Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, at just 33.9 sq km Uganda’s smallest national park, sits in the far southwest of the country in Kisoro District, covering the Ugandan slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes: Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Created in 1991, the park forms part of a single transboundary conservation area shared with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park.
The park at a glance
- 33.9 sq km in Kisoro District, southwestern Uganda, about 15 km south of Kisoro town
- Created in 1991, covering the Ugandan slopes of Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo
- Home to around 30 mountain gorillas in one habituated group and two unhabituated groups
- Peaks range from about 2,227 to 4,127 metres in elevation across the three volcanoes
Gorillas, golden monkeys and volcanoes
Mgahinga’s single habituated gorilla family offers trekking on a smaller, quieter scale than Bwindi, with permits typically easier to secure at short notice. The park is also one of only two places in the world, alongside Rwanda’s Virunga forests, where the golden monkey can be tracked, an Albertine Rift endemic species with a strikingly bright orange-gold coat. Beyond primates, the three volcanic peaks offer day hikes of varying difficulty, from the steep but achievable Mount Gahinga to the more demanding Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo climbs, the latter reaching a summit where Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC meet.
A transboundary landscape
Mgahinga’s location at the meeting point of three countries makes it part of one of Africa’s most significant conservation partnerships, with Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC jointly protecting the Virunga volcanic range and the gorilla population that moves across its unfenced borders. The Batwa Trail, a guided walk to the historic Garama Cave, is also offered within the park.
Things to do
- Gorilla trekking with Mgahinga’s single habituated family
- Golden monkey trekking, one of only two places in the world to do so
- Hiking Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura or Mount Sabyinyo
- The Batwa Trail to Garama Cave, led by Batwa elders
Practical information
- Reached by road from Kisoro, about 15 km, or a longer drive from Kabale or Kampala
- Permits for gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking and volcano hikes are managed separately and should be booked in advance
- Best visited in the dry seasons, June to September and December to February, for easier hiking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers gorilla trekking, golden monkeys and volcano hiking in one compact, uncrowded corner of Uganda. Offmap Safaris can combine it with Bwindi or a cross-border Rwanda extension. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and visa and entry requirements.
