Covering an area of 33.7 sq.km making it Uganda’s smallest national park, Mgahinga Gorilla Park is located in the south-western part of Uganda on the border with Congo and Rwanda. Mgahinga National Park is a second best of the world’s most endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The park harbour’s the closest rare mountain gorillas which roam about the whole forest in search for food. Regardless of the popular mountain gorillas, the park also contains wildlife species like golden monkeys which is endemic to the Albertine rift along with wild elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs among others.
The park has a strong cultural attachment to the Batwa community that inhabits the area. The entire park is located in Bufumbira county Kisoro District at the extreme south western corner of Uganda thus being among the secluded combined destination that a traveler can visit while on Uganda Safari. People from the Batwa tribe demonstrate what life was like for them in the forest, before they were forced out, when the area became a national park to protect mountain gorillas. Mgahinga National Park is one of the few places in the world where the endangered mountain gorillas live and it attracts people from different countries to come on a gorilla safari in Uganda.
There is no doubt that this park is one of the leading tourism sites in Uganda since it harbours these rare primates. One may wonder why a gorilla safari should be done in Mgahinga National Park and not in other countries but, the secret behind is that this park has a thick rain forest with a wide variety of tree species and gorillas are known to be vegetarians. There is enough food for them in the park and this is the reason as to why some even migrate from Congo and Rwanda to this place.
Being a mountainous terrain with dense vegetation cover, the park is able to support the lives of these gentle creatures. One group family is found in this park and habituated for trekking while on a budget gorilla safari in Uganda. Nyakagezi gorilla family has 10 members including 1 silver back. The group is led by Mark the dominant silver back who likes travelling and keeps on crossing borders between Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The moment you visit the park, the welcoming atmosphere is an evidence of adventure filled of natural beauty. A day trek through the forests of Mgahinga with a well-trained guide who explains the gorillas’ behaviors along the way is a lifetime experience.
Normally the gorilla safari starts from Ntebeko entrance gate at 8:00am in the morning daily taking 2-4 hours. A visitor is expected to use his or her time well while with a gorilla family since the maximum time allowed to spend with them is one hour. The best time to visit the place for trekking is during two dry seasons when the park is easily accessed. It is during this time that the thick forest can be entered easily and when the paths are not as muddy as it is in the wet seasons. The best dry months for gorilla trekking include; from June, July, August, September, October, and December to February and wet months include; April, May and November. However, gorilla tracking tourism is possible throughout the year.
Apart from the mountain gorillas, the park has a huge culture of the Batwa pygmies who spent much of their ancestral life in the caves of Garama and lived by gathering wild honey, roots and fruits before the park were gazetted. Now they lead visitors through the forests and introduce them to their old home and the techniques they used to survive in it and their ancient knowledge of it secrets remains unrivalled.
The Batwa cultural trail starts at the base of Mt. Muhavura at 8:00am and finish by 3- 4pm. You will need walking shoes, hat, rain gears, sun glasses, packed lunch and mineral water. The Batwa trail runs across the lower slopes of the Muhavura and Mgahinga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife but the Batwa Trail is far from being a conventional nature walk. With help of Batwa guides, you will see the forest as a ladder, pharmacy, builder’s yard, tool kit and above all a home. Along the trail, you will fire a bow and arrow, check hives for wild honey, help repair a Batwa shelter, harvest plants for medicine and food, light a fire without matches, listen to legends and learn about Batwa traditions.
The highlight of the trail is a descent into the Garama cave, a 200m- along lava tube beneath Mt. Mgahinga. The Batwa are famed for their music, dance and historical, subterranean council chamber in Garama cave provides the setting for an unforgettable performance. The Batwa trial celebration of the forest culture of the first people, however it is impossible to ignore the fact that Batwa life has greatly changed. The day’s events conclude with a discussion about the Batwa’s current situation, how it can be improved and progress to date towards doing so. The Batwa Cultural Experience permit cost USD 80 per person.
