Maghinga gorilla national park is one of the two locations in Uganda where mountain gorillas can be found. It is Uganda’s smallest national park at only 33.7km2.
Maghinga gorilla national park is found in the south western Uganda bordering Rwanda and Congo and is situated in Kisoro district about 540km from Kampala (capital city)
The park takes its name from Gahinga – the local word meaning a pile of volcanic stones cleared from the farm lands at the foot of the volcanoes.
The park holds 76 mammal species including elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks and so much more .115 bird species are recorded including crowned hornbill, grey crowned crane, yellow-billed kite and Rwenzori turaco. Maghinga holds a population of golden monkeys and one gorilla family.
The park is not only important for wildlife but also inhabited by the indigenous Batwa people (pygmies) this tribe of hunter gathers was the forests first people.
The park is part of the large Virunga Conservation area, now a jointly protected area with Congo and Rwanda. Maghinga gorilla national park three of the eight Virunga volcanoes: Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo all of which lie on the Uganda Rwanda boarder. Each of these can be climbed in a single day from the park headquarters.
It takes just 8hrs to reach Maghinga gorilla national park from the capital city via Kabale but those without private transport can use the available daily bus transport but you can also fly to Kisoro. Flights can be arranged with Eagle air which have flights from Monday to Friday from Entebbe airport to Kisoro.
In conclusion you can now visit the mountain gorillas of Uganda and climb the Rwenzori mountains because they are open all year round. You can choose to go now or go later – whatever you do just go.