Mgahinga Gorilla National Park stands at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m A.S.L and was primarily established to protect and conserve the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas that were faced with the threat of extinction. Other key aspects included the endangered golden Monkeys, Batwa heritage and the three Volcanic Mountains. These have in turn combined to make it one of the incredible Uganda safari tour destinations worth exploring.
One most remarkable activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Mountain Gorilla trekking. This park is one of the few places in the world where the rare Mountain Gorillas live and it attracts people from around the world for Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. Nyakagezi gorilla family is currently the only gorilla group habituated and open for trekking in Mgahinga.
Though the group initially had tendencies of crossing to Rwanda and Congo, it has stabilized in the recent years and travelers on Uganda gorilla safaris are able to book the permits and proceed with the tracking accordingly.
Despite its small size, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also home to many other primates including the endangered golden monkeys; these are a special type of primates that are endemic to the Albertine Rift. Golden monkeys are identified by bright orange-gold body, cheeks and tail, contrasting with its black limbs and tail end. Notably, a golden monkey is arguably the dominant primate within this forested park – with an estimated population of 3,000 – 4,000 individuals which tend to live in groups known as troops only in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga National Park also includes an adventurous hike to Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and the famous Mount Sabyinyo popularly known as the Old man’s teeth. This mountain is part of the extensive Virunga range which covers the 3 east African countries, including Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda. It’s an ideal destination for volcano climbing adventure safari in Uganda.
