Mgahinga covers 34 km² in the corner where Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo meet, under three extinct volcanoes: Muhavura at 4,127 m, Sabyinyo at 3,669 m and Gahinga at 3,474 m. It is the Ugandan slice of the Virunga massif, and it is the sort of park you have almost to yourself.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga
One family, Nyakagezi, is habituated here. It is a settled group of around nine, led for years by a notably relaxed silverback, and it is often found in the bamboo zone within two or three hours of the briefing point at Ntebeko. The permit is US$800, the same as Bwindi, but only eight are issued a day.
The border question
Nyakagezi has a history of crossing into Rwanda and the DR Congo, and for several years permits were not sold at all. The family has been resident on the Ugandan side for a long stretch now, but we always confirm its status with the Uganda Wildlife Authority before selling a Mgahinga permit — and we will move you to Bwindi if there is any doubt.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkeys live only in the Virungas and Mgahinga is the best place in Uganda to see them. They move fast through bamboo in troops of up to eighty, which makes them harder to photograph and much more entertaining to watch than gorillas. A permit is US$100 for one hour, or US$200 for the four-hour habituation session, which is our pick.
The Batwa Trail
The Batwa were forest hunter-gatherers here until the park was gazetted in 1991, when they were evicted without compensation. The Batwa Trail is led by Batwa guides across the lower slopes and ends in Garama Cave, where the community's history is told and sung. It costs about US$80 and the revenue goes directly to the Batwa. Do it properly: allow a full morning, and ask questions.
Volcano climbs
| Climb | Height | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Sabyinyo | 3,669 m | 8 hrs | Ladders and ridges; stand in three countries at once on the summit |
| Mount Gahinga | 3,474 m | 6 hrs | The gentlest, ending at a swamp-filled crater |
| Mount Muhavura | 4,127 m | 8–9 hrs | A relentless climb to a crater lake and, on a clear day, a view to the Rwenzoris |
Climbs cost around US$80 each including a ranger guide, and none should be attempted the day before a gorilla trek.
Getting there and where to stay
Mgahinga is 45 minutes from Kisoro town, which is 1 hour 15 by air from Entebbe or about 4 hours from Kigali. Mount Gahinga Lodge is the standout, with its own Batwa community programme; Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp at the park gate is simple, cheap and directly community-owned; and Kisoro has a range of guesthouses including Travellers Rest Hotel, where Dian Fossey used to stay.
Pairing Mgahinga with Bwindi
Nkuringo and Rushaga are 1.5–2 hours away, which makes a two-park trip easy: trek gorillas in Bwindi, track golden monkeys and walk the Batwa Trail in Mgahinga, and stop at Lake Mutanda in between. Ask us to build it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is gorilla trekking in Mgahinga worth it?
If you want quiet, yes. Mgahinga has one habituated family, the Nyakagezi group, and a fraction of Bwindi's visitors. The permit is the same US$800. The catch is that the family has historically wandered across the Rwandan and Congolese borders, so permits are only sold when they are settled on the Ugandan side.
What is golden monkey tracking?
An hour with a troop of golden monkeys — an endangered, bamboo-loving primate found only in the Virungas. It costs US$100 in Mgahinga, or US$200 for a four-hour habituation session. It is the best value primate experience in Uganda.
What is the Batwa Trail?
A guided day led by Batwa elders who lived in this forest before it became a national park in 1991, ending in the Garama Cave. It costs around US$80 and the money goes to the Batwa community. It is a serious, sometimes uncomfortable experience rather than a performance, and it is better for it.
Next
Keep planning
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — the main Uganda gorilla park
- Nkuringo sector — 90 minutes from Mgahinga
- Uganda gorilla safaris — the wider country
- Permits and costs — gorilla, golden monkey and Batwa fees
Enquire
Start planning your gorilla trek
Tell us roughly when you would like to travel and how you like to travel. A trip specialist replies within one working day with a costed suggestion.
We check live permit availability before we reply. No deposit is needed to have a conversation.