Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is located in the far South western part of Uganda near the town of Kisoro. The entire park is located in Bufumbira County .It’s sited on the slopes of Virunga Mountains and it’s near by Volcano National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It’s about 500kms (8-10) hour’s drive from Kampala via Mbarara and Kibale.It’s the smallest National Park in Uganda about (34sqkm). It’s very important as it is one of the two parks in Uganda that offers habitat for the endangered mountain gorilla. It can be visited at any time as long as the gorillas are around.
The Park is also a home of over 40 mammal species recorded. These include buffaloes, elephants, bush bucks, leopards, bush pigs and many more. 80 bird species have been recorded, including Rwenzori turaco, crowned horn bill, black kite and many more. Mgahinga hosts a population of golden monkeys and a few families of mountains gorilla.

Activities
Gorilla tracking. This is the major tourist activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Tracking gorillas in the thick forest starts from 8.30 and it can take 3-8 hours.before tracking gorillas visitors have to first go to the tourist center to get more information about how to trek these giants in the thick forest. Total fitness is required as at time takes over 3-9 hours searching them depending on their movements. Visitors are supposed to keep a distance at least 10km away from them while watching them, and those who are suffering from flue or any other disease are not allowed to track these closest relative of man. Tracking these giants is one of the most breathtaking activities one should not to miss at mgahinga national park.

Guided walks to the Garama cave which is 342m long and 14 deep. Is one of the caves where the Batwa fought their neighbors the Bantu, so tourists who can make it to mgahinag National Park are able to watch this place and is now inhabited by bats. Takes 3-4 hours.

Volcano climbing .The Park offers the visitors an opportunity to climb the mountain for those who are physically fit. Climbing take place on mountain Gahinga3474m, Mt.Muhavura4127m, Mt.Sabinyo 3669m and it takes between 5-6 hours. Hikers are guided by porters so this is an experience some one can not forget in case spend his/her vacation with the entire family in Uganda.

Bird watching. The guide will help visitors to spot unique bird species some of which a rarely seen in other national parks. The park has over 80 bird species include Ibis, Whydah, and Speckled Mouse birds among others.

Local community tours. The Park is also surrounded by different local communities including the Pygmy Batwa African tribe which in the past lived by hunting and gathering fruits. So a trip to this village gives visitors chance to interact with these people, visit their homesteads, and display their tradition dance. And also the Bafumbira who are majorly farmers so they share their methods farming with the visitors an experience on would not wish to miss whole at the park.