Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Mgahinga is Uganda’s least national park – fair 34 kilometer square. The park is incredibly stunning. Behindhand the theatrical volcanic skyline, opposite Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and to the left-hand of Bunyonyi and Mutanda – lakes so picturesque you can’t trust people don’t have an idea about them – Mgahinga is at the frontline of Uganda’s wilderness experiences.
A larger population of monkeys lives in this national park; forests and woodland montane support their life. The well-known mountain gorilla family of Nyakagazi lives in this forest.
Where is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is, also called Mgahinga National Park, located southwest of Uganda and is one of the best Uganda safari destinations. It sits between Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura, bordering Virunga National Park in the south and Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda.
From the town of Kisoro, the park is 15 kilometers away by road and almost 60 kilometers west of Kibale town.
February to May is the wet rainy season in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, as well as from September to December. In October, the average rainfall ranges from 250 mm to 280 mm, and 10 mm to 12 mm in July.
Mgahinga National Park is one of the smallest National Parks in Uganda; hence, it receives few tourists compared to other Uganda safari destinations such as Queens and Bwindi; even though Mgahinga is small, it still offers authentic possible safari experience in the entire region, popular safari experiences include golden monkeys tracking, nature walks, Uganda bird watching safari tours, mountain gorilla tracking, mountain volcano hiking, and cultural tours. It would take a 10-hour to get to Mgahinga National Park from Kampala city. If you would like to hop on a short flight, it is just two flights from Entebbe Airport, which lands at Kisoro Airport.
Mgahinga National Park comprises Albertine Rift montane Ruwenzori-Virunga heaths with tree moorlands, bamboo forest, and an alpine zone at 2,227 to 4,127 m.
Apes existing in Mgahinga National Park consist of mountain golden monkeys and gorillas, a beautiful mountain gorilla with around 30 members divided amongst one habituated and two unhabituated groups, and the alluring golden monkey, an Albertine Rift Widespread, whose variety is now controlled by the Virungas and one other forest area in Rwanda. The list of 80 mammal types embraces black-and-white colobus, black-fronted duiker, giant forest hog, bushbuck, bushpig, buffalo, leopard, and several varieties of rodents, bats, and elephants.
There are many safari lodges inside and outside of the park for travelers, irrespective of their budgets.
One of the luxurious lodges in Mgahinga is Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
