3 days / 2 nights
3 Day Mgahinga Gorillas and Golden Monkeys
- Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga
- Golden monkey tracking
- Volcano scenery
From$2,100per person
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Gorillas and golden monkeys on the Virunga volcanoes
Gorillas and golden monkeys on the Virunga volcanoes
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers the Ugandan slopes of the Virunga volcano range in the far south-west of the country, where Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo meet. It is Uganda's smallest national park and the least visited of the two gorilla parks, which gives it a quieter, less crowded feel than Bwindi even on a trekking day. The scenery is different too: instead of tangled lowland rainforest, trails climb through bamboo and montane forest on the flanks of three extinct volcanoes, Sabyinyo, Muhabura and Gahinga.
Mgahinga has just one habituated gorilla family available to trekkers, compared with more than 20 across Bwindi's four sectors, so daily permits are far more limited and can sell out faster in busy periods. Permit pricing is the same as Bwindi: $800 per person in high season and $600 in low season (April, May and November) for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African Community citizens, with full payment due at the time of booking. Because there is only one group and a single trailhead, logistics here are simpler than in Bwindi, but availability is the trade-off.
Golden monkeys are Mgahinga's other primate draw, tracked in the bamboo zone lower on the mountain, and the park's volcanic geography makes it the only place in Uganda to offer proper mountain hikes as a day activity rather than a multi-day expedition. Mount Sabyinyo's summit sits directly on the tripoint between the three countries, Muhabura is the tallest and most demanding of the three peaks, and Gahinga is the gentlest, with a crater lake near its top.
A Batwa cultural trail, led by Batwa guides through the forest their ancestors once lived in, rounds out a visit. Most travellers see Mgahinga as an add-on to Bwindi or as a base for combining Uganda gorilla trekking with a trip across the nearby Rwanda border, rather than a standalone multi-night stop.
Trek to Mgahinga's single habituated gorilla group, with rangers guiding the approach through bamboo and montane forest on the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. As with Bwindi, permits cost $800 per person in high season and $600 in low season (April, May and November) for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African Community citizens, with full payment due at booking. Because there is only one group, permits should be secured well ahead of a planned date.
A guided trek into the bamboo zone to find a habituated troop of golden monkeys, an Albertine Rift endemic species. Sightings are generally easier and quicker than gorilla trekking, and the permit is separate from and less expensive than a gorilla permit, making it a good pairing activity.
Full-day guided hikes up one of the three Virunga peaks on Uganda's side of the border. Sabyinyo's summit sits on the tripoint between Uganda, Rwanda and DRC; Muhabura is the tallest and most physically demanding; Gahinga is the gentlest of the three, with a crater lake near its top. Each is a full-day round trip with a park ranger.
A cultural walk led by Batwa guides through the forest that was their ancestral home before the park was gazetted, including demonstrations of hunting and gathering skills, traditional homes and storytelling.
Shorter guided walks through the bamboo and montane forest zones for birds, forest scenery and the chance of other wildlife, a lower-key option for a second day or for travellers not trekking gorillas or monkeys.
Visits to communities around the park's Ntebeko entrance, with craft groups and local guides giving context to daily life at the foot of the volcanoes, usually arranged as an add-on before or after a trek.
The dry seasons, generally December to February and June to September, are the easiest for trekking, with firmer volcano and forest trails and better visibility from the summits on a hike. Gorilla and golden monkey tracking run year-round since the animals are present regardless of season, and April, May and November carry the low-season permit price along with wetter, muddier trail conditions. Given Mgahinga's single gorilla group, planning around permit availability matters at least as much as choosing a season.
Mgahinga is reached by road from Kampala via Mbarara and Kabale to Kisoro, a drive of around 9 hours (roughly 510 km) that most travellers split over two days, often combining it with a stop at Lake Bunyonyi. The park's Ntebeko entrance is a short drive from Kisoro town. Because Mgahinga sits directly on the Rwanda border, it is also a practical crossing point for itineraries that combine Uganda gorilla trekking with time in Rwanda, via the nearby Cyanika border post.
Budget
Simple, clean accommodation and a popular budget choice near Mgahinga.
Mid-range
Comfortable lodge with meals included, a popular midrange choice near Mgahinga.
Luxury
Upmarket lodge with guided activities, a popular luxury choice near Mgahinga.
Mgahinga is smaller and quieter, with a single habituated gorilla group compared with more than 20 across Bwindi's four sectors, so it has fewer permits available each day. In exchange, it offers golden monkey tracking and volcano hikes that Bwindi does not.
Yes, a gorilla permit is required and should be booked well ahead given the limited daily availability. It costs $800 per person in high season and $600 in low season (April, May and November) for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African Community citizens, with full payment due at booking.
Yes. The park sits directly on the border and the Cyanika crossing is close by, making it a convenient point to combine Uganda gorilla trekking with time in Rwanda. Ask us about combined Uganda and Rwanda itineraries.
They vary. Gahinga is the gentlest of the three peaks and has a crater lake near the top, Sabyinyo is a steeper climb to a summit on the tripoint of three countries, and Muhabura is the tallest and most demanding. All are full-day hikes with a park ranger.
Yes, both apply nationally. Uganda requires an e-visa obtained online in advance and a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival.
3 days / 2 nights
From$2,100per person
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8 days / 7 nights
From$4,200per person
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