Mgahinga Gorilla Park headquarters are responsible for protecting Uganda's portion of the Virunga Conservation Area (of which it only makes up 8%). There are 3 of the 8 Virunga Mountains that lie on the Rwanda-Uganda border; all 3 of which can be hiked to in one day by guests staying in the Mgahinga. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a tropical rainforest, located at the base of volcanoes. It makes up 8% of the Virunga Conservation Area that is shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Mgahinga also boasts 3 peaks, which are part of the famous and beautiful Virunga Mountain range. These peaks are Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhavura, the highest peak in the national park. All peaks can be hiked. This park was created with the purpose of protecting the Mountain gorilla, but it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey, as well as protecting the heritage of the indigenous Batwa pygmy tribe. Guests at Mgahinga will discover all the nooks and crannies of this mountainous and luscious area. There are many caves dotted along the slopes, one of which has particular Batwa history.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is best known as an alternative destination to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking, but it also offers good birding, and an opportunity to spend time with the localized golden monkey. There is only one habituated gorilla troop here. This means a maximum of only eight permits a day are available, resulting in a very exclusive experience on the day of trekking. The Nyakagazi group of mountain gorillas is notable for incorporating four sibling silverbacks. A troop of habituated golden monkey, which is endemic to the Albertine Rift and more or less restricted to the Virungas, can also be tracked. Bushbuck and buffalo are quite often encountered, while other more secretive resident mammals include golden cat, side-striped jackal, giant forest hog, bushpig and elephant.
Golden Monkey at the Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkBirding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Mgahinga gorilla national park is Uganda’s smallest national park which covers 33.7 square kilometers and it estimates 9 to 10 hours’ drive from south of Kampala and another option you can fly from Entebbe Airport by Aero link with a scheduled or chartered flight to Kisoro Airstrip a nearby landing site to Mgahinga. Above all, the park is most renowned as a gorilla trekking destination and golden monkey tracking not knowing that the volcanoes, forest and vegetation around also give out great sights to birdwatchers. It is also paradise of birders with over 185 species recorded and 12 of them are considered endemic to the Albertine Rift. In addition to that, there are many guided mountain hikes on offer where birders get amazing chances to watch out some of Afro –alpine endemics like the Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird while the migratory birds are present from November to April. These are the notable bird species to sight see in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that include; Black Kite, Pin-tailed whydah, Double-collared sunbird, Speckled mouse bird, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Speckled Mouse birds, Fire Finch Stonechat, Waxbills, Grey Capped Warbler, Archer’s robin chat, Blue-headed coucal, Dusky crimson wing, Kivu ground-thrush, Olive pigeon, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori turaco, Alpine, Yellow-Vented Bulbul mentioned but few.
Birdlife at the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
