Uganda Parks
By Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert and frequently visits Uganda. She and her husband are a travel photography/writing team with many Africa guidebooks under their belt, including the Bradt guide to Uganda.
Mgahinga Gorilla NP is an alternative destination to Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda. Mgahinga is part of the Virunga Mountains, which are situated in the border area between Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. As opposed to other gorilla trekking places, including the one in Bwindi NP, there is only one habituated gorilla troop in Mgahinga. The gorilla group has been nomadic at times and can sometimes even move across the border. This makes the park less reliable for gorilla trekking. While there is a very good chance of seeing the gorillas here, sightings are not guaranteed.
Pros and Cons
- Mountain gorilla trekking
- Fantastic scenery with views over volcanic cones
- Activities include hiking to volcanic peaks, golden monkey trekking, Batwa cultural trail and caving
- Easier to obtain last minute permits here than in Bwindi
- The nomadic gorilla group occasionally ventures out of the park
- Access roads are bad in the rainy season
- Very expensive gorilla trekking permit (though much cheaper than in Rwanda)
Wildlife
Aside from the endangered mountain gorilla, Mgahinga is home to many other mammal species. However, as in all forests, animals tend to be hard to spot. The very rare golden monkey, endemic to the Albertine Rift, can also be tracked. Other mammals include black-and-white colobus, buffalo, elephant, bushbuck and duiker.
Scenery
Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest park. It forms part of the Virunga Mountains and adjoins with the parks across the borders of Congo and Rwanda. The entire park is at a high altitude, and the views are out of this world. The most prominent feature is the volcanic cones of extinct volcanos in the mountain range.
Weather & Climate
The near-constant threat of rain means that Mgahinga doesn’t have a Dry season as such, although the precipitation eases a little from December to January, even more mid-year. The park’s reputation for being one of Uganda’s coolest places is reflected in the average daytime temperature of 20°C/68°F. You’ll need plenty of warm, waterproof clothing during the dual Wet seasons (February to May and from September to November).
Best Time to Visit
Gorillas can be tracked year-round in Mgahinga. Predictably, the low seasons roughly coincide with the Wet seasons (February to May and from September to November), but be aware that some of the park’s accommodation shuts down in these months. The landscape of the park, dominated by the Virunga Mountains, can be better navigated in the drier months.
