Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits in Uganda’s far southwestern corner, in Kisoro District, where the border meets Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At just 33.7 square kilometres, it is Uganda’s smallest national park, but it covers the Ugandan slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, and forms part of the same Virunga Massif ecosystem as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the DRC.
Gazetted in 1991, Mgahinga protects Afromontane forest and bamboo zones that are home to a single habituated mountain gorilla family, the Nyakagezi group, along with endangered golden monkeys and the Batwa, the forest’s original inhabitants. Because the gorillas and monkeys range freely across an unfenced border, sightings on the Ugandan side are never guaranteed on any given day, which keeps Mgahinga quieter than Uganda’s larger primate-trekking parks.
What to Expect
Mgahinga is best reached from Kisoro town, a roughly 8 to 9 hour drive from Kampala or a short flight to Kisoro Airstrip. A gorilla trekking permit costs around $700 per person, and because only one gorilla family is habituated here, permits should be booked well in advance. Most visitors pair gorilla trekking with golden monkey tracking, a volcano hike or the Batwa Trail over two to three days.
Activities & Wildlife
Uganda’s smallest national park packs in gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hikes and Batwa cultural walks across the slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes.
- Gorilla Trekking
- Golden Monkey Tracking
- Volcano Hiking
- Batwa Trail
Mgahinga is home to the Nyakagezi group, a single habituated mountain gorilla family that ranges across the park’s bamboo and montane forest. Treks climb the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes and can take anywhere from two to eight hours round trip, depending on where the family is feeding on a given day.
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga lies at the very southwestern tip of Uganda, outside the town of Kisoro. The drive from Kampala takes roughly 8 to 9 hours on tarmac road, so most visitors either fly into Kisoro Airstrip from Entebbe or combine the park with a longer overland circuit through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, about 2 to 3 hours away. The park is also an easy border crossing from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, making it a convenient add-on for travelers already trekking gorillas there.
When to Go to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Best Time to Go
Best time to visit Mgahinga
The drier months, June to September and December to February, give the firmest trails and the clearest views of the three volcanoes. March to May and October to November are the wetter months: trails turn slippery and the volcano summits are often in cloud, but gorilla and golden monkey tracking still go ahead and the forest is at its greenest. Because Mgahinga sits at high altitude, mornings are cold in every season, so pack layers.
Know before you go
- Permits are limited and must be booked ahead. Gorilla permits are issued per group per day, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. We arrange permits as part of every itinerary.
- Minimum age is 15 for gorilla tracking. Golden monkey tracking and the volcano hikes have their own age rules, which we confirm when you book.
- Health matters. If you have a cold, flu or any contagious illness you may be refused on the day, because gorillas can catch human infections. Keep your distance, speak quietly and never eat near the animals.
- Fitness. Treks can be short or long depending on where the group fed the night before, and the terrain is steep, muddy and high. Hire a porter: it supports local families and makes the day easier.
- What to wear. Long trousers, sturdy waterproof boots, gloves for gripping vegetation, a rain jacket and a hat.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Mgahinga different from Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park?
It is Uganda's smallest park, a quiet corner of the Virunga range on the Rwanda and DR Congo border. It has fewer visitors, a single habituated gorilla group, and the added draw of golden monkeys and volcano hikes.
Can I see golden monkeys here?
Yes. Mgahinga is one of the few places on Earth where you can track golden monkeys, a rare species found only in the Virunga bamboo forests.
Which volcanoes can I hike?
Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabinyo. Each is a full day out; Gahinga is the gentlest and Muhabura the highest and hardest.
What is the Batwa Trail?
A guided cultural walk with the Batwa, the forest's original inhabitants, who share how they hunted, gathered and lived in the forest before it became a park.
How long do I spend with the gorillas?
Up to one hour once the group is found.
How do I get to Mgahinga?
It is near Kisoro in south-western Uganda, reached by road from Kampala or Entebbe, by road from Kigali, or by a short flight to the Kisoro airstrip. The getting-there section above covers the options.
Combine Mgahinga with
Mgahinga pairs naturally with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a longer gorilla itinerary and with Queen Elizabeth National Park for savannah game drives and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Add Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to compare the two sides of the same mountains. See all Uganda safaris or contact us to plan the route.
Accommodation
Where to Stay near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Accommodation
Mount Gahinga Lodge
Ntebeko, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
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Accommodation
Chameleon Hill Lodge
Lake Mutanda, near Kisoro, Uganda
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Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Safaris
More of Uganda to explore
- Bwindi Impenetrable ForestHome to about half of the world's mountain gorillas.
- Queen Elizabeth National ParkTree-climbing lions, boat safaris and the Kazinga Channel.
- Murchison FallsThe Nile's most powerful drop, plus big game on the north bank.
