Mount Gahinga is one of the Virunga Mountain ranges that is shared between Uganda and Rwanda. Lying within Virunga Region, Mt. Gahinga is an extinct volcano rising high at 3474m and its base stretches covering the borders of both Uganda and Rwanda, East-Central Africa. In Uganda, Mount Gahinga is found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kisoro district, Southwest of the country. In Rwanda, Gahinga volcano lies within Volcanoes National Park, Musanze Region, Northern Province. In Uganda, it makes up the list of 3 Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga, and in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park 5 Virunga Volcanoes or mountain ranges.
Mount Gahinga takes its name from the word “Gahinga” meaning a small pile of stone and it is considered the smallest of the 8 Virunga volcanoes. Gahinga volcano features a caldera with a width measuring up to 180m.
At the base of Gahinga Volcano, there is bamboo and sub-alpine vegetation which support a diversity of wildlife and avifaunal species. The bamboo is what most primates in Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga Park depend on.
Compared to Mount Karisimbi, Muhabura or Sabyinyo, Mt. Gahinga is the easiest volcano to hike. Regardless of this fact, your physical and mental wellness is essential if you are to enjoy your hike through Mount Gahinga.
Climbing Mount Gahinga
It takes a long day to hike through Mount Gahinga, and you require a permit to be allowed to be part of this volcano climbing experience. Over 6 hours can be spent hiking Gahinga Volcano and permits cost USD75 per person per day. A normal hike through Mount Gahinga starts with a briefing at Ntebeko where Mgahinga Park offices are located.
The park office will share important information about Gahinga volcano, its history, formation, etc. On a hike to the summits, you will have several breaks to allow you to rest and also enjoy some snacks or a pack of food, take water.
When you finally get to the summit of Gahinga volcano, you will have an excellent view of other Virunga volcanoes, and Mount Rwenzori. You will also take many pictures as you can while at the summit and after, descend back to where you were briefed or directed to your accommodation.
Essentials for Gahinga volcano climbing
Comfortable clothes are essential, and these include long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, sun hats, long pants, and socks. Other items include a camera, a first aid kit, insect repellent, snacks, bottled water, pair of waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, sunscreen, and many more.
Porter services are also essential when it comes to Gahinga volcano hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Volcanoes National Park. Porters play a remarkable role more so assisting you to carry heavy luggage thus giving you room to freely enjoy your adventure without the stress of overload. Porters are available for hire at the park offices and you can find them on the actual day when you are briefed.
What else to do after or before hiking Mt. Gahinga
Birding – before or after hiking Mount Gahinga, there is also an option of exploring over 180 bird species in Mgahinga or 200 birds in Volcanoes National Park. The best time to enjoy a birding tour in this Virunga Region is around April, May, October, and November.
The commonly spotted birds in the Virunga Region include double collared sunbird, blue-headed coucal, dusky crimson wing, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori batis, regal sunbird, pin-tailed whydahs, Archer’s ground robin, collared apalis, red throated alethe, Shelley’s crimson wing, Rwenzori turacos, handsome spurfowl, speckled mouse bird, etc.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park can be done in addition to hiking Mount Gahinga. This is a lifetime chance to soak yourself in the jungles to see the massive mountain gorillas in the wild. At Mgahinga National Park Uganda, only one group has been fully habituated and in the neighboring Bwindi, over 20 gorilla families are open for gorilla trekking. In Rwanda, gorilla tours are carried out in Volcanoes National Park before or after volcano hiking and there are 12 habituated gorilla groups to explore.
Gorilla trekking permits vary in terms of costs, whereby foreign nonresidents visiting Mgahinga gorillas pay USD700 for gorilla permits, and foreign residents USD600 and shs. 250,000 per person for East African citizens. In Rwanda, a valid gorilla permit costs USD1500 per person, and like in Uganda, the cost of permits in Rwanda excludes transportation, lodging, or accommodation.
Golden monkey tracking-
Golden monkeys are a few endemic species to Albertine rift and Virunga Region- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Virunga and Volcanoes N/Parks in Africa. There are habituated troops of these interesting creatures to be visited in Uganda and Rwanda while on golden monkey trekking.
Other exciting safari activities to engage in besides hiking Gahinga volcano include cultural experiences at the Batwa community or Bakiga community a perfect choice for tourists on Uganda safari and for guests on Rwanda safari, don’t miss visiting Iby’Iwacu cultural village; forest walks, cave tours.
Best time to go hiking in Mount Gahinga
The dry season is without doubt the favorite time for hiking Mount Gahinga. This is during the 2 phases of a dry spell, the long and short. The long dry season is experienced from June to September, and short dry months run from December to February with trails kept drier unlike during the wetter months.
Accommodation
The accommodation to stay in at Mgahinga after trekking Mount Gahinga include Mucha Hotel located in Kisoro, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Traveler’s Rest Camp, Virunga Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel. In Rwanda, you can book the following lodging or accommodation choices; 5 Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bisate Lodge, Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, and Virunga Lodge.
Getting there
Guests with plans to go explore Mount Gahinga can travel by road from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka-Mbarara to Kisoro and connect to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. From Kampala or Entebbe to Mt. Gahinga, it will be a long journey estimated to cover about 8-10 hours’ drive or cut it short by connecting from Kigali via Chanika border to Kisoro or flying from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe airport to Kisoro airstrip.
