Gorilla Trekking in mgahinga gorilla national park

 Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest national park in Uganda located in southwestern region in Kisoro district bordering Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park was gazetted in 1991 and covers a total area of 33.7 square kilometers which is comprised of different vegetation types like Montane forest, montane woodland, bamboo, afro-montane, animals like forest elephants, buffaloes, duikers, bushbucks, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, primates like mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and different bird species among others.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking is the major activity in the national park where visitors get an opportunity to move on foot in search of the habituated gorilla families and once found spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of one habituated gorilla family and gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas and then start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. 

During trekking you will be able to view other primates like golden monkeys, mammals like giant forest hogs, forest elephants, bush pigs, buffaloes, different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, grooming young ones, take photos and record the incredible moments. After the gorilla trekking experience you will be awarded a certificate which shows that you participated in gorilla trekking adventure.

Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking permits are legal documents that are issued to any visitor above the age of 15 years by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) allowing him or her to visit the habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga gorilla national park.  A single gorilla trekking permit in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs USD 800 for foreign non residents, USD 700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry/peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is little rainfall in the park therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery.

How to get to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park can be accessed by air transport means where visitors will book scheduled or charter flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar Aviation from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road, Guide to gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.

You can as well access Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.