How safe is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is safe to visit. Given the proximity of Mgahinga to DR Congo, safety is a big concern for most tourists intending to visit this small yet amazing park. However, in today’s article, we will provide sufficient answers to the common question of “How safe is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park”.

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How safe is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

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Mgahinga is safe to visit. Although this park shares borders with the DR Congo, this part of the park is heavily guarded by a joint military unit comprised of elite security personnel from the Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo military. This is to avoid any unlikely scenarios that might arise from the ongoing insecurity in DR Congo caused by the rebel groups fighting in Congo. 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has enjoyed over 15 years of safety, with clients/tourists visiting for Gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking, among other activities.

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When is the best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

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The Best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is in the drier/peak season months of June – August and December to January. During this time of the year, the trails are fairly dry and make for a better gorilla trekking safari experience other than visiting in the rainy/Low season months of March to May and September to November when the park experiences high rainfall which makes the forest trails slippery and a lot more challenging to trek.

Good to know:

• • • High/peak Season; June to September is considered the peak time for tourism in Uganda and East Africa. If you are planning to visit Mgahinga Gorilla Park in the peak season, please note that Mountain Gorilla tracking permits are competitive and hard to get at short notice as some big tour operators pay for them upfront with the hope of reselling them (or profit from course – subject to availability). We at Realm Africa Safaris ™ recommend pre-planning your Uganda Gorilla Safaris at least 06 months in advance.
    • Low Season: March, April, May, October, and November tourism in Uganda tends to slow down with just a few travellers visiting. During the low season in Uganda, some lodges and camps shut down for renovation. However, the others offer discounted rates on accommodation during this season.
    • Best Weather: The best weather for mountain gorilla tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park is in the dry months of June to August and December to January when there is less rainfall allowing for good photography, a better trekking experience, summed with a drier one (01) hour with the mountain gorillas of Mgahinga gorilla park.
    • Worst Weather: While June to August and December to January are considered the best Months to Visit Mgahinga Gorilla Park for Gorilla trekking, March to May and September to November offer the worst weather in Mgahinga Park Not ideal for Gorilla trekking. This time of the year is characterized by high rainfall causing the trails to become slippery and a lot more challenging to navigate.

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Where to stay on your safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

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Things to see & do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

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• • Gorilla trekking

    A top activity in the park is gorilla trekking where you can trek through the rainforest to see the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking tours usually start at 8 AM and last 2–4 hours. 

    Gorilla permits In Mgahinga cost;

    • Foreign non-residents: $800 per person
    • Foreign residents: $700 per person.
    • Africans from the Rest of Africa: $500 per person.
    • East African citizens: 300,000 UGX per person.

     

  • Golden monkey trekking

    Similar to gorilla trekking, Golden Monkey trekking is the search for the endangered golden monkeys in the rainforest and spending an hour with them.

    Golden Monkey permits In Mgahinga cost;

    • Foreign non-residents: $100 per person
    • Foreign residents: $80 per person
    • East African citizens: 60,000 UGX per person

     

  • Batwa trail

    Learn about the history of the Batwa people, and the former human inhabitants of the park, and visit the Garama Cave, a sacred site for the Batwa. This activity costs $80 per person

  • Birding

    Mgahinga is known for its birdlife, with over 184 species to see. 

  • Volcano hiking

    Hike the slopes of the three extinct volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains: Mount Sabinyo, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Gahinga. 

    Hiking fees;

    • Foreign non-residents: $80 per person
    • Foreign residents: $70 per person
    • East African citizens: 50,000 UGX per person

    ***This fee excludes entrance to the park. Foreign non-residents pay $40, Foreign Residents pay $30, and East Africans pay Ugx20,000 per day.

    ***Hiking Sabinyo, Muhavura or Gahinga takes about 5 – 8 hours depending on your pace.