Mgahinga Gorilla National park
Mgahinga Gorilla National park : Mgahinga National Park is located in the south- western region of Uganda in Kisoro district bordering Rwanda in the south and D.R. Congo in the west. The park is at an altitude of between 2227m and 4127m. Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest park in Uganda because it covers about 33.7km /s. The park was put in existence so as to protect the rare mountain Gorillas that inhabit in dense forests and the endangered Golden monkeys. In 1930, Mgahinga was a game reserve but later on in 1991 it was upgraded into a National Park hence becoming Mgahinga gorilla national park. Since the park is on a small scale also the activities are limited but enjoyable and memorable making many and you to wish out this thriving park.
ACTIVITIES DONE IN MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK.
We have the following activities that take place in the game park
Volcano hiking /mountain climbing
Bird watching at the Albertine Rift Endemic
Batwa Trail Experience
Golden monkey Tracking.
BIRD WATCHING
Bird watching is done at Albertine Rift Endemic in the park. The national park has over 180 bird’s species that are being seen through the year. The park has numerous birds where by this makes it to do viewing without any hesitation. some examples are Black headed waxbill, handsome francolin, dusky turtle dove, Rwenzori turaco, olive pigeon, scarlet tufted sunbirds. Note before you go for bird watching, Binoculars are needed for the clear viewing of the birds as you go through the trails.
GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla trekking is the most activity that attract tourists to come to Mgahinga gorilla national park. The park has endangered mountain Gorillas making it one of the parks with the primates. Trekking of gorillas starts in the morning at 8:00am and tourists are grouped into a group of eight people making it easy for the guide/ ranger to control and lead. Each group is given a family to trek and it takes around 2 to 5 hours but if the family is found, you are advised to stand about 7 feet’s away from the gorillas and you are also given 1hr to spend it with the family. And a few guidelines are given out like the flash photography cameras are not allowed, no throwing rubbish with in the forest etc. people who go for gorilla trekking are supposed to be 15 year and above with a gorilla permit issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
MOUNTAIN HIKING /VOLCANO CLIMBING
Mgahinga gorilla National Park has three volcanic mountains e.g. mountain Sabinyo, mountain Muhavura, mountain gahinga. M.t sabinyo means” old man’s teeth”, Muhavula means “a guide” and Gahinga means “pile of stones”. Mountain Muhavura is the tallest amongst the three volcanoes. All these three mountains can be hiked up to their summits as long as you are in good heath and fit enough. The things needed while hiking are water proof hiking boots, and light clothes.
BATWA TRAIL EXPERIENCE.
The Batwa people used to live in the forests before the area was gazed in to a home for the endangered m.t gorilla. The Batwa people for a cultural cave where they used to hide from when the invasion of the Bantu many years. These people live around the park and they have trained some to become guides and porters.
GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING.
The Golden monkeys are very fast and small animals. These monkeys are very fast and hard to track where by they take 3- 5hours to track them. When going for golden monkey tracking you are advised to come with cameras so as to have pictures of the experience and they have to be non-flashy cameras. As you are going through the trail you are also to see the bamboo branches. These primates make Mgahinga National Park a good destination for all these wonderful wild species
