricted to the Virunga mountains and one other forest in Rwanda. The checklist of 76 mammal species includes black-and-white colobus, leopard, African bush elephant, giant forest hog, buffalo, Cape bushbuck, black-fronted duiker, and several varieties of rodents, bats and small predators.

Of the Albertine Rift’s endemic birds, the following were recorded in the national park during surveys in 2004: handsome spur fowl, dusky crimson-wing, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, mountain masked apalis, Archer’s ground robin, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, strange weaver, montane nightjar, red-faced woodland warbler, Grauer’s swamp warbler, yellow-vented bulbul, yellow-throated long claw, white-starred robin, white-necked raven, white-napped raven, white-napped raven, white starred robin, western green tinker bird, wax bills, thrush and cinnamon bracken warbler, stripped breasted tit, streaky seedeater, stray seedeater, stone chat, speckled mouse bird, southern red bishop, Shelly’s dusky Crimsonwing, among others.

Gorilla trekking is a challenging experience as for both in Mgahinga as well as in Bwindi. The same model is followed as treks depart in the morning at about 9am and the length of the trek depends on the location of the gorilla family. Contacts last for one hour during which you stand 7 meters from the gorillas. After one hour, you return to the forest park HQ; you need to be physically and mentally prepared and adequately packaged.

Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.

As well as being important for wildlife, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivaled. The Batwa were self-sufficient – and visitors can see how during a fascinating tour with a Batwa guide to learn the secrets of the forest.

Gorilla Trekking

Following a trail of trampled and snapped vegetation across the slopes of the Virungas to spend an hour in the company of mountain gorillas ranks among the world’s most sought after wildlife encounters. Gorilla tracking starts daily at 08:00 at the Ntebeko visitors center and typically lasts 3-5 hours. Permits must be booked in advance.

Golden Monkeys

Though the gorillas hog the limelight, they are not the only endangered primates on the Virungas. The volcanoes are the last viable stronghold of the golden monkeys which can be tracked through its bamboo habitat on the slopes of Mt. Mgahinga. As with gorillas, contact time with this rare Albertine endemic is limited to an hour. Visitors who sign up for the habitation experience however can spend all day following this striking orange-coated monkey in the company of researchers.

Birding

Keen birders can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds in a range of scenic locations that include the Sabinyo Gorge; prime habitat for the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco, the saddle between mounts Gahinga and Sabinyo and the boundary trail at Ntebeko with its incomparable volcanic backdrop.

Volcanic mountain climbing

Mgahinga Gorilla NP rises upwards to three of the Virunga’s six volcanic summits all of which can be climbed in a day. Views from the peaks into Rwanda and Congo and towards the rift valley and Bwindi Impenetrable forest more than justify the effort. The park’s highest peak is Muhavura at 4,127m adorned by a crystal clear crater lake of 40m diameter and commands panoramic views along the length of the Virunga chain. Muhavura is the only mountain in Southwest Uganda to display the full range of altitudinal vegetation zones peculiar to East Africa’s highest mountains. The hike to the top passes through montane forests,, bamboo stands and heather groves, before encountering bizarre forms of giant lobelias and groundsels at the summit. Mount Gahinga (3,474m) is the smallest of the Virunga volcanoes and its bamboo-covered slopes rise up to a lush swamp filled crater about 180m wide. The jagged crown of Sabinyo (3,669m) bears several summits divided by deep gorges and ravines. Some steep and vertiginous sections including an ascent of a fixed ladder must be negotiated to reach the summit and enjoy the rare privilege of standing 3,669m high while in 3 countries at once.

Lake Bunyonyi

When volcanic craters blocked the Ruhuma valley west of Kabale town, the result was Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second deepest lake and deepest crater lake. Crammed with at least 20 small islands and encircled by steep terraced hills, it is unforgettably pretty and is a perfect spot to break the journey on the way to Mgahinga.

Ntebeko visitor center

The visitor center at Ntebeko is the trailhead for nature walks, volcano climbs, golden monkey and gorilla tracking. Exhibits inside the building explore themes relating to the Virunga environment. A trail along the adjacent drystone buffalo wall- built to keep animals out of neighboring farmland- provides good birding and views of the park’s dramatic volcanic backdrop.

The Batwa community

For generations, Mgahinga’s dense forests were home to the indigenous Batwa Pygmies, hunter-gatherers and warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine. Today , Batwa guides lead visitors through the lower slopes of the forests introducing them to their old home demonstrating the skills they used to survive in it. The highlight of the Batwa a trail is the descent into the Garama cave, the largest of numerous lava tubes with which the slopes of the Virungas are riddled. Once the home of the Batwa king, this is the setting for the finale to the Batwa trail; a memorable subterranean performance of music and dance. Full and half day trails are available.

Lake Mutanda

Another consequence of a volcanic dam, lake Mutanda lies 15km north of Mgahinga. A cluster of resorts on the northern shore 16km from Kisoro enjoy a fabulous view across the island-dotted waters towards the Virunga volcanoes.

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Where Silver Meets Gold

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