Birding in Mgahinga National Park is incredible, as much as the conservation area is elevated on high grounds it is one of the most sought destinations that birders can experience birding any time of the year, the park stands as the smallest of the conservation areas in the country covering an area space of approximately 33.7 square kilometres, it is part of the Virunga volcanic mountains west of Uganda. The main features of the park are the 3 volcanoes that make a part of the 8 series of the famous Virunga mountains, it was gazette in 1991 as a way of protecting the critically endangered species of the mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys.
Mgahinga National Park is home to over 100 species of birds, several of the birds that have been recorded here include Albertine endemics and the present well-maintained trails through the park present a perfect chance and opportunity to go birding Examples of species include Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori night Jar, moorland chat, kivu ground thrush, African olive pigeon, yellow-billed kite, olive woodpecker, archers robin chat, sunbirds, cinnamon chested bee-eater, purple breasted sunbird Handsome francolin, dusky crimson wing, black collared Apalis, to mention a few.
Birding in the national park is charged $30 for foreign non-residents, $25 for foreign residents, and 20,000 shillings, they are per person rates on each day’s hike to experience one will be required to pack right for their birding safari, for example, a pair of binoculars, good camera, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, rain jackets, gaiters, birding guide book, and any other items of personal nature, patience while at doing the activity is also much needed to get the best of it. All birding experiences in the national park are conducted with the help of an experienced guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The best time to do birding in the Mgahinga National Park is during the wet season in March, April, May, October, and November, there are so many birds that come into the park including migratory species, it is mostly fruiting time during the wet season. Expect slippery trails but so rewarding of bird views. Birding in Mgahinga National Park can be done even during the dry season, it is one of the few places in Uganda to see birds constantly all year round and has been named among the country’s important birding sites.
Other things to do in the park include Gorilla trekking, there is one gorilla group living along the slopes of the mountain named the Nyakagezi gorilla family, gorilla trekking activity begins at the Ntebeko park headquarters led through by Uganda Wildlife game ranger, only a group of 8 tourists are allowed to participate in the activity. Golden monkey tracking, the primate is an endemic of the Virunga volcanic region which can only be seen and tracked here. The Batwa community experience is a great way to meet the community members, they are a group of last pygmies in Uganda they lived in the forest amicably together with other species.