Located in the far southwestern corner of Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla NP is the smallest park in Uganda. This park makes up the Ugandan part of the Virunga Conservation Area, home to a large variety of wildlife, including half of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. It shares boundaries with Rwanda and Congo/Zaire. Each country has established national parks to protect the forest watersheds and wildlife of the Virungas.

The park is comprised of parts of three volcanic mountains, Mt. Muhavura (4127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3475 m) and Mt. Sabyinyo (3645 m). Gahinga is the lowest of these mountains and has given the park its name. This northeastern part of the Virunga range seems to be extinct, but two western volcanoes on the Congo side are active and erupt every two years.

The vegetation of Mgahinga is typically afro-montane, with a forest belt, a bamboo zone, an ericaceous belt and an alpine zone. The park supports a variety of animal species including gorilla, rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephant, leopard and several other cat species. There are also over 180 species of birds found in the region. Among these are the handsome francolin, the Rwenzori turaco and the side-breasted tit.

About 45 mountain gorillas use the Mgahinga sector of the Virunga Conservation Area seasonally. Gorilla trekking is available here when the gorillas are in the park. They are usually resident in April, May and June and October, November and December although there is no guarantee that the gorillas will be in the park at these times.

Mgahinga also offers several other exciting half-day hikes and the challenge of a full-day climb to the summit of Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Gahinga or the breathtaking Sabyinyo Gorge.

Distance from Kampala: 510km; estimated transit time: 8-10 hrs