Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kisoro district which governed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority with a size of 33.7-sq. km,14 km from kisoro town in Bufumbira County about 540 km from Kampala-the capital. and it lies between altitudes 2,227m and 4,127m. It covers 3 of the Virunga volcanoes which are Mt. Muhavura (4,127), Mt. Gahinga (3,474), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645) Sharing a bordered to the south by the Republic of Rwanda and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC). Each of these surrounding countries protects its own share of the Virungas.
Book NowThe three parks together form the ‘Virunga Conservation Area’ (VCA) totaling to 434-sq. km of which Mgahinga is 33.7 sq. km, just 8% of with neighbouring Congo and Rwanda it is the smallest National park of the 3 national parks and protects the Ugandan part of the ‘Virunga mountains; a range of extinct and active Volcanoes that straddle the border. A tropical rainforest, much of the lower slopes have been depleted by the encroachment of farms, however, the bamboo and alpine forests remain largely intact and offer refuge to visiting gorilla groups from neighbouring Congo and Rwanda.
These Gorilla groups frequently ‘pop in’ and take temporary residence for a couple of months at a stretch. Additional wildlife. . The park takes its name from “Gahinga” – the local word for the piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes. The park has one habituated gorilla group, although this group sometimes crosses the border into Rwanda, which means Mgahinga is not a reliable spot for viewing gorillas.
The Volcanoes of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
It is really fascinating place with the three volcanoes, that is, Mgahinga, Muhavura and Sabinyo where each day hiking feels like more of a metal challenge than physical one, later on gives an unforgettable experience.
The Gahinga has a beautiful swamp at the top, Muhavura has a crater lake and the Sabinyo gives you the best and amazing experience ever whereby climbing to its summit you set a foot in 3 countries; Uganda DRC and Rwanda. Also along the slopes there are great scenic views of vegetation. Mgahinga National Park is has about 39 mammals of these including the Mountain gorillas, buffaloes and elephants, also endangered golden monkeys. Others include; giant forest hogs, bushbucks, leopards, spotted hyenas, black fronted duikers among others. It also has around 79 bird species.
While in the park there is only one group that is tracked which is the Nyakagezi gorilla group, years before this group of Gorillas could move from country to country until it has to make Mgahinga its home, Basing on exhilarating rewarding experience it consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes with huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape. It has astunning view which can be viewed from Ntebeko Gate. Mgahinga Park is of a great biodiversity importance due to its fertile land which provide a refuge for mountain plants and animals that moved up or down the slopes as climate became warmer or cooler throughout the climatic changes.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park experiences a cool climate that supports the growth of Afro-montane vegetation and the abundant type of Vegetation is the bamboo, a delicacy to the Mountain gorilla. The Lobelia, Haege-nia spp are among the other types of vegetation is park. The name Mgahinga was derived from the Kinyarwanda word “Gahinga” that means “Pile of volcanic lava stone heaps where cultivation is carried out”. To add on “Sabinyo” means “the old man’s teeth” and “Muhavura” means “Guide”. Mgahinga National park was established majorly to protect the mountain gorillas and in this same park also endangered Golden monkeys have made it their habitat.
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