Mgahinga National Park is one of the few homes to see the critically endangered species of mountain gorillas in the wild, the national conservation area was gazette in the 1930s as a game reserve and later upgraded to a national park by 1991 as a way of protecting the animal species that call this home including golden monkeys, the protected conservation area is Uganda’s smallest national park covering an area space of approximately 33.7sqaure kilometers, it is ma extension of the great Virunga volcanic region in Uganda harboring 3 of the 8 series of the Virunga mountains (mountain Sabinyo, mountain Gahinga and Mount Muhabura).
Mountain gorillas are a world-rare species of primates dotted in a few ecosystems of the world in Africa. It is the largest primate on earth characterized by its massive body size, fur, gentleness, with brown eyes,Gorillas nest on the ground feeding on forest plants,dead tree backs, mushrooms, fruits, plants, and occasionally insects, their intelligence allows them to have the ability to use tools and sometimes prepare their food before actually having it, for example, they have been sighted stripping plants to get the inner stem for food and used sticks to collect insects, baby gorillas are taken care of by their parents until the age of 2 years old. Gorillas live in families of up to 20 members led by a male silverback.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park takes place in the park beginning at the park headquarters Ntebeko, there is one gorilla family in the forest called the Nyakagezi gorilla group, they are a known mobile team who uniquely have more than one silver back on the gorilla group, Gorillas know no boundaries and because the ecosystem within which they survive is transboundary they cross to Rwanda at times, however, these have been steady and consistent in the park. The tracking begins in the morning at 8:00 am East African time led by a Uganda Wildlife Authority game ranger, through the forest you will look for the primates, the time taken entirely depends on how far the gorilla families have moved, it takes 2-8hours or even the entire day.
When thinking of Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, it is important to purchase gorilla permits prior to the tracking time, since it is just one group only a team of 8 people is allowed in the forest per day hence the limited number of permits, they can be bought directly from the Uganda wildlife authority or through a ground handler tour operator. What to pack during a gorilla safari includes warm clothes, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, gaiters, hiking boots, hand gloves, sleeves shirts and trousers insect repellents, hats, and any other items of personal nature.
In conclusion,Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park can be visited all year round but is best during the dry season between December -and February and June -September, the routes of the park are much dry and easier to hike, and the park can be accessed by road from Entebbe international airport or From the Kigali international airport. Flights can be arranged to land at the Kisoro airstrip for 1hr 30 minutes it is from here that you will be transferred to your next destination.