Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Tucked into Uganda’s far south-west, at an altitude of 2,227 to 4,127 metres where Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo meet, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the country’s smallest national park and part of the Virunga Conservation Area.

Three extinct volcanoes dominate the landscape: Muhabura (4,127m), Gahinga (3,474m) and Sabyinyo (3,645m), their slopes cloaked in bamboo forest, swamp and montane woodland. Hiking them is a highlight, especially Sabyinyo, where you can stand at the point where all three countries meet.

The park protects endangered mountain gorillas, including the Nyakagezi family, its only habituated group, and the rare golden monkey, which can be tracked through the bamboo forest. More than 180 bird species have been recorded, including the Rwenzori turaco and several Albertine Rift endemics, best seen on guided walks along the mountain trails.

Mgahinga is also the ancestral home of the Batwa, the original forest dwellers who lived here for generations before the park was established in 1991. The Batwa Trail introduces their traditional way of life, from survival skills and hunting techniques to music and culture, rounding out a small park with a very big range of experiences.