Hiking Tours in Mgahinga National Park
Hiking Tours in Mgahinga National Park offers spectacular views in the smallest but scenic national park that is bordering the 3 countries, Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in kisoro District. It is considered the smallest national park in Uganda covering 33.9 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1991.
The name of this national park derives from the word Gahinga which means “pile of stones”. The park was established to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and conserving other primates like the rare golden monkeys and other mammals like the forest elephants, buffalos, bushbuck, forest warthogs and many more. The park has several vegetation zones that includes montane forest zone, bamboo zone and moorlands that favors both mammals and birds.
Mgahinga national park holds the three volcanic mountains, Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabinyo. Hiking these mountains takes you to peaks where you watch the earth close to the sky.
Hiking Mount Muhavura in Mgahinga National Park
Mount muhavura is an extinct volcano that lies between Uganda in mgahinga national park and Rwanda in volcanoes national park, Uganda holds the biggest part of the mountain. Muhavura/muhabura means Guide in Kinyarwanda and Rufumbira languages and it’s believed the mountain was given that name because it is the highest of three mountains in mgahinga national park.
Mount muhavura is a dormant volcano that stands at an altitude of 4,127m (13,540ft) above sea level. Hiking this mountain is a bit challenging but a rewarding one, upon reaching the peak a crater lake awaits at the top. hikers can access it from Uganda or Rwanda side. Depending on the hikers’ speed, the climb to the peak of mount muhavura takes 8 hours ascending and descending back to the base.
Hiking Mount Gahinga in Mgahinga national park.
Mount Gahinga is also a dormant volcano located on the Virunga range on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. Hiking to mount Gahinga is not so challenging and is elevated at 3,474m (11,398ft) above sea level. The hike to mount Gahinga takes 6-8 hours covering about 8km. the hike offers a unique experience through bamboo forests and a summit crater swamp with chances of spotting birds and primates.
Hiking mount Sabinyo in mgahinga national park
Sabinyo is a unique name that originates from the local native Rufumbira language which means “teeth of an old man”. Mount sabinyo is dormant with an elevation of about 3,699m (12,037ft). this mountain is shared by three mountains, Uganda, Rwanda and congo. This is considered challenging since it involves steep and slippery trails and needs fitness to conquer this scenic mountain. The mountain is accessed at the ntebeko gate of the mgahinga National Park headquarters. What an adventure stepping your foot in three countries!
Best time for Hiking Tours in Mgahinga National Park
Hiking Tours in mgahinga national park are open any time of the month, usually the best months when the trails are dry is during December to February and June to August.
What to pack for hiking Tours in Mgahinga National Park
For a successful hiking tours in mgahinga national park, travelers require the following;
- Sturdy hiking boots/water proof
- Cameras, binoculars
- Hiking poles
- Water bladder for water to hydrate the body
- Packed snacks
- Water pants and rain jackets/poncho.
Primate watching during hiking tours to Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga national park is the only national park in Uganda where gold meets silver, protecting the rare golden monkeys. It is always a captivating moment sighting these monkeys jump from one bamboo to another. Other primates in mgahinga national park includes gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
Birdwatching during hiking tours to Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga national park is also a home to over 200 bird species, staying in their habitat of montane forests, bamboo, swamps and scenic gorges. Some birds to spot during your tours to mgahinga national park includes; dusky long tailed cuckoo, olive pigeon, red throated Alethe, speckled mouse bird, regal sunbirds, cape Robin chat, handsome francolin, montane night jar, olive thrush, paradise flycatcher, double coloured sunbird, white eyed slaty flycatcher, strange weevil and many more birds.
How to get to mgahinga National Park for hiking tours.
Travelers access the park by road transport from Kampala or Kigali. With a 4 x 4-wheel vehicle, it takes 8-9 hours traveling from Kampala to mgahinga covering about 510 kilometers. From Kigali, it usually takes 4-5 hours through the cyanika border to reach mgahinga covering about 135 kilometers.
You can as well use Air transport from Entebbe international airport to kisoro airstrip which is the quickest means of transport. From Kigali plan a scheduled flight to kisoro airstrip then take about 45-minute drive to the park. Book with us for a life time memorable experience.
