Mgahinga National Park is rich in biodiversity.
Fauna of Mgahinga National Park (Uganda)
Over 76 species of mammals survive within Mgahinga National Park Uganda and include buffaloes, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, black fronted duikers, bushbucks and varied primates such as golden monkeys and mountain gorillas.
Birds (avifaunal) –a total of 180 bird species exist in this park and most of them are endemic species to Albertine rift area. The park’s interesting birds to be identified include red faced woodland warblers, Kivu ground thrush, blue headed sunbird, Rwenzori turacos, archer’s robin chat, paradise flycatchers, western green tinker birds, cape robin chat, Rwenzori batis, olive woodpeckers, yellow vented bulbul,
Speckled mouse bird, pin-tailed whydahs, black kite, white necked raven, speckled mouse bird, fire finch stonechat, Rwenzori nightjars and olive pigeon, etc.
Flora of the Park
Mgahinga NP is largely comprised of bamboo forest, Rwenzori-Virunga montane moorland, Albertine rift montane forest, alpine zone and others. The park supports diversity of primates including golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, black fronted duikers, rodents, bush pigs, elephants, leopards, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, black and white colobus monkeys.
Bird species –the park protects a good number of Albertine rift endemic species. They include the strange weavers, red-faced woodland, red throated alethe, dusky crimson wing, mountain masked apalis, handsome spur fowl, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori batis, and stripe breasted tit, Kivu ground thrush, regal sunbird, archer’s ground robin and more.
Virunga Volcanoes
Three volcanoes dominate Mgahinga National Park Uganda and include Muhabura at an altitude of 4127m, Mt. Gahinga 3474 m and Sabyinyo volcano at 3669m. Sabyinyo and Muhabura volcanoes can take hikers about 8 hours to have round trek.
Because of the park’s high altitude, there are also many flowering plants and shrubs sheltering beautiful butterflies. The biodiversity is also incredible, from the woodlands and montane forests at lower slopes, through the bamboo belts and Hagenia-Hypericum to the afro-alpine rare plants like giant lobelias and groundsels on top.
Vegetation Zones of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
From the woodlands, montane forests, bamboo belt, Hagenia-Hypericum to the afro-alpine rare plants like giant lobelias and groundsels.