Mgahinga national park "Where silver meets Gold"
Located in the southwestern part of Uganda covering 33.7 sq.km , mgahinga gorilla national park covers the northern slopes of the 3 north most Virunga Volocanoes; Mt. Sabinyo, Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Gahinga.
Size: 33.7km2, making it Uganda’s smallest National Park.
The park takes its name from “Gahinga” – the local word for the piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes.
Mgahinga has one habituated transboundary gorilla group.
The Batwa were self-sufficient – and visitors can see how during a fascinating tour with a Batwa guide to learn the secrets of the forest.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey.
As well as being important for wildlife, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivaled.
Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes, part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda. Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga Conservation Area which includes adjacent parks in these countries. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery.
Mgahinga boasts of over 76 mammals which include elephants, giant forest hog, bush pigs,bush back. Buffalos, leopards, A bird checklist of over 180 species including the 14 endemic Albertine rift notably the Kivu ground thrush and turaco.
This mountain provides refuge for over 79 bird species, animals and mountain plants due to forested slopes of the 3 extinct volcanoes.
The Virungas are a home of a variety of wildlife and the critically endangered mountain Gorillas. Nyakagezi habituation harbors i.e 2 silverbacks, 3 female adults, 2infants and 2juveniles.
Please note that this is the only park where Golden monkey meets silver.