Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Overview

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, as its name suggests, was created to conserve the rare primates that inhabit its dense forests. The Park is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey. This Parks most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, which are part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga conservation area which includes adjacent parks in these three countries. Mountain gorillas are the main safari attractions in this park, which protects the Uganda portion of the Virungas and is home to more than half of the world’s population of the endangered gorilla. Besides mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to 76 mammal species which include, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, fotrest buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, golden cats, striped jackals, black fronted duickers and African porcupines. The Park is also an excellent birding destination with over 184 species of birds recorded, including the Ibis, Pin tailed Whydah, Speckled Mousebird, Firefinch, Turaco, Collared Sunbird, Black kite among many others. For lovers of mountain climbing, the three volcanoes which can be climbed in one day are an amazing attraction to the park.

 

Best time to visit

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be visited anytime of the year, however, gorilla trekking is at its best during the dry season from late May to early October and December to February when the tracking conditions are favorable.