Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is only 38 kms in size is the Ugandan part of the bigger Virunga Conservation Area, which is a jointly protected area with DR Congo and Rwanda. It includes three extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabinyo, 3.669 meters, Mount Gahinga, 3.474 meters and Mount Muhabura 4.127 meters. “Mgahinga” is named after Mount Gahinga plus the initial of Mount Muhabura.

Species

The vegetation is typical of Afro Montana areas, with a consistent bamboo Forest. There are 76 mammal species recorded, including Buffaloes, Elephants, Bushbucks, Golden Monkeys, Leopards. Some 115-bird species have been recorded, including Rwenzori Turaco, Crowned Hornbill, Black Kite and Crowned Crane. Mgahinga hosts a population of Golden Monkeys and a few families of Mountains Gorillas.

 Activities and Attractions:

Each of the three volcanoes can be climbed with a day trip of hiking, without special mountain equipment. Visits are organized to the Garama Cave, near the Park Head Quarter in Ntebeko, which is 432 meters in length and was once inhabited by the Pygmy Tribe.

The main attraction in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is gorilla tracking to the only habituated family of mountain gorillas found here, which in 2005 migrated into Rwanda but later returned and permanently settled here. A number of one day Nature Walks are available from the gate at Ntebeko (the Sabinyo Gorge trail and Rugezi Swamp trail), especially for bird watching activities.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also offers opportunities of Golden Monkey Trekking where you can follow the beautiful monkey around as they jump from branch to branch of the bamboos.