Mgahinga National Park spans an area of about 33.7 square kilometers occupied with beautiful species of flora and fauna. The National Park is indeed a great area for adventure-seeking travelers and nature lovers due to the countless creatures it hosts.
This astonishing National Park showcases the beauty of a fairly high altitude of about 4127 meters above sea level, the towering hills in the South of Uganda. Mgahinga is located in Kisoro District in the southwest of Uganda in the Virunga conservation area. It was because of the astonishing beauty that it was given the captivating tagline “Where gold meets silver”, indeed nothing else could better describe such a beauty.
A brief history of Mgahinga National Park.
The tract of land where Mgahinga sits today was first declared a conservation area by the British administration in the form of a game sanctuary in 1930. The game sanctuary was later upgraded to National Park status by the Ugandan government in 1991. This was to protect the animals and plants living therein that were on the verge of extinction due to the uncouth human activities of tree cutting that was demolishing the habitat, poaching the animals, and encroaching on the reserve land.
Uniqueness of Mgahinga National Park.
Several reasons add up to the uniqueness of Mgahinga National Park and these are not superstitions but a collection of physical landforms that are seen when one visits the park. It stands out from the rest of the parks in the country as the only host of golden monkeys. The breathtaking views of the towering, greenery-covered volcanoes as they interconnect with clouds cannot be left unmentioned.
Activities carried out in Mgahinga National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is a host of some of the most exciting tourism activities travelers can indulge in when in the pearl of Africa. These incorporate;
Gorilla trekking. The Mgahinga volcanoes are inhabited by gorillas, especially on the lower slopes the tourists enjoy trekking when they visit. The gorilla trekking activities usually begin at 8:00 AM and end in the afternoon depending on the trekking speed of the visitors and the location of the gorilla families.
Golden monkey trekking is yet another adventurous activity that is done in this beautiful National Park
Volcano hiking / Mountain climbing is also done in the National Park. Mgahinga is blessed with three beautiful volcanoes the tourists enjoy climbing to have the breathtaking views of the nearby surroundings while some others take up the challenge of physical fitness.
Bird watching is yet another activity carried out in the National Park as tourists get the opportunity to view the Great Lakes region’s endemic birds.
Batwa Trail experiences. The Batwa people in the surroundings of Mgahinga National Park are a breed of their own as compared to the rest of the nationalities in the country. They have a unique culture and way of life which guests find interesting. They are so welcoming and aren’t afraid to showcase their culture.
Main attractions in Mgahinga National Park.
The main attractions in Mgahinga National Park are the mountain gorillas. It is important to remember that there is only one habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park that is to say the Nyakagezi gorilla family. It is comprised of nine gorillas that are renowned for their gentle demeanor.
Golden monkeys. Mgahinga National Park is the only place in Uganda where one can observe golden monkeys.
Volcanoes. The national park a home to three of the eight Virunga mountain ranges that is to say Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. These are associated with the breathtaking views that make up the National Park and also support the hiking activities.
Mgahinga National Park is home to a variety of species. It hosts several primates especially the velvet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, but as monkeys and golden cats.
How to access Mgahinga National Park.
The National Park can be accessed both by air and road transport. Visitors who prefer air transport can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro airstrip where they can be picked up by tourist guides to continue to the National Park. When using road transport, visitors can drive along the Kampala – Mbarara – Kisoro highway which takes about 10:50 hours covering the 497.8 kilometer distance.
Best time to visit.
The dry times of the year are the best moments one can visit the national park since they are characterized by limited weather interruptions and steady roads that help visitors traverse through the thick rainforests and mountainous terrain easily. The dry months are from the periods of June to September and December to February.