Welcome to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a lesser known place that is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. This 33.7km sq km park is Uganda’s smallest national park, but in our opinion it is one of the most dramatic places to visit in East Africa.

The park is located in the south-western part of the country and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Things to See & Do

Mgahinga is the Ugandan part of the Virungas, adjoining the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in Congo. A safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is rewarding! The park is home to at least 39 species of mammals and 79 birds. Large mammals include elephants, leopards, buffaloes and bush pigs though these are rarely seen.

Mountain Gorillas

The park was created to protect the mountain gorillas that roam the Virunga ranges. There is a habituated gorilla group that is resident to the park. This group is called ‘Nyakagezi’ and they can be seen when residing in the park. For the past three years, the group has been resident in the park and many tourists have gotten the chance to see these great apes. Gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park costs USD600 and can be booked at Uganda Wildlife Authority offices, the park headquarters or through a local tour operator.

Golden Monkeys

The park also hosts the rare golden monkeys, a species of old world monkey that is endemic to the Virunga mountains. Golden monkey tracking is another rewarding adventure that can be taken in Mgahinga.