Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park is also known as Where Gold Meets Silver. Mgahinga National Park was declared a game sanctuary by the British administration in 1930 and it was gazetted as a National Park in 1991. Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest National Park with an area of only 33.7km² and it’s located in Kisoro District.
Mgahinga National Park is famously known for gorilla tracking as it only has one Gorilla family called the Nyakagezi Gorilla Group and Golden Monkey Tracking as it’s an important habitat of the endangered golden monkeys.
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Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.
Mgahinga National Park is home to over 76 mammal species such as the Elephants, Leopards, Bush pigs, Bushbacks, Buffaloes among others. It also boasts a checklist of over 180 bird species such as Cape Robin-chat, Pin-Tailed whydah, Black kite.
Flora And Fauna In Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park is home to only one Gorilla Family known as the Nyakagezi Gorilla Group with the head of this family known as Silverback Mark who is also regarded as the largest SilverBack Gorilla in Uganda. Mgahinga National Park is also home to the endangered Golden Monkeys that live in the
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bamboo forest. Mgahinga National Park is home to over 76 mammal species such as forest elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, golden cats, bushbucks, black fronted duikers, among others. It’s also boats a checklist of over 180 bird species such as Cape Robin-chat, Pin-Tailed whydah, Black kite, African Paradise Flycatcher, Speckled mousebird, Olive pigeon, Olive Woodpecker, Black Head Waxbill, Archers Robin-chat, Red Throated Alethe, Purple Breasted Sunbird, Red Faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Night jar, Common Bulbul, Dusky Crimsonwing, African Firefinch, Olive Thrush, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Bronze sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Western Tinkerbird, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Turtle Dove among others. Mgahinga National Park consists largely of bamboo forests, Rwenzori- Virunga Montane Moorland, Albertine rift montane forest, alpine zone and others. Because of its high altitudes, there are many flowering plants and shrubs sheltering beautiful butterflies. The biodiversity is also incredible from the woodlands and montane forests at lower slopes, through the bamboo belts and Hagenia- Hypericum to the Afro alpine rare plants like giant lobelias and groundsels on top.
Things To Do While In The Park
Where To Stay
Mgahinga National Park has a wide range of Accommodation options ranging from luxury( high end) to mid range to budget lodges to make sure every traveler is catered for. Examples of the lodges in Mgahinga National Park include;
- Mount Gahinga Lodge
- Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge
- Lake Mutanda Resort
- Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel
- Mount Gahinga Rest Camp
- Mucha Hotel
- Imbogo Lodge
How To Get To The Park
BY AIR
The Park can be reached by air using the scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airfield as it is possible to charter a flight from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip by Aerolink in Entebbe or at Kajjansi Airstrip.
BY ROAD
Mgahinga Park is located at the far end of the south western part of Uganda and the drive from Kampala to Kisoro is about 8 hours and then it will take you about 2 1/2 hours to get to the park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 510 km from Kampala with the most commonly used route passing through Kabale and Kisoro, the road from Kisoro town is a mountainous tarmac road with steep ascents and descents with panoramic views.