Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga is Uganda's smallest national park, covering the northern slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes — Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo — where Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet. It protects a single habituated mountain gorilla family and, more distinctively, a population of golden monkeys, a bright and endangered primate restricted to the bamboo forests of the Virungas. The landscape is markedly different from Bwindi: open bamboo and afro-montane vegetation on steep volcanic slopes rather than tangled lowland rainforest, and on clear days the views across the volcano chain are exceptional. Because the park is small and the gorilla family occasionally crosses into Rwanda, most itineraries treat it as a complement to Bwindi rather than a replacement.

Why visit Mgahinga

• Golden monkey tracking, a species restricted to the Virunga bamboo forests.
• An alternative mountain gorilla trekking option in more open volcanic terrain than Bwindi.
• Volcano climbs on Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo for those with the time and fitness.
• The Batwa Trail, led by the community who once lived in these forests.

Wildlife

One habituated mountain gorilla family, plus golden monkey troops in the bamboo zone. Buffalo, bushbuck and forest elephant are present but rarely seen. Birding is strong, with Albertine Rift endemics including the Rwenzori turaco.

• Golden monkey, endemic to the Virunga bamboo forests
• A habituated mountain gorilla family
• Albertine Rift endemic birds including Rwenzori turaco
• Views across three extinct Virunga volcanoes

Best time to visit

June to August and December to February for drier trails. The altitude makes conditions cold and changeable at any time of year.

June–August and December–February.

Things to do

Golden monkey tracking

A permit-controlled trek into the bamboo zone, less demanding than gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking

Tracking the park's single habituated family, subject to permits and the family's movements.

Volcano climbs

Full-day ascents of Muhabura, Gahinga or Sabyinyo for fit walkers.

Batwa Trail

A guided cultural walk led by the Batwa community, arranged separately.

How long to stay

One or two nights, typically combined with Bwindi rather than visited alone.

What it combines with

Mgahinga is paired with Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi in the far south-west of Uganda.