Are you looking for the best safari activities that you can do in Mgahinga National park? Africa adventure vacations  proudly informs you about the top 5 safari activities that you can do in Mgahinga national park. Mgahinga national park is known as the destination for gorilla trekking because it harbors endangered mountain gorillas however, there are other activities that you can do in the park in addition to gorilla trekking including golden monkey tracking, hiking among others. Mgahinga Gorilla National park is located in Southwestern Uganda in the district of Kisoro boarding with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mgahinga National Park offers a lot of attractive attractions including the rare golden monkeys and the endangered mountain gorillas. It is located in Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda and lies at an altitude ranging between 2227 meters and 4127meters. Mountain gorillas in Africa can only be spotted in 4 national parks and Mgahinga is among these parks. In Mgahinga national park, the mountain gorillas live harmoniously with the golden monkey, and visitors can book and see all the two unique primates of the world. Mgahinga National Park is part of the great Virunga Conservation areas that includes all the nearby parks of Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo. Volcanoes national park borders Mgahinga national park in the southern part and in the western direction Mgahinga borders Virunga national park. The volcanoes have got a lot of ecosystems that are striking and interesting for all the visitors to see

Mgahinga Gorilla Park since then has become an important pillar to Uganda’s tourism industry by attracting tourists who come for Mountain Gorilla trekking, however,  in  2008, the M23 rebels from the Democratic Republic of Congo tried to cause instability in the areas but these were later defeated guaranteeing security to visitors traveling to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see Gorillas. There are about 76 species of mammals and over 184 bird species recorded within Mgahinga National Park.

5 top activities in Mgahinga National Park

Golden monkey tracking safaris

The golden monkey is also one of the best safari activities that you can do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park because of the presence of golden monkey trekking. Golden monkeys can only be seen in Virunga Massif in the whole of East Africa. The block of Virunga Massif is composed of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Golden monkey trekking is done in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda of all the ten National parks that Uganda has. Similar to gorillas, golden monkey tracking start with a briefing, and tourists are allocated a particular group to trek. Golden monkey tracking makes Mgahinga one of the unique activities the fact that the rare species have only remained in this park. There are 2 communities of golden monkeys that are habituated and are available for tracking. The golden monkey trekking permit costs United States dollars 100 and the activity starts at 7:00 in the morning with a briefing and after you proceed to the forest to see gorillas. Upon seeing those visitors will be allowed only one hour to see and view the golden monkeys. It is only in Mgahinga and volcanoes national park where golden monkeys are found.

Trekking the Nyakagezi gorilla family

This is among the top safari activities in Mgahinga. The park has got only one gorilla family that is habituated and that is the Nyakagezi gorilla family group and these people do gorilla trekking in Mgahinga. Nyakagezi gorilla family group has about 80 individual endangered gorilla members Gorilla trekking safaris in Mgahinga National Park are done on food because of the topography of the park that is characterized by steep slopes. Gorilla trekking activity commences very early at 8 am with a briefing at Ntebeko before you start the journey to look for the gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one habituated gorilla family known as Nyakagezi that is available for gorilla trekking. This means that only 8 visitors per day are granted the gorilla permits to trek this group on daily basis. A gorilla trekking permit cost united states dollars 700 for  Foreign Non-Residents, then United states dollars for 600 for Foreign Residents, and Uganda shillings 250,000 for East African

Birding in Mgahinga

You can spot different kinds of species of birds found in forests, caves, and mountains. Over 175 bird species have been recorded in Mgahinga gorilla National Park. Different trails are available leading you to several bird species. The best trail is the gorge trail that lasts for 3 hours between Sabinyo and Gahinga mountains. The common bird species include Brown-crowned Tchagra, Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Batis, the Chubb’s Cisticola, Olive Thrush, Regal Sunbird, Cape Robin-chat, Blue-headed Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Black-headed Waxbill, the Chubb’s Cisticola, Streaky Seedeater, Kivu-ground Thrush, Banded Prinia, Dusky Turtle Dove, among others. Birding in Mgahinga National park takes place between Sabinyo Mountain and Gahinga Mountain and visitors can take about 4 hours on the birding trail with the help of a UWA ranger guide. Our company also has got knowledgeable safari guides with birding experience.

Mountaineering/Hiking

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has three dormant volcanoes which include Sabinyo Muhavura and Mount Gahinga. No tourist visiting Mgahinga Gorilla Park can miss these highly elevated mountains.  The three mountains stand at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can spare time to go to Mgahinga National park for hiking safaris. Volcano climbing in Mgahinga is the best adventure that you have ever heard of. You can decide to hike Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhavura mountains.  The mountain is part of the six volcanic mountains in the democratic republic of Congo. Mountain Sabinyo is good for climbing as it stands at 3669 meters and you will spend about 8hours climbing this steep-sided slop up to its peak/summit.

Visiting the long outstanding Batwa people

You can as well participate in cultural safaris to the villages and communities adjacent to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Different communities are surrounding the park the most unique is the Batwa people who once lived within the thin park before it was turned into a national park. These people are short and were depending on forests and fruits as hunters and fruit gatherers. The Mgahinga Batwa trail so experiences enriching with people learning the history of these people and some of the acts they were doing. Interacting with Batwa provides worth interesting activity as they narrate to you their traditional ways of live the fact that they were hunters, and food gathers and they used the forest mainly as the center of treatment where they could get herbs to treat themselves.

Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park

The best option will enable you to stay at an accommodation facility that overlooks the Virunga mountain ranges. The accommodation facilities in Mgahinga range from budget up to luxury accommodation facilities. In Mgahinga National park, visitors can stay at Lake Mulele Safari Lodge, Gahinga lodge, and Lake Chahafi resort.  Some visitors can decide to stay at various lodges and hotels in Kisoro and some can even stay at Bwindi lodges especially at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, gorilla forest camp, Trekkers tavern lodge, Bakiga lodge among others. You need to make you’re booking as early enough to ensure you get a better accommodation facility to stay at during your stay in Mgahinga gorilla National Park.