Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This is a miraculous national park where gold meets silver. The smallest national park in the Pearl of Africa has one of the rarest apes in the world and plenty of unique wildlife that can are caught sight of by tourists who visit the park premises. The park is not only known for being a mountain gorilla home but also protects the lives of other amazing primates like golden monkeys, mammals, lush flora and other amazing attractions like the Virunga mountains.
History of the Park
Turning back the hands of time in the good old days of Mgahinga reveals that the beauty of this national park manifested when it was declared a game Sanctuary by the British government in 1930.During the 1990 research that was made, it was established that the indigenous people highly welcomed the idea of turning the sanctuary into a national park and this was greatly achieved in 1993.
While individuals had anticipated economic growth with the restructuring of the area from a game sanctuary to a national park, the change affected them immensely as the settlers were evicted from the deforested areas of the national park in 1992.
The year 1993 gave birth to exo tourism where tourists would engage in some activities like gorilla trekking, hiking and cave experiences.
The activities offered by the park were extended in 1994 and it was possible to trek Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family although it had a habit to crossing borders to DRCs virunga.
Hard times came in for the park during the Rwanda genocide as some parts of the park were destroyed and used as retreat centres for the fighters.
Uniqueness of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Apart from the mountain gorillas, Mgahinga national park has a huge number of spectacular gold-furred monkeys called golden monkeys. These beautiful monkeys cannot be spotted anyway else in Uganda apart from this wonderful national park.
Mgahinga is the smallest national park in the country but its premises protect the lives of huge apes called mountain gorillas. This park is among the 4 amazing national parks in East Africa that boost with having the amazing mountain gorillas.
The three conical mountains of Virunga are a huge wonder to tourists.
This amazing national park sets high above in the sky as it raises with an altitude that is between 2,227 and 4,127 meters above the ground.
Gorilla Safari Experiences
At Monteero Safaris, our gorilla tour packages are flexible in the sense
that you have a chance to incorporate other wildlife safaris.
Attractions Found in the Park
Mountain gorillas
Mgahinga national park is a perfect destination for viewing these amazing huge apes in their habitats. There are about 100 gorillas that wander in the pristine forests of Mgahinga however Nyakagezi is the only gorilla family available for trekking. On the trekking day tourists should be assured that the strain of jumping over thick vegetation and shrubs is paid off by the views of the beautiful black fur human-like mountain gorillas.
Golden monkeys
Trekking is an amazing and healthy practice but it becomes more enjoyable when tourists chance looking at the gold-haired monkeys. Mgahinga is on of the rare national parks that still protect the lives of these endangered beautiful monkeys. Tracking these awe inspiring monkeys is both interesting and less tiring as they feed from the low areas of the Virungas.
Watching these fabulous monkeys surely pays off especially for tourists who engage in the activity in the morning and chance the opportunity of watching the yellow sun rays shine brightly on the golden bright fur of thes small forest creatures.
Birds
The park offers amazing lush green forests that favour the presence of birds to roam and fly over and beyond in the park. The park has about 200 bird species with some being only endemic to the Albertine rift. Some of the birds that birders get to enjoy on a birding safari include Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori baits, paradise flycatcher, etc.
Volcanoes
The beauty of this amazing tiny national park is collected and sumed up by the three extinct volcanoes that raise highly above the ground in quest to touch the sky that are found in the park premises. The park boasts having Sabinyo, Muhavura and Mount. Gahinga whose peaks can be reached at using different hiking trails.
It is vital for tourists to note that Sabinyo can only be hiked from Uganda and its peak gives tourists a golden chance of being in three different countries at the same time as it straddles Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. While hiking, tourists get to enjoy views from birds, gorillas, wildlife among other scenic views.
Batwa people
The Batwa were always hunters and cavemen for generations and hence forests were their homes for a long period of time. These indigenous forest humans were evicted from the forests however the magnetic force between them and their ancient homes is still high hence they live around the premises of the park. Tourists who visit the park get to visit their homes and enjoy their traditional dances, food and other cultural practices.
Caves
These caves were the aftermath of the eruptions of the volcanoes that happened many years ago. The beautiful caves like Garame cave were used by the Batwa as retreat places during the war and a sacred place as prayers were conducted from this place. It is vital for tourists to enjoy the stories of the cave and wander about the beauty it holds.
How to get to the park?
By road
Getting to the park by road gives off a bumpy and winding experience to tourists especially the road between Kisoro and Kabale. It takes about 8 hours from Kampala / Entebbe to the park.
By air
Tourists who have limited time can book a scheduled flight from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip then use a car to reach the park.