Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the thrilling safari destination and its located in the Southwestern Uganda, the park is the safari tourism destination known as the home to more than half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is based in the Virunga Mountains and it encompasses of the three inactive volcanoes that is Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo, the park is the right safari destination that should be explored by everyone because it has got everything that the tourist do expect on a safari and the park can make your dream to become true.
Attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mountain Gorillas.
Mountain Gorillas are the main attraction in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the park is so attractive to every tourist because of the unique creatures found in the park that is the park is a home to more than a half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas, and it so vital that’s why the park was created by the government and that’s why the tourists highly visit the park because of the impressive natural creatures the mountain gorillas.
Bird species.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a vast number of bird species, for the bird lovers the park is the right choice because it has over 180 bird species including the African olive pigeon, Alpine swift, Blue-headed coucal, Moorland chat, Olive woodpecker, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird and among more.
Animal species.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has a variety of other animal species that includes primates that are found in the park minus the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys the park has other primates including the bush pigs, south African porcupines, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, forest elephnats, golden cats and many others.
Virunga Volcanoes.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a home of the three inactive volcanoes of the eight conical Virunga namely Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo mountains.
Mount Sabyinyo is the attraction in Mgahinga National Park that is the mountain has got three peaks, the name Sabyinyo is in Kinyarwanda ‘’Iryinyo’’ meaning a tooth. Sabyinyo is shared by the three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain is a tourism destination known as the habitat for the endangered Mountain Gorillas.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park derives its name from this Mount Gahinga, this is an attraction that lies on the border between Uganda and Rwanda, and it lies between Mount Sabyinyo and Muhavura .The Mountain derives its name from the local word meaning a small pile of stones. Mount Gahinga is a habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas that live within the park, the vegetation across the mountain areas is known as the afro-montane with the bamboo composing of the main vegetation. Not only being the habitat of the mountain gorillas, the mountain is known as the home of other wildlife like the golden monkeys and other bird species which makes it to be the most attractive by the most of the tourists.
Mount Muhavura is an attractive classic volcanic cone is capped by a small lake, this lake is also a major attraction especially reward for 5 hour trek in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Muhavura is also known as Mount Muhabura it’s an extinct volcano and lies on the border between Uganda and Rwanda, this is known as the third highest of the eight major mountains of the Virunga ranges. The mountain slopes are known by the marvelous alpine vegetation.
Golden monkeys.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the main attraction where your safari can be fully spiced, the park being the popular attraction of both the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys, the golden monkeys have number of colours on like black, grey and a beautiful shade of the orange gold that’s what makes them to be called golden monkeys, they live in the large groups of up to 100 individuals led by the Alpha male and do not move as much for they stay in one location for a time, unlike the gorillas these are the unique species which makes your safari the colourful one after spotting them.
Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla Trekking is the most popular safari activity done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, that’s why most of the tourists visit the park, this is the most captivating and unforgettable experience which makes your Uganda safari to be the best ever into the Virunga region the mountain gorillas are known as the peaceful and so the safari activity gorilla trekking is very safe. The park has one habituated gorilla group that can be tracked by the tourists that is Nyakagezi that has 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, 2 infants this group gives you the best when you trek, Gorilla trekking is the most gorgeous activity that can take you for the whole day where the guides do take you through the gorilla’s world while expounding you the ecology and their behavior along the way.
Golden monkey tracking.
Golden monkey tracking is among the top activities done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park favorite for primate safari that makes your experience so exciting, the golden monkeys are such unique and attractive with bright orange-gold body, cheeks and tail, contrasting wit black limbs, crown and tail end. Golden monkey tracking is the best interesting safari that should be considered on your Uganda safari.
Volcano Hiking.
Volcano hiking is the best safari activity done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where a tourist appreciates the scenery, the hiking starts from the park which is considered as the best hiking option in Uganda with the 3 volcanoes in Mgahinga which are easily accessed from the park and there your choice is always depending to the fitness and the amount of time you have this safari is so attractive for every hiker never to miss out because it is rill rewarding and amazing its where again you spot some more attractions along as you hike, Mgahinga offers you the most favorable moments like hiking in the pristine forests. Hiking all the three trails in the park that is Sabyinyo, Mount Muhavura, Gahinga are all beautiful and they give the best expectation on your safari.
Bird watching.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a birding haven, the park has a variety of the birding habitats like wetlands, forests, buffalo wall where the tourists where the tourists can have the best viewing points of the colourful bird species in the park, the bird species that can be viewed includes the fire finch, speckled mous, Bird watching is best done in the forests, swamps and other inhabited places in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Batwa trail.
Tourists are exposed with the Batwa trails leads from the base of Muhavura Cave, conducted by the Batwa guides who guides you in their traditional life and culture, after seeing the Batwa you will see the forest in their lives and you will experience the ways of how Batwa people lived in the forest and also explore their ancient cultures as these originally lived in the forest even before occupying the Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Also you visit the living museum where you learn about Batwa people also known as fruit gatherers depending on forests for shelter, after creating the park these people were forced out from the forest and stayed in the villages that surrounds the park.
Best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The best time suitable to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is June to August, December to January this is the right season when the trails are easier since the ground is not slippery and muddy that makes hiking, mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking exceptional, though wet season is the best time especially for the budget because that’s when the accommodation offer discounts that makes safari stunning with Nyumbu Beyond Journeys.