Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, gazetted in 1991, covers an area of 33.7 km 2. Mgahinga is located in the extreme southwest corner of Uganda, which borders with D.R.Congo and Rwanda. The park includes parts of Mounts Mahavura, Mgahinga and Sabinyo. These volcanoes are part of the Virunga chain that extend into the DRC. The summit of Muhavura has a small crater lake and forms the highest point (4127m) in the park. The summit areas are dominated by wort and dwarf heath vegetation. This emerges into bamboo and broad-leaved montane forest, down the mountains. The lower slopes have high altitude savannah woodland with lots of lichens and mosses.
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The isolated location of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the southwest of Uganda makes getting there a combination of transportation choices. Here’s a map to the park:
Flying Internationally: Entebbe International Airport: Your trip will probably start at this airport, which is close to Kampala, the capital.
Kisoro Airport: Approximately an hour’s drive from Mgahinga National Park, Kisoro Airport is the closest airport to the park. Several domestic airlines operate flights from Entebbe to Kisoro, including Aerolink Uganda and Eagle Air. The park can be reached by car transfer from Kisoro Airstrip.
By Road:
From Kampala:
Mgahinga National Park is around 470 kilometers (290 miles) away and takes 8 to 10 hours to get if driving from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Before arriving at Kisoro, the closest town to the park, the road goes by towns like Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale.
Public Transportation:
An other choice is to get to Kisoro from Kampala by bus or matatus, a type of minivan. Public transit is a more economical choice even though it may take longer. You may set up a car transfer to Mgahinga National Park from Kisoro.
Getting Around Mgahinga on SELF DRIVE TRAVELLER
A gem tucked away in Uganda’s southwest corner is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga provides an amazing experience among its volcanic scenery and thick forests if you are an intrepid tourist looking for the excitement of a self-drive safari in Uganda. Put on your seat belt and come along as I walk you through driving this hidden treasure.
Preparation is Key
Complete planning is necessary before to starting your self-drive trip in Mgahinga. Particularly for driving on difficult and occasionally muddy roads, make sure your car is in good working order. With few amenities inside the park, stock up on necessities like food, water, and camping supplies. Remember to receive the required permissions for both park entrance and any planned activities, such monitoring golden monkeys or gorillas.
Navigating the Park
When you go independently, you can take your time seeing Mgahinga. Considering its size in relation to other national parks in Uganda, the park is easy to get about. A system of well-marked paths and trails connects the park’s many features, including as the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes and the thick montane forests.
Road condition
If you are going during the rainy season, especially, be ready for variable road conditions. Use of a robust car capable of off-road driving is advised because some parts of the road could be uneven or unpaved.
With these means of transportation and travel advice, you may set out on an amazing adventure to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and take in the splendors of the southwest region of Uganda.