Best things to find and do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The hills bound municipality call it Kisoro town is where you can find Mgahinga national park, the park at the intersection of 3 countries featuring 3 Virunga volcanoes. Mgahinga gorilla national park gives a buffet of rainy forests in mixed with the bamboo forests with mountain gorillas, golden monkeys found themselves here as permanent residents.

Yes, it is not common in the wild to find both golden monkeys and Mountain gorillas sharing the same home but this is only possible in this wonderful park of Mgahinga found in southwestern part of Uganda. As of now, the park is well accessed with bother well maintained airstrips and the good road networks that can lead you to this dream destination.

As we mentioned earlier, Mgahinga national park found at the intersection of the three countries with included inclusive. Bounded by the republic of Rwanda in the southern direction and the Democratic republic of Congo in the west, Mgahinga is the best place where you can visits whenever you are in these three countries. It is even easier to access the park from Rwanda or Kigali international airport and thus you can decide to visits it through Kigali.

While planning your safari to Mgahinga gorilla national park,  you need to get informed that the park gives much more than gorillas and golden monkeys and therefore, the vibrant Holiday Safaris gives  brings you the best things that you can do in Mgahinga gorilla national Park.

Best thing 1 to do: Mountain or volcanic climbing in Mgahinga Gorilla Park

Yes, it is true that the Mgahinga gorilla park is comprised of various forest that the topographical landscape of the park in unavoidable. The park contains all the three volcanoes that are part and partial of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes shared between Uganda, Congo and Uganda. These volcanoes were named according to the local community’s origin and translation and these include Sabinyo, Muhavura and Gahinga. Literally, Sabinyo means the teeth of the old man, Muhavura is literally translated as the guide while Gahinga means the heap of stones.

All these 3 volcanoes, Muhavura is the highest peak because and visitors climbing up to the top of the volcano will have a clear view of all other volcanoes found in Virunga region.  This is also the volcano that can be seen far away from the kisoro town. While for visitors hiking to the top of the mounts Sabinyo, you will be in three countries while on top of it because it an entry point of both Rwanda and Congo while emanating from Uganda.

All the Mgahinga Volcanoes can be hiked in a day in order to reach to the top of each volcanoes. Yes, sometimes you need to first do some physical exercise to climb these mountains in order to avoid altitude sickness.

Best Thing 2 To Do: Tracking Golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

 Visiting mountain gorillas is somehow crazy with the visitors seeing the two great apes in the same park on the same safari. The park harbors both endangered mountain gorillas and the Rare Golden monkeys. Compared to gorillas, the golden monkey are slim and they move fast and the visitors tracking the golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorillas Park will need four hours of interaction with them. The interaction comes with the visitors taking photos of them, learning how best they live in the world and generally how they feed and taking care of their young ones. Golden monkeys for tracking are so much habituated meaning that you can see them without them getting scared and run away. You will first attend the briefing session before you trail them up to their bamboo forest vegetation in the foothills or slopes of the Virunga volcanoes where they do stay since they depend largely on young bamboos as their daily food. You will need to move with full batteries to keep your cameras charges, have the right wearing gears such as the water proof hiking shoes, gloves in order to have an amazing  golden monkey tracking experience in Mgahinga gorilla National Park.

Best Thing 3 to Do: Batwa Cultural Trail in Mgahinga National Park

Firstly, the land occupied by the current Mgahinga national park was occupied by the short stouted African people called the Batwa pygmies who lived in the forest and in mountain depending on fruit gathers and then hinters. Then the need to protect the forest and its inhabit such as the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys and other mammals that occupied the forest came in, thus these people were displace and relocated while other remained around the park boundaries and have since cooperated with the  government agencies in conserving and protecting the gorillas . Others have been employed as local guides and porters whom tourist you usually hire and give some tips at their wish. The Batwa cultural trail provides the wonderful experience as you move through the communities of these people lead by the local guide from Batwa  as you explore the Garama Cave which of historical significance to the history of the Batwa people.  The way how the people traversed and lived the forest and establish themselves uphill as you listen to their historical narratives is so interesting and presents to you the best of them.

Best Thing 4 To Do: Mgahinga National Park Gorilla trekking

 Most tourists and the world know Mgahinga as the destination that keeps some of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas and in fact most visitors have flocked the park to see the gorillas through the gorilla trekking activity and therefore, gorilla trekking is the best thing and the best activity that is done in Mgahinga gorilla National Park. Usually, trekking gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla park starts early in the morning and it can last from two to 4 hours depending on where the gorilla family has been spotted or located. Gorillas are fragile species and therefore visitors to see them must be very cautious and follow the rules put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Some of these rules and guidelines require visitors not to come close to gorillas and you should  maintain the 7 meter distance even when you see the gorillas, still in case you’re having some communicable disease, you will be stopped from seeing or trekking the gorillas. The gorilla trekking is done for visitors who are aged 15 years and above and those with cameras when taking photos, you must make sure that your flash is off. There are higher chances of seeing the gorillas in Mgahinga National park but it is not 100% guarantee that you will see them.

Best Thing 5 To Do: Birding safari in Mgahinga National Park

Birding safaris are possible in Mgahinga Gorilla National park because of the availably of bird species. The park features more than 180 bird species and these the birding species in Mgahinga Gorilla Park are organized and conducted all the year around.

The various bird species of Mgahinga Forest National Park include Rwenzori Batis, Cape Robin, Striped breasted Tit, Olive Pigeon, Shellys Dusky Crisonwing, Greater Double Collard Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrust, Malachite sunbird, Archers Robin Chat, Kivu Ground, Black Headed Waxbill, Handsome Francolin, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Rwenzori Turaco, Western Green Tinker bird, Scarlet-tufted sunbird, Dusky Turtle Dove and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler among other bird species. Come for this activity with your ready birding list for easy identification , birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can go up for the whole day and you will leave your booked lodge with packed lunch when going for a birding day in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.