MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
GORILLA AND GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING
Mgahinga National Park stretches on 33.9 square kilometers making it the smallest National park in Uganda and the other location for trekking gorillas in Uganda. The park was founded in 1991 to conserve the unique primates of Gorillas and golden monkeys plus other wildlife like forest elephants, and 180 bird species and 12 Albertine endemics including Regal sunbird, Blue headed sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco.
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It is a home to the Nyakagezi family which is the only family that habitats in the steep slopes of Mgahinga volcano, the family includes the rare silverbacks, only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to trek the gorillas a day. The fact that the park is located on the mountain makes the trek a little bit straining.
Apart from Gorilla and golden monkey trekking, clients can participate in other activities around Mgahinga national park like Volcanoes hiking, birding, nature walk , Batwa experience among others.
Activities Around Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking in mgahinga national park
Finally the long awaited day has come for you to face the gentle giants. The day begins with an early morning breakfast before you set off to UWA headquarters which is the starting and briefing point for the trek, don’t forget to carry your packed lunch as we are not sure of the time you will be coming out of the forest.
After your registration and briefing by the ranger guides, you will be assigned a family to trek and a guide to accompany you to the dense forest. Following the different trails, hunt for the gorillas and them being wild animals moving in the forest from place to another to look for food and construct nests there specific location is hard to predict which makes the trek a little straining with the hikes up and down lasting for about 9 hours.
The pain and the strain is long forgotten once you have traced the gorillas, as they vigorously welcome you with the gigantic humming sound as the babies try to hide in their parents and swing from one tree to the other and the mothers nurse the babies, the males are visible in the trees building nests for rest and an overnight and the sightings, the experience have a left never to forget memories, what a redeemable experience that is/
After your one hour of enjoyment with the gorillas, return to the park headquarters for your certificate, return to the lodge for an overnight and dinner.
Tips for Gorilla trekking
- Wear fully covering clothes like long trousers and a full sleeved shirt
- Wear hiking boots and gaiters are important.
- Carry along your cooler box with enough water like 3 litres of water or more and packed lunch.
- Hand gloves to protect you from pricking of the thorns.
- Hire a porter to carry your bag and act as your support when the terrain gets tough.
- No flash light is allowed when taking photos of the gorillas.
Golden monkey trekking in mgahinga national park
Golden monkeys are among the unique species in the world and in Africa, they can only be found in Uganda and Rwanda due to the fact that the countries share the Mgahinga volcano. The golden monkey trek starts just like the gorilla trekking, with a briefing and registration at UWA headquarters and head to the forest with your guide.
Different from gorillas, the golden monkeys stay at the lower side of the mountain which makes the trek less straining and less time consuming as compared to the gorilla trekking and it could take 30minutes to a 1 hour to find the monkeys. Upon sighting the gorillas, you are allowed 1 hour time with the monkeys observe the monkeys as they feed, jump from one tree to the other, and play, nurse their babies among others.
After your one hour experience return to the headquarters for a certificate of participation
Volcanoe hiking in mgahinga national park
Mount Mgahinga national park is a shelter to the three dormant volcanoes including Mount Mgahinga, Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabinyo
The 3 volcanoes are easily sighted from all corners of Kisoro district with Mgahinga being the shortest at 3474 meters, then Mount Sabinyo at 3669 meters and mount muhavura as the tallest among the three at 4127 meters above sea level
Clients who are interested in hiking the volcanoes can hike any of the 3 mountains, it takes 6 hours to hike mount Mgahinga, 8 hours to hike mount Sabinyo and 10 hours to hike mount muhavura.
The hikes take you through the afro montane vegetation and herbage with scenic views of wildlife like the golden monkeys, forest elephants, and bird species and by luck you could meet the gorillas’ enroute.
You will need to carry along a picnic lunch and feel free to take a breath and a rest when you feel strained. At the top of Mount Mgahinga, you will find a crater and different vegetation like giant lobelia hike down to the bottom of the volcanoes with your driver waiting for you.
birding in mgahinga national park
You can’t list the best birding spots in Uganda and miss out the Mgahinga National park that is a home to over 180 bird species and 12 Albertine endemics including Regal sunbird, Blue headed sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco.
You can sight the birds during your nature walk, Gorilla trek and Golden monkey trek while at the lodge you are able to see the birds, just move along with your binoculars and the birding field book to tick the different species you have seen to remark your trip.
Come along with a birding guide book and binoculars to spot the birds, tick any bird you have seen on your trip.
Batwa Cultural experience in mgahinga national park
Among the different tribes that have settled on the outskirts of the forest include the Batwa people who initially stayed in the middle of the forest but in order to conserve the forest they were forced to exit the forest. The Batwa people lost their original homes and became squatters around the park and in order to earn some money they started up an experience to promote their culture and daily living.
You are welcomed by the Batwa elders who take you through their daily life experience like hunting, gathering food and fruits, collecting insects, they will entertain you through dancing, singing, storytelling among others.
Nature walk in mgahinga national park
The nature walk in Mgahinga national park is a day activity that goes through the demarcated trails of the forest bringing you to a closer encounter with the different wildlife that have found a home in the forest canopy like the gorillas, golden monkeys, elephants, baboons, and over 180 bird species and 12 Albertine endemics including Regal sunbird, Blue headed sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco among others.
The activity is done in an accompaniment of the guide ranger and you could need a walking stick for support where you feel weary and tired.
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