Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest national park. It was established to protect the mountain gorillas of the Ugandan sector of the Virunga Volcanoes that are located in the southwest corner of Uganda. Of the 650 mountain gorillas left in the world, 300 are found in the Virunga Volcanoes, whilst the other 300 are in the nearby Bwindi National Park. Although it is only 35 sq km, its volcanic landscapes are breathtaking and it harbours a wealth of animals and birds such as leopard, giant forest hog, bushbuck, buffalo, and golden monkey. No mountain gorillas live in Mgahinga permanently, but several troops move freely between the park and those in Rwanda and the Congo.

Mgahinga is a dense tropical rainforest on the lower slopes of the volcanoes where the vegetation includes bamboo and lots of lichens and mosses: delicacies to a mountain gorilla. There is only one group of mountain gorillas in Mgahinga that is habituated to humans. Known as the Nyakagezi group, these gorillas can be visited on a gorilla track.

Most popular activities are Gorilla tracking, nature guided walks, village walks, butterfly watching and bird watching.
Examples of bird species include Rwenzori turaco, Fiscal shrike, Crowned hornbill, Black kite, Augur Buzzards, Crowned Crane.

Mgahinga National Park offers three extinct volcanoes for physically fit hikers although they do not require special Mountaineering gear

MT SABINYO [3669M] Like an old man, time has eroded Mt. Sabinyo’s crown. This volcano offers 3 challenging peaks to climb.
MT MGAHINGA [3474M]
On your way to the Park, look out for small piles of stones in the garden fields. The local people call such a pile a ‘Gahinga’. Mount Gahinga is quite bigger than the average ‘Gahinga’ but sitting next to Mount Muhavura does make it look small. Gahinga once had a crater on top but over time it has changed into a lush swamp.

MT MUHAVURA [4127 M] Seen from all over Kisoro, this volcano acts as a guide. The typical cone-shaped Mountain provides some of the best views in the country such as the other Virunga Volcanoes, Bwindi Impenetrable forest and the peaks of Mt. Rwenzori..

GORILLA TRACKING REGULATIONS
For Conservation reasons, visits to the gorillas are tightly controlled. The following rules apply and must be strictly adhered to:
1. No one with a communicable disease ( eg. Flu, diarrhoea ) is allowed to enter the park.
1. Stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas, don’t surround them.
2. Don’t get closer than 5 metres ( 15 feet ) to the gorillas .
3. Don’t use camera flashes while photographing.
4. Don’t eat or smoke when with the gorillas or within distance of 200 metres from the gorillas.
5. Bury all human faeces a minimum of one foot deep and ensure that the hole is properly covered.
6. Don’t leave litter. All litter must be carried out of the park and disposed of properly.
7. No person under 15 years is allowed to track gorillas.
8. Don’t make loud noise or move suddenly.
9. You are allowed a maximum of 1 hour with gorillas.
10. Don’t spit on vegetation or soil while in the park. Use your hankie or other garment.

Gorilla Tracking permits cost $500. and are to be booked not less that three months in time.  We advise you to make your booking as early as you possibly can. Access and accomodation: Kisoro is about 540 km from Kampala and it takes abput 8 hours via Kabale. A wide range of accommodation facilities ranging rom camp-sites to luxurious hotels.
An Mgahinga Safari will take you to the richly forested Virunga Volcanoes for an audience with a mountain gorilla.