Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This gorilla park covers 33.7KM2 with an altitude between 2,227m and 4,127m. This park was conserved as an asylum to protect the endangered mountain gorillas. It derives its name “Gahinga” from a local word that means Volcanic pile of stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes. This park is not only home to Mountain gorillas buts it’s also home to the beautiful graceful golden monkeys. Unlike the other gorilla parks; Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Virunga National park, Mgahinga forest has only 1 habituated gorilla group with 19 individuals tracked. Therefore, only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to track gorillas in Mgahinga, making it a maximum of 8 permits to be sold per day.
Is Escape To Africa a Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Safari Company That Offers Trips To See Mountain Gorillas?
Yes, it is. And it is much more. Escape To Africa is a company that offers trips to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kenya with the aim of providing sustainable tourism in East Africa. Our trips are daily so you can see the gorillas in their natural habitat. Escape To Africa is the most affordable African safari company in the world.
Escape To Africa is the leading gorilla tour operator in Uganda, offering mountain gorilla viewing safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Our safaris offer a close encounter with these iconic creatures and magnificent multi-sensory experiences that will leave you captivated. We guarantee you will have a great time on your African safari and create memories to last a lifetime.
Do Safari Companies Have Tours That Include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is so good that it is one of Africa’s top destinations for travelers. Enjoy Uganda’s magical wilderness on a safari tour with a stretch of the Nile from which to view rare mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, chimps, elephants and more. It is the only place in Africa where gorillas are found in the wild, with no human presence.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a paradise for family gorilla safaris in the Congo. Here you can enjoy gorillas as well as other animals such as monkeys, baboons and birds. The park has multiple feeding points around the park where you can buy food to feed these animals. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a large expanse of land in Uganda, home to the world’s most famous gorilla, Gorilla beringei.
Are Safari Companies Good For People Who Want To Go To Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Safari companies do their best to lure people with their expensive trips and offer them the opportunity to see the gorillas. But are they really good for your health? Yes, it really is. Safari companies offer many advantages, such as the possibility to visit several animal species in one trip. Safari companies offer an all-inclusive package that includes airfare, hotel accommodation and safari tours.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a protected park, almost half of the park is covered in forest and is home to most of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of Africa’s greatest treasures, but it’s not just a place to get out and visit. We’re sure it would be worth exploring.
Can You Take a Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Tour with a Safari Company?
You’ve been dreaming of visiting a national park for years, but you’re not sure you can handle it. You never know what a trip to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with a safari company will be like. But you’ll be safe in the hands of our experienced and licensed guides. With the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Tour and many other exciting offers from our travel company, Africa is now within your reach.
To visit the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you need to take a safari tour. The safari company needs a minimum of 4 people to fill the vehicle and they usually require a day’s notice. However, if you don’t live in Uganda and there is no other way to visit the park, then yes, you can take the tour with Mgahinga Gorilla Safaris.
Will There Be Car Services Provided With Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Tour?
Tourists worry about being stuck in the car for hours when visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. That’s why we offer a safe and convenient service with which you can plan your visit. In addition to car services, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also offers other tours, activities and hotel accommodations.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most exciting places in Uganda. Numerous activities are available in the park, with hiking and safaris being the most popular options for visitors. An increasingly popular activity is gorilla trekking. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a park with a long history of gorilla conservation and protection. The gorillas are the main attraction and are an exciting and educational experience for all.
What Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Tour Provides Options to See Gorillas?
With thousands of gorillas in the wild, you can get up close and personal with these gentle giants on the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Tour. With this option, you’ll visit a different gorilla family each day and see the gorilla cubs that are born here. There are many tour options for those who wish to see the gorillas on a guided or self-guided tour. Some are individual and some are for groups only.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Africa’s most popular tourist attraction. Tour the park and see how gorillas live and interact with other species, including us. Each day you will have the opportunity to interact with the majestic animals from a safe distance and have close encounters with them. Experience this unique opportunity with the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Despite the fact that this is a gorilla park, it was also home to the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This tribe of hunter-gatherers also known as “people of the forest” who were later displaced in 1991 after the the Government of Uganda declared this forest as a gazetted area.
Mgahinga can also be recognized from its three extinct volcanoes that lie along the border region of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. This park is also blessed with a striking gorgeous scenery.
Activities in the park;
Gorilla trekking; Escape To Africa specializes in organizing Gorilla tracking Safaris. When in Mgahing,a Gorilla tracking is a must do activity! With maximum 8 permits to be issued daily, it is not guaranteed that all of the 8 permits will sale out each day. Therefore trackers can be less than 8 but never moe than 8 people. This activity starts at the park entrance at 7:00 am, after briefing by the rangers.
Possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of tracking, BUT it’s not a guarantee of one’s sighting. However the chance of gorilla viewing is high – 95%. For one to be allowed to track, he must be above the age of fifteen years. Only 1 hour is allowed in the company of gorillas at 7 meters distance. Always leave the lodge with packed lunch as the tracking time is unpredictable. And remember that gorillas are wild animals and their movement is influenced by many factors apart from search for food.
Hiking Volcanoes; Escape To Africa organises hikes to the three Volcanoes; Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabinyo & Mount Muhavura. Hiking any of these volcanoes is an energetic activity that species up the safari. These are short hikes that can be done in 1 day in the company of the park rangers and an experienced Hiking Safari guide
- Mount Gahinga; At 3474m, Mt. Gahinga is a beautiful volcanoe that is hiked for 6 hours. While on the hike enjoy the beautiful scenery as you pass through former homesteads that are now part of the protected area. On your way to the Gahinga summit look out for the different bird species.
- Mount Sabinyo; Mt. Sabinyo is at 3669m above sea level and it provides an opportunity of being in 3 countries at once; Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. This mountain is made up of 5 peaks and it’s a full day’s hike including the descending. Hiking Sabinyo is a physically challenging hike and one should be in good health and in shape.
- Mount Muhavura; With Escape To Africa, enjoy this 4127M hike that takes about 7 hours. Enjoy the beautiful view and the Crater Lake at 20m in diameter. This is a very challenging hike and we advise a high level of physical fitness for one looking at hiking this forest.
Guided walk – 3 to 4 Hours; Enjoy the walk to the Garama cave which is 342m long and 14 deep. This is the battle ground for the people of the forest, the Batwa during the Batwa Bantu war. Enjoy the walk to this cave that is now inhabited by bats and evidence of tribal war remains.
Bird watching; Enter the park with a ranger and guide and enjoy birding to your fullest. As this park is known to have over 80 bird species include Ibis, Whydah, and Speckled Mouse birds among others.
Batwa Trail – 2 ½ – 3 ½ hours; With Escape To Africa, this trail takes us through that part of Mgahinga with remains of the Pygmies the Batwa; also known as “people of the forest”. In 1991 they were displaced from the forest as its was declared home to Gorillas only. This activity is run by the local community and all the funds go into developing the Batwa community. It involves the Batwa acting out their pervious life in the forest inform of traditional dance and drama. This walk involves some slippery walk but it can be done by both experience and un experienced hikers.
Tsavo is an authentic, fascinating, endless and untouched wilderness that join the Tsavo West and East National Parks into one largest protected area in Kenya. This park offers an opportunity of viewing the Big 5 in a single day. Its famously known for its man-eating lions and humongous elephant populations to the outside world, which makes it one of the must visit parks in Kenya. Between the 2 parts, Tsavo East is much more accessible, though Tsavo West provides a unique added advantage point to get closer to hippos and crocodiles lazing around in the waters.
At nearly 22,000km2, this makes Tsavo the biggest National Park in Kenya. Both of these parks where once one single park but where later separated. Though among the two Tsavo west is considered the best park for photography, birding and game viewing.
Tsavo East is at 13,747 sq.KM and is generally flat, with dry plains across where are River flows.
And the Tsavo West covers an area of 9,065 sq.KM and is generally mountainous with swamps, a Lake and Springs. It is known for bird life and large game; elephants, leopards, hippos, black rhinos, Cape buffalos and Masai lions.
Activities in Tsavo National Park
There is so much that you can do in Tsavo National park from the primarily; game drives involving viewing of elephants, African lions, hippos, cheetahs, hartebeest and buffalo, birdwatching, hill hiking, to caving and boating.
Best Time to Visit Tsavo West
At Escape To Africa, we recommend visiting the park in the months of January and February as well as June through September. And we try as much as possible to avoid the March to May and sometimes November to December as the park roads tend to be muddy and inaccessible. For all birdwatchers, the must months of visit to see migratory birds are October to January.
Recommended Number of Days
We normally advise 2 days to enjoy Tsavo west National park and a day more for all photographers to capture as much as possible.
Accommodation in the Tsavo West
As big as the park is, it has numerous accommodation to choose from for all kinds of budgets. At Escape To Africa we offer the best from comfort to services.
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