Accessing Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Situated in the Kisoro district of southwest Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is the smallest protected area. It shares borders with Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The three Virunga Volcanoes-Mt. Muhavura, at 4127 meters above sea level; Mount Gahinga, at 3474 meters; and Mount Sabinyo, at 3,645 meters-as well as the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are the national park’s most well-known features.
Accessing the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
Depending on the visitor’s desire, Mgahinga National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular national parks, can be reached by plane or road.
Road transportation to the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
The most popular way to get to Mgahinga National Park is by car since it’s less expensive and offers better views of the surrounding landscape, including terraced farmlands, the Kigezi hills, banana plantations, and more. It takes roughly nine to ten hours to drive from Entebbe or Kampala to the park headquarters in a four-wheel drive safari vehicle, passing through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro.
It is also possible to reach Mgahinga National Park from Kigali, Rwanda. To get there, travelers first fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for three to four hours to reach the park headquarters via the Cyanika border.
How to go to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via air
By scheduling regular or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip and then connecting to Ntebeko Park headquarters, visitors can also take the air to Mgahinga National Park. Around 7:00 am is when flights from Entebbe leave, and 8:10 am is when they land at Kisoro Airstrip. For guests who dislike long-distance travel, air transportation is the quickest and best method to go to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Your tour operator may arrange flights.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s top attractions
Gorilla trekking is one of the main activities conducted at Mgahinga National Park, which is home to the Nyakagezi, a habituated gorilla family. At the park headquarters, gorilla trekking begins in the morning with a briefing on the rules and regulations. Following the lecture, a skilled park guide who is familiar with mountain gorillas will accompany you on your hike through the jungle.
You can see chimpanzees, a variety of bird species, many plant and tree species, and other primate species like l’hoest, blue, and red-tailed monkeys while hiking. A gorilla trekking permit, which costs 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX per person for East African inhabitants, is required before visitors can participate in the daring gorilla trekking activity.
After gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking is the second most popular activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. After receiving a briefing at the park headquarters early in the morning, you will begin hiking through the jungle with a park guide in search of the habituated golden monkey family. You will be permitted to spend an hour with the golden monkeys in their natural habitat after they have been located. This will allow you to watch how they behave, play, eat, and climb tree branches, as well as take pictures and document the amazing moments.
Other activities in Mgahinga National Park include hiking and mountain climbing, where you can climb Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura, or Mount Sabinyo; the Batwa trail experience, where you can interact with Batwa or Pygmies; and bird watching, where you can see a variety of bird species, including the African paradise flycatcher, the Kivu ground thrush, the Rwenzori turaco, the Red-faced woodland warbler, the Black kite, the African paradise flycatcher, the Alpine swift, the Olive Woodpecker, the Dusky Crimsonwing, and others.
Depending on the traveler’s preference, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be reached by plane or road. For more information or to make a safari reservation, get in touch with All In Africa Safaris.
Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to two gorilla species found nowhere else together: mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and eastern lowland gorillas (Grauer’s gorillas, Gorilla beringei graueri) in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Virunga National Park – Africa’s oldest national park, established in 1925 – covers 7,900 km² of remarkable ecological diversity, from the volcanic peaks of the Virunga Massif to the glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains and the tropical lowland forests of the Congo Basin. The park is also home to hippos, elephants, okapis, and the entire cast of Congo rainforest wildlife.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas – A Unique Encounter
The eastern lowland gorilla (Grauer’s gorilla) is the world’s largest subspecies of gorilla, with silverbacks weighing up to 220kg. Found only in the DRC, Grauer’s gorillas are considerably rarer than mountain gorillas – their population has declined by more than 70% since the 1990s due to conflict, habitat loss, and poaching. Kahuzi-Biega National Park in South Kivu offers the only reliable trekking experience with habituated Grauer’s gorilla families.
A gorilla permit in the DRC costs USD 400 per person – significantly cheaper than Rwanda (USD 1,500) or Uganda (USD 800). The experience is raw, off-the-beaten-track, and unforgettable for travellers seeking something genuinely uncommon.
Practical Information for DRC Gorilla Trekking
Getting to Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega
The most common entry point to eastern DRC is via Kigali, Rwanda. Goma – the gateway to Virunga National Park – is just 80km from Kigali. Direct flights from Nairobi and Kampala also serve Goma. Bukavu (gateway to Kahuzi-Biega) is accessible from Goma by road (3-4 hours) or by light aircraft.
Is it safe to trek gorillas in the DRC?
Security in eastern DRC is complex and fluctuates. Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega have experienced periods of closure due to armed group activity. Always check current security conditions with your tour operator and your government’s travel advisory before planning a DRC gorilla trek. Reputable operators with established local security networks are essential.
Explore our Uganda safaris for more information.
Contact Us – Ready to book your East Africa gorilla safari? Our team is here to help you plan the perfect trip.
Recommended Tours: 8 Days Congo Gorillas & Nyiragongo Safari | 5 Days Lowland Gorilla Safari Congo
