MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK

Mgahinga National Park takes its name from “Gahinga” – the local word for the piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes and it was declared a game sanctuary by the British Administration in 1930; it was gazetted as a National Park in 1991.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey. As well as being important for wildlife, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivalled.

Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.

It is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The Park covers the northern slopes of the three northern most Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The Park is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Republic of Rwanda and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo. The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District. The Virungas are also home to a large variety of wildlife, including about half of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.

 

• Boat cruise on the Nile river to bottom of the falls
• Hike to the Top of the Falls
• Sunrise & Sunset Game drives
• Bird watching
• Chimpanzee tracking in Bundogo Forest
• Nature walk
• Fishing tours

Luxury accommodation

• Mount Gahinga Lodge
• Nkuringo Safari Lodge
• Mgahinga Safari lodge

Mid-range accommodation

• Traveler’s Rest camp
• Mucha Hotel

Budget Accommodation

• Amajambere Iwacu community camp
• Kisoro Tourist Hotel