Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: At the foot of the Virungas and the fringes of the rift valley volcanoes in South Western Uganda is Uganda’s smallest national park, which sits on 33.7 km2.
The park is home to a habituated group of gorillas. Uganda hosts half of the world’s gorillas, and Mgahinga is one of the hosts. Gorillas survive best in thick forests with very cool temperatures, like Mgahinga.
The forest derives its name from the local word Gahinga, which means piles of volcanic stones at the farmland. While at Mgahinga, you get to see the volcanic ranges of the Virunga. The forest constitutes what is known was Uganda’s best-kept secret. In this thickness also dwells the Batwa with their secret adventurous lives.
The Batwa have lived in the forests from time immemorial, and they continue to survive there as food gatherers and hunters. However, the government is in the process of resettling them in communities to take on a new life as a means of conserving the wildlife that inhabits the park. The park is home to monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees. It is also rich with different plant and bird species.
Accommodation Options at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Rushaga gorilla lodge
- Volcanoes bwindi lodge
- Bwindi community lodge
- Nkuringo bwindi gorilla lodge
- Rushaga gorilla lodge
