Super User 25 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Gorilla Trekking Safari In Mgahinga National Park Wildlife In Uganda

Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a captivating and unforgettable experience that more than repays the effort needed to reach the bamboo forest. Sitting amidst the shaggy gorillas, up to three times as bulky as the average man is a lasting memory that you will experience on your gorilla safari into the Virunga Region. Despite their fearsome and aggressive appearance, these gentle giants are very peaceful and gorilla trekking is very safe.

About Mgahinga National Park;

The park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries. At just 33.7 km2, Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, located in the southwestern corner of Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests.

On a gorilla visit, most hikers are surprised by the unfathomable attitude of the great apes to human presence. This experience brings in something different from the usual wildlife encounters. These great apes can leave their daily job and take time to study the human presence with their soft brown eyes staring deeply as if seeking a connection with humans.

The habituated gorilla group in this park is called the Nyakagezi, which consists of 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 2 infants. Gorilla tracking is an intensive experience that can take the whole day. The guide leads you through the gorilla’s world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way. From past sightings, there are high chances of meeting the mountain gorillas. When tracking mountain gorillas, travelers should know that mountain gorillas are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and experience of your trackers and guides, as well as luck.

Registration and briefing for gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National Park commence at Ntebeko at 07.45 a.m. Tracking starts at 08.30 a.m and can take 3-8 hours. The trackers and guides have helped to habituate the gorilla groups and know them intimately. They will take you to the area where they left the mountain gorillas the day before. Before leaving they may be able to suggest how long the hike might be.

Other Tourist Attractions and Activities in Mgahinga National Park;

Other scenic sights and adventurous activities at Mgahinga include;

Volcano Hiking or Mountain climbing:

Mgahinga National rises upwards to three of Virunga's six volcanic summits, all of which can be hiked in a day. The Peaks provide beautiful scenic views of Rwanda, Congo, Albertine Rift Valley, and Bwindi impenetrable Forest. The Park's highest is Muhavura at 4,127 meters, and the access passes through montane forests, bamboo stands, and heather grows, before encountering bizarre giant lobelias, and groundsels at the summit.

The summit is adorned by a crystal clear crater lake, 40 meters in diameter which provides panoramic views of the Virunga chain. Mount Gahinga is the smallest of the Virunga Volcanoes, and its bamboo-covered slopes rise to a lush, swamp-filled crater, about 180 meters wide. The jagged crown of Mount Sabinyo bears several summits, with the highest at 3,669 meters whilst in 3 countries at once - Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo at once.

Golden Monkey Trekking:

The Volcanoes are also a habitat for the golden monkey which can be tracked through its bamboo forests on the slopes of Mount Gahinga. As with gorillas contact time with these rare primates is limited to one hour, however, visitors who opt for the habituation experience can spend the whole day following the striking orange-coated monkey in the company of researchers.

Birding:

Bird lovers can seek rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest birds in a range of scenic locations that include the Sabinyo Gorge, the saddle between Mounts Gahinga and Sabinyo, and the Boundary Trail at Ntebeko, with its incomparable volcanic backdrop.

The Batwa People Trail Experience:

For centuries, Mgahinga's dense forests were home to the indigenous Batwa Pygmies, hunter-gatherers, and warriors, who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine. Today the Batwa guides lead visitors through the lower slopes of the forests, introducing them to their old home, and demonstrating skills they used to survive in it. The highlight of the Batwa trail is the descent into Garama cave for a subterranean performance of music and dance.

Ntebeko Visit Center:

This is a trailhead for nature walks, volcanic climbs, golden monkey and gorilla trekking. Exhibits inside the building explore themes relating to the Virunga environment. A Trailhead along the adjacent drystone Buffalo Wall (Built to keep animals out of the neighboring farmland) provides good birding and views of the Park's dramatic volcanic backdrop.

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