GORILLA
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This National park is nestled in the south-western corner of Uganda
bordering Rwanda the land of thousand hills and Zaire in the district of
Kisoro covering an area of almost 33.7 kilometers squared making it
Uganda’s smallest National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is truly defined as a home to the
mountain gorillas note Nyakagezi is the only gorilla family at this park it
comprises of different members with five silver backs two females with
juveniles and infants each individual is easily identified by name namely
Bingingo, Mark, Nyiramwiza, Kaboka, Majambere, Munezero,
Ndungutse, Mutagamba and many more.
The ecological system of Mgahinga National Park
The park comprises of three extinct volcanic mountains namely
Mgahinga, Muhabura and Sabinyo their peaks lie along Uganda’s border
with Rwanda with extensive swamps that lie in saddles between the
volcanoes.
Vegetation
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park consists of a typical rain forest
comprising of a montane tropical rain forest a bamboo zone an
Ericaceous belt and alpine zone that habits many fauna species.
Fauna Species
The park supports a widely variety of wildlife animals recorded namely
endangered mountain gorilla’s, blue monkeys, black and white colobus,
leopards, elephants, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, buffalo, bush-buck,
black-fronted duiker and several varieties of rodents’ bats and small
predators.
Bird life
Over 185 bird species have been recorded in the area including almost
twelve endemics among these are handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco,
stripe breasted tit, black kite, crowned horn bill, dusky turtle dove to
mention but a few.
The highlight of visiting Mgahinga National Park is to engage in to
gorilla trekking activity.
Gorilla Trekking
The highlight of visiting Mgahinga National Park includes gorilla
trekking this activity starts in the morning around 8:00 at Ntebeko
visitors center that typically last for 3 -5 hours depending on the location
of this great ape
Once gorillas are seen guests are given maximum of one hour to observe
them up close playing, feeding, grooming hence an ultimate experience
in the wilderness.
Permits can be booked in advance through the Uganda Wild Life
Authority headquarters office in Kampala, Kisoro headquarters office or
through trusted tour operators because to enjoy this activity one should
posse a valid Gorilla permit
The cost for gorilla trekking permit is 800US$ for the foreign nonresident and
700US$ for the foreign resident 300000UGX for the East African
residents
However, there are other notable activities offered at this park namely
bird watching, Batwa trail experience, guided nature walks. Hiking of the
mountain and many more pay a visit for the everlasting memories in the
wilderness.
How to Reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
By Use of Air transport
By air Mgahinga National Park can be reached from Entebbe
international airport or kajjansi Airfield near Kampala city. The flight
takes approximately one hour and thirty minutes to Kisoro airstrip, then
you will be transferred by the driver guide to the park.
By Use of Road Transport
Using road transport, you are advised to use 4×4 tourist vehicle because
of some roads are in poor conditions and the drive is to take
approximately 8 to 10 hours depending on the traffic starting from
Kampala to Masaka, Mbarara, kibale to Kisoro and then drive to
Mgahinga National Park.
