Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Uganda's Gorilla Park on the Virunga Volcanoes

The activity list at a glance

Uganda Wildlife Authority lists the activities as gorilla tracking, volcano hiking, golden monkey tracking, the Batwa Trail, bird watching and Garama Cave exploration. Gorilla tracking is the headline draw. Golden monkeys come second, with a habituated troop open to tourist visits.

Gorilla permits for foreign non-residents cost $800 (US$800) under the Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff. Use this table to plan your days in Kisoro.

Tours that cover several at once

The easiest way to combine gorilla trekking with the Batwa experience is a packaged trip. Eco Adventure Safaris' 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Pygmies Experience costs $1,860 per person and covers the park and the Batwa cultural visit. Dav Safaris' 3 Days gorilla trekking Safari tour in Uganda costs $2,600 per person and holds a 5 rating from 236 reviews. For a longer trip that adds wildlife, see the Lulu Safaris 4 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari at $2,450 per person.

The Nyakagezi caveat

Nyakagezi sometimes crosses into Rwanda for weeks or even a year. Trek availability in Mgahinga can therefore be sporadic. Book through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or an authorised tour operator in advance, and confirm the group is on the Ugandan side before you lock in your dates.

If a guaranteed sighting matters to your trip, read our comparison of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the permit guide on rwanda vs uganda gorilla trekking.

What the day feels like

Uganda gorilla treks last between 2 and 7 hours with 60 minutes of observation at the end. Reviewers on TripAdvisor report treks of about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, often in rain. Bring waterproof clothing and sturdy boots.

Expect steep volcanic slopes rather than flat forest.

How to book and what it adds to a gorilla trip

Arrange the trek with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your tour operator when you book your permit. Many visitors pair the two treks on consecutive days. In Rwanda the equivalent golden monkey trek at Volcanoes National Park costs $100 (US$100) per foreigner per the RDB booking portal, so the Mgahinga version is a good value add on a Uganda itinerary.

Check the timing of both treks in our best time to visit Uganda guide if you are combining countries.

The three volcanoes

The park covers the northern slopes of Mt Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt Gahinga (3,474 m) and Mt Sabinyo (3,645 m). Altitude in the park ranges from 2,227 to 4,127 m, so hikes are demanding and cold at the top. Sabyinyo's summit marks the border point where Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo meet.

The Batwa Trail and Garama Cave

The Batwa are the indigenous forest people of the Virunga. The Batwa Trail is a guided cultural walk with Batwa guides, and it includes Garama Cave, a lava tube that once sheltered the community. It pairs naturally with a gorilla permit, and our Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Experience tour bundles both over three days.

Rainfall and trail conditions

The two wet rainy seasons are February to May and September to December. Trails on volcanic soil get slippery, and the 1.5 to 2 hour walk each way feels longer in a downpour. Pack waterproofs, long sleeves and grippy boots for any month.

For month by month detail, see our Uganda weather guide and the best time to visit Uganda comparison.

Routes and the Rwanda option

Kisoro is about 15 km from the gate and Kabale is 55 km away. Coming from Kigali, the drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is described as about three hours by road, and the Cyanika border near Kisoro lets you combine both countries on one trip. Our East Africa Tourist Visa guide covers the visa that works for both.

Which entrance should I take?

Ntebeko is the gate for everything in Mgahinga, from gorilla treks to the 15 minute viewpoint walk. Ask your operator which trailhead your specific activity starts from, since volcano hikes begin at different points on the slopes.

Permit certainty and price

The Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff for Bwindi and Mgahinga sets the foreign non-resident gorilla permit at $800 (US$800), rest of Africa at $500 (US$500) and foreign residents at $700 (US$700). The Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi costs $1,500 (US$1,500) for foreign non-residents and includes the guide fee, park entrance for the day and a community contribution. Because Mgahinga has only one habituated group that can cross into Rwanda, permits here can be sporadic, so travellers who must guarantee gorillas should compare the parks.

Rwanda charges $1,500 (US$1,500) per person per day per the RDB portal but runs 12 habituated families. Full numbers sit in our gorilla trekking permit and gorilla trekking cost guides. A packaged tour removes the booking risk.

Our 3 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek from Kigali and the Uganda tours listed above handle permits for you.

The decision in one table

Mgahinga's weakness is permit certainty. With one habituated group that sometimes spends weeks or a year in Rwanda, availability can be sporadic. Bwindi has four sectors and far more permits.

Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated families and is about three hours from Kigali, which suits short trips, at $1,500 (US$1,500) per permit. Our Bwindi guide, Virunga Mountains guide and homepage at rwanda vs uganda gorilla trekking break the trade offs down further.