Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park: The smallest national park in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated in the Kisoro area in the southwest and shares borders with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1991, the national park was established primarily to safeguard the endangered mountain gorillas.
Animals such as forest elephants, buffaloes, black faced duiker, bush pigs, a variety of bird species, volcanic mountains including Mount Muhavura, Mount Sabinyo, and Mount Gahinga, and primates like mountain gorillas and golden monkeys may all be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers gorilla trekking experiences.
One of the most popular activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is gorilla trekking, which entails traveling far into the forest to find habituated gorilla families and spending an hour with them in their natural environment. In addition to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, mountain gorillas can be found in other locations, including as the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.
About 80 mountain gorillas can be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, but only one group-the Nyakagezi-is used to the area and accessible for daily trekking. In Mgahinga, gorilla trekking begins very early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters.
Following this, you will begin trekking into the jungle with a park guide who is familiar with the forest’s trails and has knowledge of the mountain gorillas. Depending on where the mountain gorillas slept the night before, hiking with them in Mgahinga can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 hours.
During the trek, you can see many primate species, animals, forest birds, and plant species, among other things. You will be permitted to spend an hour with the gorilla family in their habitat when they have been discovered. This will allow you to observe the gorillas as they go about their everyday lives, including eating, nursing, taking pictures, learning about their habits, and filming movies with a flash-less camera, among other things.
The price of a permit for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Any visitor over the age of 15 who wishes to see the habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park must have a gorilla trekking permit, which is granted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Thus, a single gorilla trekking permit costs UGX 300,000 for East African citizens, USD 800 for foreign non-residents, and USD 700 for foreign residents.
Since there are only eight permits available each day and they typically sell out quickly, especially during the busiest months of June to September and December to February, gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park should be reserved three to six months prior to the trekking date. There are two ways to reserve gorilla trekking permits in the park: directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority by calling or emailing the Kampala offices, or through a tour operator such as All In Africa Safaris.
The ideal time of year to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a gorilla trekking safari
While gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is possible throughout the year, the best time to go is in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, which is the dry/peak season. Because there is less or no rainfall in the park during the dry season, the foliage will be sparser, allowing you to obtain a clear glimpse of the mountain gorillas and other wildlife. In contrast to the wet season, when the pathways are muddy, slippery, and wet, access roads and gorilla trekking trails are dry and passable during the dry season.
Accommodations for your Mgahinga gorilla trekking safari
During their gorilla trekking expedition, guests can stay at a variety of lodging options in Mgahinga. Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Travelers Rest Hotel Kisoro, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort, and Mgahinga Rest Camp are just a few of the lodging options, which also include luxury, midrange, and budget lodgings.
How to travel for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The southwestern region of Uganda is home to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is reachable by plane and road.
Using air transport entails scheduling charter flights from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip, after which a safari vehicle will drive you to the park headquarters. Your trip operator can arrange flights to the park.
Road transport: The travel from Entebbe or Kampala to the park headquarters takes roughly nine to ten hours. Another way to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is from Kigali, Rwanda. Travelers can fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for three to four hours to reach the park via the Cyanika border.
Recommended Tours: 8 Days Congo Gorillas & Nyiragongo Safari | 5 Days Lowland Gorilla Safari Congo
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.
