Travelling Information and Tips

Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the smallest national parks situated in the southwestern part of the country, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Borders Volcanoes national park of Rwanda and Virunga national park of DR Congo.

3-day gorilla trekking Uganda

Mgahinga gorilla national park occupies approximately a total area of 33.7 square kilometers. Mgahinga Gorilla national park is best known for protecting Uganda’s endangered mountain Gorillas and other primate species such as golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys’, and many bird species among others. Mgahinga gorilla national park harbors three Virunga chained volcanoes such as Mt Muhavura, Mt Gahinga, and Mt Sabinyo.

Top Activities in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking experience

Gorilla trekking is the key activity that attracts huge numbers of tourists to Mgahinga gorilla national park, Gorilla tracking involves trekking on foot deep into the tropical forest while searching for the mountain gorillas, and once mountain Gorillas are found travelers can only spend an hour with the gorilla family in their natural environment.

3-day gorilla trekking Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park starts with an early morning briefing at the park headquarters. Gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla national park may last from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of these giant apes because they tend to locomote from one place to another searching for food. During gorilla trekking, travelers can be able to see other primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, bird species, and butterfly species among others and once mountain gorillas are seen, travelers are only allowed to stay with the mountain gorillas for an hour in the jungle which gives travelers a chance of monitoring and learns more about their behaviors, travelers are allowed to take photos and record their wonderful moments with the gorillas for their lifetime memory.

Golden monkey trekking

Golden monkey trekking is another amazing tourist activity in Mgahinga gorilla national park that is attracting many tourists. Golden monkey trekking also involves tourists moving on foot into the forest looking for golden monkeys and once Golden monkeys are found, travelers can only spend an hour with the golden monkey family allocated to them in their natural environment, Golden monkey trekking experience last from between 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of these golden monkeys because they also move from place to place searching for food. During your golden monkey trekking, travelers are always rewarded with spotting other primates like mountain gorillas, bird species, plant species, and tree species among others.

Bird Watching

Mgahinga gorilla national park harbors over 180 bird species recorded including the Albertine rift endemics, Migratory birds, and forest birds. Mgahinga Gorilla national park bird watching is mostly done around Mt Sabinyo and Mt Gahinga, travelers are accompanied by a professional experienced birding guide who can identify different bird species easily, Mgahinga  Gorilla national park includes handsome francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, olive woodpecker, black-headed waxbill, dusky turtle dove,  streaky seedeater, Rwenzori night jar,  blue-headed sunbird, bronze sunbird, cape robin chat,  African hill babblers, fire finch stonechat,  Kivu ground thrush, red-faced woodland warbler, western green tinkerbird, bronze sunbird, pin tailed whydah, yellow-billed kite, yellow vented bulbul, paradise flycatcher,  alpine chat, black kite, and olive pigeon among others.

Volcano climbing

Mgahinga gorilla national park protects three of the Virunga chained mountains that are mount Gahinga standing at 3,474 meters above the ground hiking to the peak may take approximately 6 hours to and from, Mt Sabinyo stands at 3,669 meters above the ground, and hiking to its peak takes like 8 hours round trip and Mt Muhavura stands at 4,127 meters above the ground and hiking to its peak may take between 9-10 hours round trip. Mgahinga gorilla national park mountain climbing experience makes travelers pass via different vegetation zones, view many wildlife species, enjoy Rwenzori mountains peak views, a crater-filled swamp with giant lobelia, Virunga Volcanoes, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park among others

Batwa trail experience

Batwa cultural experience is another exciting tourist activity in Mgahinga gorilla national park where travelers get a chance to interact with Uganda’s pygmies who used to survive in the forest with animals before the forest was designated as a national park. During the Batwa cultural trail experience, travelers learn more about the Batwa such as how they used to survive in the forest before resettlement, participate in demonstrations about Batwa’s past like hunting skills, pointing out medicine plants, and wild fruits gathering skills among others how they used to make bamboo cups, point out medicinal plants, take a visit to the Ngarama cave where the Batwa kings palace used to be, enjoy amazing entertainments from Batwa women and men among others.

Best time to explore Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park can be visited throughout the year but is best visited in the dry months lasting from June to September and from December to February. in the dry months, there is less or low rainfall in Mgahinga Gorilla national park so mountain gorilla trekking trails are dry and passable which makes gorilla trekking so easy for most travelers.

Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be explored in the rainy months which last from March to May and from October to November because it’s the best time for bird watching where travelers can enjoy uncounted bird species including the migratory bird species.

How to approach Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park can be approached by both road transportation whereby travelers can be driven from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka- Mbarara road, and Kabale- Kisoro road. Road transportation to the park headquarters takes about 9 to 10 hours.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park can also be reached via Kigali Rwanda whereby travelers are driven from Kigali straight to Mgahinga gorilla national park by road then cross the Katuna border to Kabale then connect to Kisoro or Cyanika border in Kisoro.

Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be approached by air transportation where travelers can be able to book scheduled or domestic flights that are operated by Aero link Uganda, Aero link-chartered flights start from either Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield straight to Kisoro airstrip and then get to you booked lodge by road.

For unforgettable experiences and breathtaking memories, travelers are free to combine their activities in Mgahinga gorilla national park with Queen Elizabeth national park where you can participate in activities such as unlimited game drives, boat cruises, guided nature walks, lions tracking, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambure gorge and, night game drives among others.

Kibale forest national park also well termed as Uganda’s chimpanzee capital is situated in the western part of the country in the Kamwenge district. Kibale forest national park occupies a total area of 795 square kilometers.

Chimpanzee trekking Uganda Tours

Kibale forest national park protects different wildlife species such as forest elephants, forest buffaloes, warthogs, duikers, bush pigs, 13 primate species including over 1,500 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, bush babies, velvet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and over 375 bird species including the great blue turaco to be viewed on Uganda primate safari. Kibale forest national park showcases numerous interesting tourist activities which include,

Top tourist things to do in Kibale forest national park

Chimpanzee trekking experience

Chimpanzee trekking is among Uganda’s top adventurous tourists’ most famous activities within Kibale forest national park that involves travelers moving deep into the tropical forest searching for the wild habituated chimpanzee troops once found travelers are only permitted to spend an hour with the chimpanzee family in the jungle. environment. Chimpanzee trekking experience in the Kibale forest starts with a morning briefing where travelers are taught about the dos and the don’ts for chimpanzee trekking. after the briefing trekking chimpanzees in the forest with a park guide who is experienced with different chimpanzee tracking trails.

Chimpanzee trekking Uganda Tours

Trekking chimpanzees in the Kibale forest lasts from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees because chimpanzees tend to move from place to place while looking for food. During chimpanzee trekking, travelers may be able to spot other primate species surviving in that forest such as the black and white colobus monkeys, bush babies, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys, as well as view different bird species, butterfly species, plant and tree species among other unique things. Once the chimpanzees are seen, tourists are only accepted to stay with the chimpanzees for an hour in the Jungle which gives travelers an opportunity to learn more about the lifestyle, and habits, lifestyle, watch chimpanzees feed themselves, breastfeed, play, hunt, and fight, travelers are allowed to take photos and record their wonderful moments with the chimpanzees as proof of chimpanzee trekking experience on their Uganda primate safari.

Chimpanzee habituation experience

 Chimpanzee habituation experience is an interesting tourist activity that involves the wild chimpanzees that underwent training to get used to humans for trekking. Chimpanzee habituation in the Kibale forest takes between 2 to 3 years to be a complete process, chimpanzee habituation involves a team of scientists, researchers, park rangers, tourists, and experienced park guides among others. Chimpanzee habits early in the morning with a morning briefing where travelers are taught the rules and regulations to be followed during chimpanzee trekking. After your briefing chimpanzee trekking in this tropical forest starts which takes about 1-8 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. during your chimpanzee trekking, travelers can easily view other wildlife species such as primate species like olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, blue-tailed monkeys, birds, butterfly species plant species, and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees are located, travelers can only be able to spend four hours with the habituated chimpanzees which allows travelers to watch them feed, rest, fight, breastfeed, hunt, patrol, and enjoy chimpanzees building their new nests among others.

Bird watching

Kibale forest national park harbors more than 375 bird species recorded including the4 Albertine rift endemic species, water birds, forest birds, and migratory birds among other birds, which makes Kibale Forest national park one of the top birding destinations in Uganda. During a bird watching within Kibale forest national park, travelers are accompanied by an experienced bird guide who is knowledgeable about birds, Your guide will help in spotting different bird species such as black-eared ground thrush, African pitta, collared Apalis, blue breasted Kingfisher, green breasted pitta, little greenbul, purple breasted sunbird, brown chested athlete, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, dusky crimson wing, Nahan’s francolin, grey parrot, red-faced woodland warbler, casinos spinetail, Ruwenzori Apalis, red chested owlet, Abyssinian ground thrush, black-capped Apalis, masked Apalis, and red chested fluff tail among other bird species.

 Nature walks in Kibale forest national park

The nature walk is another amazing activity in Kibale forest national park where tourists get another chance of exploring this tropical forest on foot in the company of a professional park guide. During the nature-guided walk travelers can be able to see different animal species, primate species, a variety of bird species, butterflies, plant species, listen to sweet sounds of bird species singing, and tree species among others.

Nature Walks in Kibale forest national park also allows travelers to view nocturnal a night nature walks where travelers move deep in this tropical rainforest at night with the help of a park guide and spotlight torches which helps in clear viewing of these nocturnal animal species. During the nocturnal night walk, travelers can be able to spot different wildlife species such as tree hyrax, bush babies, nightjar, serval cats, pottos, and civet among others.

 Best time to Explore Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park can be explored throughout the year but is best visited during the dry season also famous as the peak season in Uganda in the months from June to September and from December to March. Because in the dry season Kibale forest national park receives low rainfall therefore Chimpanzee tracking trails are dry and passable compared to the rainy season when chimpanzee trekking trails are slippery and muddy which makes chimpanzee trekking difficult.

Although Kibale forest national park can as well be visited during the wet season which is also famous as the rainy season, Uganda’s rainy months last from March to May and from October to November because the rainy season is the best time for bird watching where travelers may be able to spot migratory, colorful bird species, and Albertine Rift Valley endemic bird species. During the rainy season, there is plenty of food for the wild chimpanzees, therefore, chimpanzees can easily be seen within the shortest distance compared to the dry months when tourists move long distances deep into the tropical rainforest searching for the chimpanzees.

How to access Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park is standing in the western part of the country and can be approached by road transportation means where tourists are driven from Entebbe or Kampala via Mubende- Fort Portal or Masaka- Mbarara, Bushenyi road which may take approximately 5 to 6 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.

Where to stay in Kibale forest national park

Kibale forest national park offers numerous accommodation options where travelers can spend their nights while on their Uganda primate safari. Kibale forest national park lodges range from luxury lodges, midrange lodges, and budget lodges which include Rwenzori Guest House, Kyaninga lodge, Nyabulitwa Country Resort, and Safari Camp, chimps nest, Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Ndali Kasende, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Primate Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge, crater safari lodge, Ataco Country Resort, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Safari Lodge, Turaco Treetops, and Rweetera Safari Park, among others.