Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of Uganda’s new parks and the smallest one, covering 33 sq km. It is found in the southern end of Uganda on the volcanic Mountains that are composed of three ranges. The highest peak in these ranges is on Mt. Muhavura at an altitude of 4,127 metres above sea level.
Gahinga, where the National Park got its name, is the oldest but the shortest at 3,474 metres above sea level. The 3rd one is Sabinyo at 3,669 metres above sea level.
Mountain Gorilla and Golden monkey trekking, plus bird watching, are the main activities here. Mountain climbing and caving are the other popular activities in this park.
This is one of the sites you have to go looking for the Albertine Rift Endemic species like the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground-Thrush, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, among others.
However, there are other birds of interest like Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Dusky Turtle Dove, Fraser’s Eagle Owl, Malachite Sunbird, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, among others.
There is Gahinga Lodge that belongs to Volcanoes Safaris, a km from the visitors centre, Travellers Rest, Tourist Hotel, among others in Kisoro town. The park is 14 km from Kisoro town. It is 555 km from Kampala, the country’s Capital, and it takes about 8 8-hour drive.