Safari Activities To Do After Gorilla Trekking In Mgahinga National Park
Are you wondering what safari activities to do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park? Don’t worry because in this article we shall give you different options of what to do in the park. Mgahinga national park is the smallest national park in the country but harboring some of the remaining species of mountain gorillas in Uganda apart from Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The most done activity ion Mgahinga national park is gorilla trekking and this is done in the only gorilla family in the park called Nyakagezi. There are only 8 gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga national park since it has only 1 habituated gorilla family. To trek mountain gorillas in Mgahinga national park it costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents and citizens of East Africa shs250,000. The following are the safari activities to do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park;
Seeing the rare Golden monkeys
Golden monkey trekking is the second most done activity in Mgahinga national park and can be done after trekking mountain gorillas. Golden monkey trekking is done by people with valid golden monkey trekking permits and ages 15 years and above. Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park starts with a briefing at the park headquarters at 8 am where trekkers are taught about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity before they head out into the jungle. During golden monkey trekking you have opportunities of seeing different bird species, plants and some of the park animals such as giant forest hogs, bush pigs, elephants, bushbucks, golden cats, mountain gorillas, jackals, and duikers. The trekking of golden monkeys in Mgahinga national park takes 2-3 hours depending on the location of these primates, speed of trekking and nature of the terrain. After locating the golden monkeys, the trekkers are given a maximum of 1 hour to be around them as they watch them do daily activities, take photos and learn their habits. To trekking golden monkeys, you will a permit which costs $60 both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens shs40,000.
Golden monkey habituation in Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park is the smallest park in the country but with so many tourism activities among which include golden monkey experience. Golden monkey experience is a unique activity only done in Mgahinga national park. Golden monkey habituation in Mgahinga national park is done in 2 sessions with the first in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The habituation of golden monkeys in Mgahinga national park starts with a briefing at the park offices after which trekkers are led into the jungle to look for these beautiful primates. The trekking takes you through different bamboo forest zones.
After locating golden monkeys, the trekkers are given a maximum of 4 hours to be around these golden monkeys as they make them get used to human presence, learn their habits and take photos. During the trekking there are opportunities of seeing some of the park animals such as giant forest hogs, bush pigs, mountain gorillas, elephants, bushbucks, golden cats, jackals, and duikers, different bird species and different plants. Golden monkey experience in Mgahinga national park costs $100 both foreign nonresidents and foreign residents while East Africa Citizens pay shs100,000.
Extra gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
After gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park, tourist can take a drive to the nearest Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for another gorilla trekking. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has 4 gorilla trekking sectors but the nearest ones are Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in the southern part. To do an extra gorilla trekking after mgahinga national park, you will need to inform your tour operator about this so that they book for you 2 gorilla trekking permits on your safari one for Mgahinga national park and the other for Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Gorilla trekking in these sectors start with a briefing after which the trekkers are led by the guides into the jungle and after several hours of searching and meeting the mountain gorillas, the trekkers are given a maximum of 1 hour to be around, mountain gorillas as they watch them do daily activities, learn about their habits and take them photos.
Batwa culture experience
Batwa cultural experiences are one of the most fascinating activities travelers should do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park. The Batwa cultural experience in Mgahinga national park takes you to Batwa pygmies that live around the park. The Batwa are a group of people who used to live inside the park before the government evicted them out of the forest to protect the remaining species of mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other animals not forgetting the forest. The Batwa cultural experience in Mgahinga national park is done at a fee of $50 both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay UGX50,000. The activity is led by Batwa guides who take tourists around the park giving you opportunities of learning how they used to live and survive in the forest, make fires, used plants as local medicine, gather fruits, honey and how they used bows and arrows to kill some of the park animals. At the end of the experience, you will enjoy traditional dances and songs of Batwa.
Mgahinga birding safaris
There are over 184 different bird species in Mgahinga national park which makes it a good place for birding activities. Bird lovers to Mgahinga national park can carry their birding books and binoculars to get an opportunity of spotting most of these. The birds in Mgahinga national park include African olive pigeon, archer’s robin-chat, alpine swift, blue headed coucal, kivu ground thrush, dusky crimsonwing, moorland chat, olive woodpecker, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori nightjar, moorland chat, Rwenzori turaco, red faced woodland warbler, crowned hornbill, olive pigeon, fire finch stonechat, pin-tailed whydah, and waxbills among others.
Nature walks in Mgahinga national park
Nature walks are some of the activities you should be part of while on a safari in Mgahinga national park. The nature walks are fascinating activities led by UWA guides who lead you through different trails of the park with opportunities of seeing and learn different tree species, plants, birds, and park animals.
Mgahinga hiking safaris
Hiking is one of the activities to do in Kisoro after a successful gorilla trekking activity in Mgahinga national park. There are 3 mountains for hiking in Kisoro and these include Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhabura, and Mountain Sabyinyo. Hiking these mountains takes 1 day or to but with geat views of the surrounding, talking you through different vegetation covers with opportunities of seeing different animals and birds. A hike to the summit of any of these mountains gives you an opportunity to see the park surroundings, other volcanic mountains, and a view of other countries such as Rwanda, and DR Congo.
Accommodation Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga national park is well developed with so many accommodation facilities built around the area. The accommodation facilities in Mgahinga range from luxury to mid range to budget options so where to stay depends on your budget. The accommodation facilities in Mgahinga national park include Travellers Rest Hotel, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Lake Chahafi Lodge, Muhabura Motel, Gahinga Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Air Land Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Mondi Lodge Kisoro, Sabyinyo Guest House, Virunga Campsite and Backpackers, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, and Gorilla Hills Eco-Lodge among others.
What is the best time to visit Mgahinga national park?
If you are planning for safari activities to do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park, you need to know the best time to visit the park for tourism. Mgahinga national park can be visited at any time of the year but the best time is the dry season. The dry season happens in June to September and December to February and is characterized with little or no rainfall, trekking trials in the park are less muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thin for clear views of animals, and the roads leading to the park are slippery.
Mgahinga national park can also be visited in the rainy season which occurs in months of October to November and March to May. The rainy season favors the budget travelers because there are huge discounts on accommodation facilities. There is too much rainfall during the rainy season which make the roads leading to the park impassable, the trekking trails muddy and slippery and the vegetation very thick making unclear views of animals and hinders photography.
Getting to Mgahinga national park by air and road transport
Mgahinga national park is located in the south western part of Uganda and can be accessed by either road transport or by air transport.
By air transport.
Travelers to Mgahinga national park can access the park by taking a chartered flight from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip. The flights take only 2 hours and from the airstrip you can used ground means to the park. If you want to travel using air transport, you must inform your tour operator so that they book for you in advance.
By road transport
Mgahinga national park be access from Kampala/Entebbe via Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro road. Road transport takes 9-10 hours to reach Kisoro but with beautiful views of the country side, equator, hills, mountains, and smiling people.
People from Kigali can access Mgahinga national park by broad transport via Cyanika border in Kisoro. The distance is short and takes about 4-5 hours with beautiful views of the countryside.
What to book with Africa Adventure Vacations?
Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by Uganda Tourism Board and a member of Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, birding, game drives, hiking, nature walks and community tours among others. Booking safari activities to do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park can be done at any time of the year.