Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Amajambere Community Camp(opens in a new tab) are located in the southwestern district of Kisoro in Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is accessible by road from the nearby Kisoro town, about 14kms away. If you are in Kisoro, you can hire a car (taxi) to take you to the Mgahinga park entrance. You can inquire from Uganda Wildlife Authority offices if you are in Kisoro town.

Transport from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park

Unlike Kigali, the distance between Kampala and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is more than 500kms. For this very reason, the drive between Kampala and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can take up to 10 hours. So please plan your trip accordingly. Kampala’s drive to Kisoro/Mgahinga will take you through major western Uganda towns such as Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale. You also get an opportunity to cross the southern hemisphere through the Equator crossing near Lake Victoria, in a town called “Kayabwe.” Traveling from Kampala to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park takes about 9-10hrs. The recommended public buses serving the Kampala-Mgahinga route is the Jaguar Executive Coaches.

Transport from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park

Traveling from Kigali city in Rwanda to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park takes about 4-5hours. The drive is much less compared to Kampala. The road trip to Mgahinga will take you through Musanze town in northern Rwanda and cross Uganda via the Cyanika border. From Cyanika, you continue to Kisoro town and from there head to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters. This is the same location where Amajambere Community Camp is located.

Flight from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airport

There are daily flights between Entebbe International Airport and Kisoro Airport. If you opt for the fly-in option to Kisoro airport, a Bamboo Ecotours driver-guide can pick you up at an additional fee and drop you off at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The daily flights between Entebbe and Kisoro are provided by AeroLink Uganda.(opens in a new tab)

Top Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park

One of the top activities to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is hiking the Virunga volcanoes of Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga.

Mt. Sabyinyo (the old man’s teeth)

Based on hikers’ reviews, the best choice, climbing the “old man’s teeth,” takes about 8hours. The mountain has three peaks, with different levels of difficulty. Because of its rugged nature, there are several wooden ladders along the hiking trail. The third and final peak is where Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC share the border.

Mt. Muhabura (the guide)

Overlooking the Kigezi highlands, Mt. Muhabura stands among the three volcanoes dotting Mgahinga Gorilla National. The 4,127m high volcano has a creator lake on top. Once at the top of the volcano, the rest of the Virunga mountains (Mikeno, Karisimbi, and Visoke) are visible in the distance.

Mt. Gahinga (a small pile of stones)

A favorite to many hikers, perhaps due to its low altitude, hiking Mt. Gahinga takes you through the lush vegetation cover of Mgahinga National Park. The 5-7 hour hike goes through several vegetation zones, including the bamboo cover. Upon reaching the top, the cool air and the breeze from the giant lobelia in the creator swamp are so fulfilling.