Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies in the far south-west, in Kisoro District, on the slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes where Uganda meets Rwanda and DR Congo. It is Uganda’s smallest national park, and one of its most beautiful.

Why go

UWA’s saying for Mgahinga is “where gold meets silver”. It is the only place in Uganda where you can track both the rare golden monkey and the mountain gorilla. Bamboo forest covers the lower slopes, and on clear days the views reach across three countries. More than 180 kinds of birds live here, including 14 found only in the Albertine Rift, such as the Rwenzori turaco.

What you can do

• Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zone: playful, colourful monkeys, on a walk most people can manage.
• The golden monkey habituation experience, for more time with one group.
• Gorilla trekking with the park’s one habituated gorilla family, when it is on the Ugandan side.
• Volcano climbs: Muhavura (4,127 m), Gahinga, or Sabyinyo, where the three countries meet.
• A gorge walk and birding walks.

The people side

The Batwa Trail is the highlight for many guests. It was opened in 2011 by UWA, the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda and Kisoro District. Batwa guides, whose families lived in this forest for generations, show how they hunted, made fire and used plants as medicine. The walk ends in Garama Cave, a lava tunnel about 200 metres long, where the guides sing in the dark. The Batwa Trail is included in your trip, and part of every trail fee goes to the Batwa community.

Best time to visit

Mgahinga is open all year. June to August and December to February are drier and better for volcano climbs. It is cold at this height: nights can drop below 10 C, so bring warm layers.

Getting there

UWA gives about 9 hours by road from Kampala via Kabale; add about 1 hour from Entebbe. The Ntebeko gate is about 14 km from Kisoro town. Flights from Entebbe to the Kisoro airstrip take about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Good to know

The gorilla family sometimes crosses into Rwanda, so UWA only sells Mgahinga gorilla permits when it is in Uganda, and we only plan a gorilla day here when permits are open. Golden monkey walks and the Batwa Trail are easy to moderate. Volcano climbs are long, steep full days (Muhavura is about 8 hours return, and Sabyinyo has ladders), so they suit strong walkers only. Lake Mutanda, about 30 to 40 minutes away, is a calm place to stay, and Echuya Forest, on the road from Lake Bunyonyi, is worth a stop for birders. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.