Knowledge of the accommodations in Mgahinga Gorilla National park is key when booking a gorilla safari. Lying at an altitude of 2227m and 4127m, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the world’s treasured destinations in Uganda especially when it comes to memorable adventures such as mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and volcano climbing/hiking. After a hectic gorilla or golden trek, there are plenty of accommodation options that visitors can consider for relaxation and overnight stays. These include budget, midrange, and luxury, each with its special amenities and services.
Mount Gahinga Lodge
Located next to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gate, Mt. Gahinga Safari Lodge is the luxury accommodation guests visiting this pristine park for gorilla safari can book for their overnight stay. This luxury accommodation facility consists of 6 luxurious cottages and it comes with an en-suite bathroom, hot water, flush toilets, fireplace, solar power, laundry services, bar, restaurant, etc.
An overnight stay at Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge allows you to engage in numerous activities in and around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The prime activities to indulge in and around Mgahinga include gorilla trekking, nature walks, golden monkey tracking, birding, Batwa trail experience, and others.
Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro
Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro is a midrange hotel establishment and it is considered one of the oldest in Uganda. From Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Traveler’s Rest Hotel, it is about 14kms. It is found right in Kisoro town and has 11 rooms that are fully furnished, these include single, twin, double, suites, and triple. The key amenities, and facilities at Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro include internet, lounge, bar, garden area, restaurant, and more.
Mucha Hotel Kisoro
Mucha Hotel Kisoro is a midrange or standard hotel facility and it is accessible about 6kms from Kisoro town. This hotel facility is set at the banks of River Mucha and offers excellent views of the beautiful flora, River Mucha and surrounding volcanoes. Mucha Hotel has 10 en-suite bedrooms, consisting of single, double, and twins. The hotel has amazing facilities such as a garden with banana plants, a coffee and private vegetable plantation, a restaurant, a lounge and a fully stocked bar.
Kisoro Tourist Hotel
Kisoro Tourist Hotel lies within Kisoro town, and it is a budget-friendly lodging facility with self-contained rooms. It comes with amazing facilities or amenities, including a fitness room, restaurant, lounge, internet, steam bath, sauna, gift shops, and others.
Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp
Amajambere Camp is 12kms off from Kisoro town. It is one accommodation that is most accessible from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offices. This is a type of midrange accommodation, built overviewing the scenic Virunga mountains/volcanoes like Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga. It has 3 bandas and 2 dormitories, plus 3 bandas.
Mutanda Lake Resort
Mutanda Lake Resort is 14kms off from Kisoro town and it provides pocket-friendly accommodation services. Previously, it was managed by Nkuringo Safari Lodge, but currently, it is under new management. This beautiful resort facility takes its name from the picturesque Lake Mutanda, one of the natural wonders most tourists often explore on Uganda safaris in this far region.
Mgahinga Rest Camp
Mgahinga Rest Camp is an eco-friendly lodge set next to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is comprised of 9 grass-thatched bandas, 3 tents each with private facilities. It is strategically positioned in that guests can visit not only Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but also other areas of Rwanda or D.R. Congo. If you are interested in mountain gorilla trekking, it is possible to engage in this adventure in the 3 countries when you spend a night at Mgahinga Rest Camp.
Attractions in Mgahinga Park
Mgahinga National Park is one of the special parks in Uganda where you can find a diversity of wildlife species, such as mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, 180 bird species, and others.
Mountain gorillas at Mgahinga are visited during actual gorilla trekking. This is a long day search for the single habituated gorilla family -Nyakagezi group and this accommodates up to only 8 visitors per day. Other than viewing mountain gorillas in the wild, your trek also allows you to explore and experience more about these large apes while in their natural habitat.
Mgahinga gorilla tracking permits cost USD700 per person and obtaining a permit for your gorilla safari is possible when you deal with a reliable tour operator. If you are visiting Mgahinga during peak season, then consider booking your gorilla permits in advance and we always advise our guests to do so at least 2-4 months before the actual visit to Mgahinga for a guided gorilla safari holiday.
The peak season also referred to as the dry season is, without doubt, the most favorable time for all guided gorilla tours to Mgahinga. There are 2 phases of dry season that tourists must put into consideration when planning for a gorilla trekking trip to this park and that is from June to August/late September or December to February.
Virunga volcanoes
Three of the 8 Virunga volcanoes all exist in Mgahinga National Park. They include Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo volcanoes. For enthusiastic climbers or hikers, the 3 volcanoes can be hiked on Uganda safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Golden monkey tracking- both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys reside within Mgahinga National Park making it a special place in Africa where gold meets silver. The golden monkeys are old world monkey species and it resides within the Virunga Volcanoes and particularly in protected areas such as Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in Congo.
Birds
Over 180 bird species make Mgahinga an interesting birding destination and most of these are endemic species to the Albertine rift or Virunga region. The park’s birds include the yellow vented bulbul, Rwenzori nightjars, Rwenzori batis, Kivu ground thrush, grey-capped warblers, handsome francolins, blue-headed coucal, firefinch, pin-tailed whydah, paradise flycatchers and more.
Getting to Mgahinga Park, Uganda
Getting to Mgahinga Park from Kampala takes 8-10 hours and you drive via Masaka-Mbarara with a stopover to be made at the Equator crossing. From Kigali, it is easier to cross through the Chanika border to Kisoro to Mgahinga, a journey that takes 4-5 hours drive.
