Mgahinga national park, is located in the southwest part of Uganda in Kisoro district, it’s the second national park in Uganda inhabiting the mountain Gorillas and the rare golden monkeys.
The park is a large eco system covering about 434km2 with an adjacent park in Rwanda and Congo. The park is found high in clouds at an altitude of 2,227m and 4,127m.
The Park is famous for the mountain Gorillas and the endangered Golden monkeys. The park protects 300 mountain gorillas. The park is not only a primate and apes habitat but it also protects the birds, trees, the park also has wildlife including the bush pigs, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, golden monkeys, jackals, duikers and many more with an incredible culture encounter which covers the slopes of Muhavura, Gahinga, Sabinyo at the northern virungas.
The park also combines with Bwindi impenetrable forest, Lake Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi .at this park is where one can trek both the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys.
Mgahinga national park is the only national park in Uganda where one can be able to buy mountain gorilla permits at the park or in Kisoro. The park is a must visit with a lot of things to encounter, hiking, climbers, primates, birders.
Activities at the park include.
Gorilla trekking
The park has habituated Gorilla families, although the family usually crosses to the neighboring countries of Rwanda and democratic republican of Congo but of recently they have settled in Uganda. Gorilla in the forests are trekked for 30minutes-4 hours depending on the location of the mountain Gorillas. The habituated family is the Nyakagezi group.
when you encounter with the mountain Gorillas your given one hour to spend with the mountain Gorillas as they carry out their day to day activities such as feeding, displaying their nests for night use, playing, grooming other and many more.
It’s an amazing experience to encounter in the wild with the mountain Gorillas face to face. As you trek the mountain Gorillas you’re most likely to see the golden monkeys as a bonus and a lot of bird species. The trek begins at 8am in the morning with a short briefing but with a minimum age of 15 years.
Golden monkey trekking
The park as you had read above is where gold meets silver. The park protects the golden monkeys in Uganda and the rest can be visited in Rwanda.
These are rare monkeys and can be trekked in a group of 8 people for 30minutes to 3 hours and only is allowed to spend one hour in the wild with the Golden monkeys as they carry out their day to day life experience.
The golden monkeys are habituated and not shy with human approach, they weigh 10 to 25 pounds, with golden bodies’ cheeks and tails with black limbs. Trek the beautiful primates with great sight and enjoyable experience.
Birding
Since the park is a forest it protects a number of birds even the rare birds that are only found in Africa. The guide will accompany you to locate and help you spot out a number of bird species including theses the fly eagle, red necked spur fowl, Rufous chested swallow, southern Red Bishop, yellow-throated long claw and many more.
There over 200 bird species recorded these include Ibis, pin tailed whydah, speckled mouse bird, stone chat, wax bills, yellow-vented bubul, white-napped Raven, paradise fly-catcher and many more. Although bird experts realize that their not enough various species.
A guide will accompany you and help you to spot a number of bird species.
Culture
Visit the Batwa people and the local community, the Batwa people are these are people who first lived in the Forest feeding on honey and animals. Visit the ancient through visiting the Batwa pygmies who lived in the forest hunting and gathering food.
The guided walk is both nature walk since you encounter and learn about the Batwa people how they hunted, gathered honey, herbs, clos, berries and many more.
Volcano climbing.
In the park is where one can combine all the activities including the Virungas volcanoes and one doe not add any expense such as hiring porters ,tents, packed food.
Climbing the volcanoes gives you an opportunity where at times you can enter three countries on mount sabinyo. The hike to the volcanoes take 3 days as well as have a rest at Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda.
Climbing the peaks is an unforgettable experience in the wild of silver and gold.be sure and let us know about your interest and can include it in your itinerary.
Accommodations
There accommodations and lodges all ranging from luxury, budget and midrange the lodges include sabyinyo silverback lodge, mount Gahinga lodge, Virunga lodge.