Uganda's corner of the
Virunga volcanoes.
One small park, three countries, and a single habituated gorilla family sharing the slopes of three ancient volcanoes.
Overview
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits in the far southwestern tip of Uganda, where the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet along the Virunga volcanic range. At just 33.7 square kilometers, it’s Uganda’s smallest national park, but its location gives it a rare distinction: three of the eight Virunga volcanoes — Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo — rise within its boundaries, and its forests connect directly to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park just across the border.
The park is home to one habituated mountain gorilla family, along with golden monkeys, forest elephants and over 180 bird species. Its volcanic peaks, bamboo forest and open moorland make it as much a hiker’s park as a gorilla trekker’s, with trails leading to crater lakes and the meeting point of all three countries.
What You'll Experience
Gorilla trekking — Track Mgahinga’s single habituated gorilla family through bamboo forest and volcanic slopes, with treks often shorter than in neighboring parks.
Golden monkey tracking — Follow a habituated troop of endangered golden monkeys through the park’s bamboo zones, a lively and often playful encounter.
Volcano hiking — Climb Muhabura, Gahinga or Sabyinyo, the last with a jagged summit ridge marking the exact tripoint of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Batwa Trail — A guided cultural walk led by Batwa guides through caves and forest once home to their community, tracing their history in the Virungas.