Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bird viewing in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Situated in the southwestern portion of Kisoro county, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest protected area in Uganda. The endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest elephants, duikers, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, and three volcanic mountains—Mt. Sabyinyo, which stands 3,645 meters tall, Mount Muhavura, which stands 4,127 meters tall, and Mount Gahinga, which stands 3,475 meters tall—are among the many renowned features of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
One of the top birding locations in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to approximately 115 recorded bird species, including migratory bird species, afro-tropical highland biomes, and 14 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics. Early morning, midday, or evening bird watching is possible in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with a knowledgeable bird guide who is familiar with the many birding routes.
You can see a variety of bird species while bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, such as the Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow-billed Kite, African Paradise Flycatcher, Black Kite, Alpine Chat, Grey Crowned Hornbill, Hadada Ibis, Malachite Sunbird, Speckled Mousebird, Grey Capped Warbler, White-necked Raven, Fire Finch Stonechat, Kivu Ground-thrush, and more.
Among them are Ruwenzori Batis, Olive Woodpecker, Archers Robin-chat, Blue-headed Coucal, Dusky Crimson Wing, Moorland Chat, Cape Robin-chat, Malachite Sunbird, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Black-headed Waxbill, Western Tinker Bird, Bronze Sunbird, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Strange Weaver, Handsome Francolin, African Firefinch, Black Collared Apalis, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Red-throated Alethe, Ruwenzori Turaco, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Chubb’s Cisticola, Bronze Sunbird, Dusky Turtle Dove, and Streaky Seedeater, among others.
The price
It costs $30 USD for foreign visitors, $25 USD for foreign residents, and 20,000 UGX for East African nationals to go bird viewing in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The cost of admission to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is not included in the bird watching rates; it is 40 USD for foreign non-residents, 30 USD for foreign residents, and 20,000 UGX for East African citizens.
When is the best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to observe birds?
While it’s possible to go bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park throughout the year, the best time to see migratory and colorful bird species is during the wet/rainy season, which runs from April to May and October to November.
Because the birding routes will be dry and passable during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February, bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also possible during these times.
Things to bring to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a birding expedition
Insect repellent, hiking shoes, a safari guidebook, binoculars, a camera and extra batteries, a waterproof rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, energy snacks and drinking water, a hat and sunscreen, a warm sweater, and a backpack are some of the essentials you should bring on a birding safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Additional activities at the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
Activities available at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include mountain climbing, where you can climb Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura, a Batwa cultural experience, where you can engage with the Batwa people who once lived in the forest before it was gazetted into a national park, golden monkey trekking, where you can spend time with golden monkeys, and gorilla trekking, where you can spend an hour with the mountain gorillas.
Accommodations in the Gorilla National Park of Mgahinga
Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Travellers Rest Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Ntebeko River Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Gahiza Island Retreat, and Ikaze Cottages are just a few of the affordable, midrange, and luxury lodging options available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park travel route
Book scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, and then take a road connection to the park headquarters to reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is situated in the southwest region of Uganda. Your reliable trip operator, such as Experiya Tour Company, can arrange domestic flights to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
It takes roughly nine to ten hours to drive from Kampala/Entebbe via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro to the park headquarters in a safari vehicle. This is another way to go to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be reached via Kigali, Rwanda, where you will fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for around 4 to 5 hours to reach the park headquarters via the Cyanika border in Kisoro or the Katuna border in Kabale.
