How to Get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Several travelers ask possible means to reach Mgahinga National Park. Could you be among those who have been wondering how to get to and around Mgahinga National Park? No worries, African Apes Holidays offers you guide on various ways you can reach Mgahinga Park. Well, depending on where you are connecting from and your and your next destination after Mgahinga, there are many ways to reach this amazing park. Both air and road transport means are available to ensure you reach Mgahinga Park safely and as quick as possible. The park is one of Uganda’s popular tourist destinations being a center of gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, batwa cultural trail and volcano climbing among other tourist activities. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers Uganda’s share of the Virunga massif bordered by Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga is located in Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda

Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla Park by road

You can comfortably get to and around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by road. If you are landing at Entebbe International Airport, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is roughly 10 hours drive from Kampala. This requires a whole day of driving along Kampala Masaka, Mbarara Kabale and Kisoro highway. Driving from Kampala to Kisoro is undeniably a longest distance but very exciting and enjoyable. A drive via the plain savannahs of Ankole, local communities, small towns and rolling hills of kigezi offer you the best pre trekking experience making the whole magical. A stop at the Uganda equator for photography is a MUST for everyone driving to southwestern Uganda. On the other hand most travelers these days love flying into Kigali International Airport and then drive through Kigali crossing to Kisoro district via Cyanika Border. Cyanika is the entry point from Rwanda to Uganda in Kisoro district. Driving from Kigali to Mgahinga is the shortest route possible which last for roughly 5 hours drive hence suitable for short time travelers.
A traveler visiting Mgahinga National Park starting and ending at Entebbe airport needs roughly 3 days Uganda gorilla tour. The first day is for driving from Kampala to Mgahinga, second day if gorilla trekking or any activity of his/her choice and the third day is for traveling back to Entebbe airport for a connecting flight.

Do you want to do a 1-Day Uganda gorilla tour which start and end in Kigali? Book our one-day gorilla trip to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with African Apes Holidays. The 1-Day Uganda gorilla trip to Mgahinga entails waking up very early at 3:00am and driving for 5 hours to Mgahinga to join the pre gorilla trekking briefing at 7:00am. You visit the gorillas and in the evening drive back to Kigali. The introduction of Kigali to Mgahinga/Bwindi Gorilla trekking has made it easy for short time travelers giving them chance to visit the endangered gorillas in the shortest time possible.

Getting to Mgahinga National park by Air
Besides road transport, luxury travelers can as well get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by air transport. Book a scheduled flight from Kajjansi airstrip in Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip. The flight time from Entebbe to Kisoro is roughly an hour and 10 minutes. Enjoy the scenic aerial views as you fly above Ankole plains and Kigezi rolling hills. Aero link and Fly Uganda offer you confortable and affordable flights from Entebbe to Kisoro. This saves long hours of driving, which at times becomes exhausting.

Top tourist activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Travelers on Uganda safaris to Mgahinga Park have an endless list of exciting things to see and do. The top tourist activities and attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include:
1. Mountain Gorilla Trekking:

This small park is home to Nyakagyezi gorilla family ready to receive visitors’ everyday. Nyakagyezi family is comprised of 9 members led by Mark as a silverback. Nshuti is an adult female gorilla that gave birth to a new baby gorilla a few days back. Each day, UWA issues 8 gorilla permits to those who want to visit Nyakagyezi gorilla group. Booking gorilla permits to trek Nyakagyezi family can be done either in Kampala or Kisoro UWA head quarters. Alternatively, you can book through African Apes Holidays, your ultimate gorilla safari company in Uganda. Like in the sister Bwindi Forest Park, each permit to trek gorillas in Mgahinga National Park costs $700 for foreign non residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. Gorilla permit booking is recommended at least 6 months before the trekking date. In 2019, Mgahinga Gorilla Park was blessed to shelter Rwanda’s Hirwa Gorilla family, which had migrated from Volcanoes National Park. Hirwa stayed for close to 8 months in Mgahinga but later returned to Rwanda.

2. Golden Monkey Trekking

A trek to see golden monkeys is yet another must do activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga is the only park to see golden monkeys in the whole of Uganda. The other population of endangered golden monkey’s lives in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park. The playful and lively characters of golden monkeys make an encounter with them more fun and magical. Fortunately, trekking golden monkeys is quite cheaper costing $100 compared to mountain gorillas. This makes it affordable for all travelers including those traveling on budget.

3. Volcano climbing
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to three dormant Volcanoes, which are part of the Virunga chain of Volcanoes. A hike to summit of Mt Gahinga, Mt Sabyinyo or My Muhabura is an exceptional experience you will live to remember. The summit of any of the three volcanoes offers you spectacular views of the Virunga Conservation area, other Virunga volcanoes and local communities in the neighborhood. Physical fitness is key for everyone going for hiking in Mgahinga National park. Mt Gahinga is the shortest volcano suitable for the aged the physically unfit.

4. Batwa Cultural Trail

Visit the Indigenous batwa pygmies for an exceptional cultural experience with African Apes Holidays. This whole experience entails Batwa pygmies guiding travelers into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to experience the traditional forest life of these bush people. Some of the activities done in Batwa cultural trail include visiting Ngarama cave where Batwa used to offer sacrifices and perform ritual, Picking medicinal herbs, collecting honey and hunting among others. More so, you will enjoy the traditional dances and songs of Batwa about their initial forest life. Batwa cultural trail costs $80 per person and this money is directed to improving the lives of batwa pygmies who were evicted rom the forest to the neighboring communities. Therefore taking part in the Batwa cultural trail is one way of supporting Batwa pygmies.

5. Bird watching
Are you a birder? Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a birder’s haven sheltering over 180 bird species 20 of which are endemic to the albertine region. Among the birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include African Paradise Flycatcher, Black Kite, Pin tailed whydah, Cape robin chat, speckled mouse bird, African Olive Pigeon, Moorland Chat, Alpine Swift, Blue headed Coucal, and Scarlet tufted malachite sunbird among others. The best time for bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is from April to mid May and from October to November. If you want to see migratory birds in Mgahinga Park, November to April is the best time. May and June is the nesting season.

Do you want to book a Uganda flying safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? African Apes Holidays makes it easier for you at pocket friendly prices