Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : Gorilla trekking is one of the most famous safari activities in the pearl of Africa and highly sought for by most sightseers in Uganda.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is located in south western Uganda covering a surface area of 34km² making it Uganda’s smallest national park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one habituated trans-boundary mountain gorilla group named the Nyakagezi gorilla group and visitors can track this group.

Mountain gorillas at mgahinga national park are Trans-boundary basically shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

Trekking mountain gorillas in Mgahinga national park is easy compared to Bwindi national park because the gorillas of Mgahinga are easy to locate and be seen in their natural habitat.

Always moving and crossing into the boundaries of the three countries, with the most recent migration in early November 2019, where about 20 gorillas crossed over from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

visitors can take part in various safari activities apart from gorilla trekking while on a visit to Mgahinga national park including; cultural tours/ community walks where visitors can get to visit Batwa village communities within the park, golden monkey tracking, bird watching, hiking and nature walks.

Cost of Gorilla Trekking Permit

Gorilla trekking permits cost 600 USD per person and tourists are advised to acquire gorilla trekking permits 4-6 months in advance because of the high demand by tourists to do gorilla trekking in Uganda over Rwanda and Congo. The advantage that most tourists have here is that the cost of the permit covers entrance fees to the park, guide fees and a contribution towards the development of the neighboring communities.

However, it is important for visitors to note that starting from 1^st July 2020, gorilla trekking permits in Uganda will increase to 700 USD per person.

Obtaining a gorilla trekking permit is quite simple with visitors having the option of acquiring a Uganda gorilla permit from a trusted tour operator or directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, whether you are using a tour operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you will need to present a copy of your valid ID or passport.

Rules and Regulations of Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga national park

There are certain guidelines that every tourists doing gorilla trekking should know and observe. These include;

Every tourist must have acquired a gorilla trekking permit before visiting the park.
Have a valid Uganda or East African Tourist Visa and your passport MUST be valid for at least 6 months.
Gorilla Trekking can be done by adults 15 years and above.
Tourists can interact with gorillas for only an hour.
There is a maximum of 8 visitors per day per group.
No use of flashes in cameras when taking photos of gorillas as this can easily disorient them.
A safe distance of 7 meters should be maintained between the tourist and gorillas.
Only tourists who are healthy are permitted to trek gorillas so as to reduce chances of spreading diseases between the tourist and gorillas.
Tourists are advised to lower your voices when in the forest and when in close proximity to the gorillas.
Do carry insect repellent cream or spray just in case you are allergic to bugs and mosquitoes.
Do not eat, drink or smoke when in the presence of gorillas.
Limit unnecessary movement when with gorillas.

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga national park

The best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda is during from June- September and December- February when it is the dry season. During this time of the year, it is much easier for visitors to trek through the forest while locating the gorilla groups. However, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national parks can be done all year round.

What to wear when going Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga national park.

It is recommended that tourists visiting Uganda on a gorilla trekking safari, pack light clothing for warm weather when temperatures in the park are high. However, also pack with you a raincoat for emergency purposes, as you will be in a forest where it can rain at any given time. Also pack with you a good pair of hiking boots, sunscreen cream and a water bottle/mineral water to keep hydrated as you trek.

Safety of Gorilla Trekking Mgahinga national parks

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is totally and absolutely safe for any visitors planning to partake in the exciting, thrilling and adventurous activity. Most national parks in Uganda are safe and while on your gorilla trekking adventure, visitors are always accompanied by experienced guides and armed park rangers for extra security.

Also before trekking gorillas in Mgahinga national parks, trekkers are briefed and given a set of guidelines to follow while tracking the gorillas.

How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Visitors travelling to Mgahinga National Park can access the park either by road or by Air. The national park is situated in the south western region of Uganda, about 494 km from Kampala City. The journey is approximately 8½ hour’s drive to the national park via the Kabale- Mbarara highway. Alternatively, visitors have the option of flying to Kisoro from Entebbe International Airport. Once you land in Kisoro town, drive 11km to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is a 30 minute journey.

For further information about mgahinga national park one can get in touch with Achieve global safaris to see to it that they get to be booked up for a best experience of trekking in the national park.