Uganda Hiking Tours in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Hiking Tours in Uganda: Do you intend to travel to Uganda to walk the Virunga Mountains in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? One of the essential things you should do during your safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is go on a trekking tour.

In the far southern western region of Uganda, which shares a border with Rwanda and Congo, you will have the chance to walk the Virunga mountains that include the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Part of Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda’s Virunga volcanic mountain range, Mgahinga National Park is well-known for its mountain gorilla safaris.

Hiking tours are available in Mgahinga National Park. The park, which is the smallest in Uganda, has borders with Bwindi Forest National Park, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Three of the eight Virunga volcanoes, including Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura, are located within the park.

Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamulagira, Mount Karasimbe, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Mikeno are other intriguing Virunga mountains. Golden monkeys and endangered mountain gorillas can be seen in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, mountain rainforests, and mountain bamboo make up the park’s tropical rainforest.

Tours of Mount Muhabura for hiking

The Virunga Mountains, which border Rwanda and Uganda, are home to the extinct volcano Mount Gahinga. The smallest of the three volcanoes, Gahinga Mountain is situated between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura. Mount Mgahinga is another name for the mountain.

At roughly 3,474 meters above sea level, this breathtaking location features a marshy crater on its peak. It is home to mountain gorillas and is surrounded by bamboo and a stunning afro-montane forest. However, the habitat of Mount Gahinga is home to other fascinating creatures and birds, such as golden monkeys.

Hiking Mount Gahinga is remarkably simpler than climbing Mount Muhabura or Mount Sabyinyo. However, you should be in good physical condition to accomplish the 6-hour hike to the summit of Mt. Gahinga in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. There is no need to make reservations in advance, and climbing permits for the Gahinga volcano cost US$70.

After receiving a briefing from the park official at the park headquarters, treks to the summit of Mt. Gahinga start around 7:00 a.m. Following the briefing, you will receive a trekking stick and information on hiring a porter if necessary.

Hiking here gives you the opportunity to see mammals and birds, including otters, as well as amazing primates like mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Numerous bat-inhabited volcanic caverns and other attractions will be visible to you. In general, the peak of the Gahinga volcano is distinct from that of the Muhavura and Sabyinyo volcanoes. At the summit is a vast shallow crater swamp that is home to uncommon sub-alpine flora such as Senecio, Lobelia, and Alchemilla.

While visiting Uganda, visitors can ascend Mount Sabyinyo, another extinct volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The elevation of the peak is 3,669 meters above sea level. It is regarded as the oldest of the Virunga ranges and serves as a border marker between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Additionally, Mount Sabyinyo volcano links the three national parks of the rain forest created by the three nations, which have a common and well-liked feature: “mountain gorillas.” These include the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The mountain is one of the best walks in the Virunga ranges, offering breathtaking views and being situated in the adjacent national parks of the three nations. It is strategically located west of Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda and northeast of Lake Kivu in Rwanda.

The experience of being at the summit of three countries is worth experiencing, and hiking Mount Sabyinyo, which is about 3,966 meters above sea level, takes 6 to 8 days, depending on the route and pace.

Tours of Mount Muhabura for hiking

One of the stunning dormant volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, Mount Muhabura, also called Mount Muhavura, is located on the boundary between Rwanda and Uganda. at 13,540 feet, or 4,127 meters. Part of the Albertine Rift, which is the western arm of the East African Rift, Muhabura is the third tallest of the mountain range’s eight main peaks. Muhabura is located in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda as well as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Exploring the Virunga Mountain ranges is made possible by hiking through Mount Muhabura. The 4127-meter elevation gain requires a full day of hiking, and the toughest slopes will test your level of fitness. Rwanda and Uganda share boundaries with Mount Muhabura, which is located on the eastern side of the Virunga Mountain Range. The trek can take a day, and it takes between 6 to 8 hours to get to the top of Mount Muhabura and back down.

Like all volcano hikes, the Mount Muhavura Volcano trek starts at 7:00 a.m. with a briefing at either the Ntebeko offices in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda or the Kinigi headquarters of Volcanoes National Park. Many wildlife, including hyenas, golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, duikers, monkeys, and various bird species, will be encountered by visitors during the hiking safari procedure on Mount Muhabura.

They pause at one point for a picnic lunch before continuing on through various types of plants and boulders to reach the summit. You will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, the Virunga volcanoes, including Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Bisoke, Nyiragongo, and Karisimbi, as well as various lakes, including the small one at the summit, Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, Burera, and Ruhondo in Rwanda, among others, from the summit of Mount Muhabura.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, hiking is a must.

Shoes for hiking

To avoid stinging nettles, wear long sleeves and long pants.

A raincoat

Gloves for gardening

A first aid kit

Sunglasses

Sufficient mineral water and snacks

Binoculars and a camera

The ideal time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for hiking

All year long, hiking tours are available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Nonetheless, the dry seasons—December through February and June through August—are the greatest times to go.