Are you looking for the possible ways of getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by road and air Transport for gorilla trekking safaris and hiking tours? The Park is among the best destinations for gorilla trekking in the southwestern parts of Uganda.  It is located in Kisoro district thus neighboring Virunga national park of DRC and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda.  The national park lies on 33.7sqkm of land thus becoming the smallest national park in Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla National Park was established in 1991 and was protected to conserve the endangered mountain gorillas so as they can freely move in the forest. The altitude of the park is 2,227m and 4,127m above the sea level thus is a cold place in the night and morning hours.

Accessing Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is found in the southwestern Uganda and this means it can be reached by both road and air transport means.

Road transport

When travelling to Mgahinga you will drive for 9-10 hours on Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro road to the park headquarters.

You can also reach the national park using public means of transport like the bus but you are not advised to use them because they may overcharge you. When you want to use public means, you can book the bus from Kampala bus station and they will take you direct to Kisoro town and on reaching Kisoro Town, you will hire a private taxi that will drive you to the park headquarters since public means are not accepted in the park.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is reached by visitors on self-drive and you will begin your journey from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to Ntebeko park headquarters. The trip may take you a whole day because there are stopovers starting from the equator, Igongo culture center and among others.

The trip is tiresome and it will take you almost a full day travelling by road to Mgahinga, however it is such an exciting trip with wonderful views of homesteads, local people, Kigezi hills, local markets, and banana plantations, farmlands and among others.

Air transport

There are domestic airline companies suited in Uganda and will arrange you proper flights to Mgahinga and they include the likes of Aerolink Uganda limited. These organize chartered flights every day from Kajansi Airfield or Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airstrip. Flights from Entebbe International airport begin at 7:00am and you will reach Kisoro airstrip at 8:10 am and returning from Kisoro airstrip sets off at 8:25am and you will reach Entebbe airport by 11:25am.

Aerolink Uganda limited also arranges flights to other destinations like Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Semiliki national park and among others.  You can decide to combine gorilla trekking with other activities like boat cruise rides, chimpanzee trekking, and hot air balloon game drives, among others.

You can also access Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda and this is the shortest and easiest way to reach the park. You fly from Kigali international airport and then link by road through Cyanika border to Mgahinga park headquarters and it is just 3- 4 hours’ drive. Flying from Kigali is an amazing option since it will take you such a short period of time by saving your transport and accommodation fee.

Accommodation in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national Park has budget, midrange and luxury accommodations which are available for staying in after you have reached the park premises and they include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mucha Hotel, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, 3 Way Gorilla Resort, Rugigana Campsite, Volcano Safari Lodge, Mutanda Island Lodge, Travelers Rest Hotel Kisoro,  Amajambere lwacu Community Camp among others