Mount Gahinga Lodge Uganda
Mount Gahinga Lodge Uganda
Located in south-west Uganda, near the Kisoro town, on the edge of Mgahinga National Park, Mount Gahinga Lodge is the only place to stay when tracking Mgahinga gorilla.
Overview
A stone, wood and thatch build, Mount Gahinga Lodge consists of a main lodge and 9 sleeping bandas. The main lodge – which boasts Wi-Fi access – includes a newly built sunroom (lounge), bar, dining area, old lounge and library.
Sympathetic in terms of design to the older building, the circular sunroom is characterised by locally sourced lightweight seating, colourful cushions, plenty of natural light and beautiful wooden floors. Behind, the rest of main lodge is dominated by a centrally positioned open log fire, and possesses a similar taste in furnishings. Both rooms are airy, spacious and very welcoming.
Food & service
A mix of local produce, fresh fish, meat and vegetables, the food is superb, and much commented on by guests, as is the service.
Rooms
Circular, thatched and discreetly positioned, each of the sleeping rooms – or cottages – includes a double or twin bed, seating, room to change in, a veranda and a separate bathroom. In keeping with its ecologically conscious ethos, the bathroom contains a short drop toilet, a bucket shower and hot water is available on request.
Activities
Activities at Mount Gahinga Lodge include gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking, guided walks, bird watching, volcano climbs and massage. Please note that gorilla sightings in Mgahinga are by no means guaranteed: the forest overlaps Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo, giving the gorilla an enormous range and thus diminishing the chances of a successful trek.
Conservation
The Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), established in 2009, is a non-profit organisation that connects Volcanoes’ Rwanda and Uganda luxury lodges to local communities and conservation activities.
The Trust aspires to promote long-term, self-sustaining projects that support the conservation of the great apes, restore natural habitats and work with communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Commerce
The Batwa Vocational Centre is the heart of the educational work conducted by the VSPT with the Batwa. The Trust has donated a quarter of an acre of land to BVC, allowing locals to learn how to farm, particularly potatoes and wheat crops. Produce is then sold to finance food, medicine and other necessary items within the community.
Community
Built on the Mount Gahinga Lodge property, the Batwa Heritage Site consists of a herbal garden, a small collection of traditional huts and a short trail that allows the Batwa to demonstrate – to interested Volcanoes Safaris guests – how they used to live, hunt, and collect resources from the forest.
Furthermore, the Batwa Dance Group performs weekly, working to integrate the Batwa with local communities.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Established in 1991, Mgahinga Gorilla national park features among Uganda most exceptional national parks that you should consider visiting during your next vacation in Uganda and Africa at large. The park covers an area of about 33.7 square kilometers making it the smallest protected in Uganda. Its establishment was mainly to offer refuge to most of its dense forests, mountain gorillas, the rare golden monkeys, bird species and many more.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
About 80 rare mountain gorillas call this park their home and only one group is habituated and ready for visitors to track each day. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies at altitude of about 2.227m and 4.127m, south western Uganda. Besides, the park also features 3 (three) of the eight Virunga Mountain ranges (Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura). These mighty Virunga volcanoes stretch up to the Virunga Volcano range of the East Central Africa, Albertine rift in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Uganda border.
Mgahinga National Park is popular for its thick vegetation, a reason why the area is one of the most rainfall catchment destinations in the country with several crater lakes on the mount Muhabura and swamp crater on the mount Gahinga summit as well as amazing swamps that lie within the 3 volcanoes. The park is also surrounded by the Batwa pygmies-the famous forest dwellers who are believed to have stayed in the jungles for over 500.000 years and left without any effect.
Getting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga National Park can be reached by road or air.
By road, you will take the Kampala, Kabale, Kisoro and you will spend about 8 to 10 hours’ drive. For visitors who will opt for air means of transportation, you can fly from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi and then land into Kisoro airstrip. From here, connect to your lodge / hotel or to the park by road, less than an hour drive.
Access from Kigali – Rwanda
Instead of driving for 10 hours from Kampala, some visitors fly to Kigali International Airport and cross to Mgahinga National park through Cyanika boarder crossing and this is less than 4 hr drive. This route has become very popular ever since the price of Rwanda gorilla permits doubled to USD1500 per person. Mgahinga Gorilla Park now receives many guests especially for short trips like 1 day gorilla trip from Kigali or 2 day gorilla tour.
Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park?
Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge
While on safari to Mgahinga National Park, you will expect to spend a night in one of the most comfortable safari lodge that leaves a memory in you. The best accommodation facilities for you to spend night include mount Gahinga safari lodge in Ntebeko managed by Volcanoes Safaris; lake Mutanda chameleon hill lodge in Mutanda; Lake Chahafi Resort, Kisoro travelers rest hotel and river much hotel in Kisoro and many more.
Tourist activities in Mgahinga National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking
A visit to Mgahinga National Park rewards visitors with lifetime travel experiences in mountain gorilla tracking adventures. Mountain gorilla adventures in this park attract about 75% of the travelers from across the world mainly to strike their imaginations with these rare apes while in their natural habitat. In Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is the second gorilla destinations after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that you can pay a visit to track the gorillas. For interested visitors, you will track the Nyakagezi habituated gorilla group and your treks start from the Ntebeko entrance gate.
Nature walks/hiking adventures
Hiking adventures at Mgahinga National Park offer you a chance to hike through the thick forest to the Sabyinyo gorge that also features as the best site for birding safaris and interestingly, visitors can catch a glimpse at the Rwenzori Turaco. The hikes through this park last for about 4 hours through the Rugezi the popular spot for birding. The hikes also allow you to explore the transcending vegetation zones along the Congo borders where you will glace several calderas. Other incredible wildlife species for you to spot out include the rare golden monkeys at the Bamboo jungle.
Birding safaris in Mgahinga
If you love birding, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is undeniably one of the birders paradises that you shouldn’t miss to pay a visit. The most popular birding area is mostly the gorge trail between the Sabyinyo and the Gahinga. Visitors on birding adventures in Mgahinga National Park reward visitor with spectacular views of the Dusky turtle dove, cape robin chat, black headed waxbill, streaky seed-eater, blue headed sun bird, regal sun bird and others.
Volcano climbing
Mgahinga National Park refuges all the 3 mighty Virunga Mountains and volcano climbing features among the safari highlights in the park especially on the summit of mount Sabyinyo about 3669 for 8 hours is such amazing adventure for you; you can as well do mountain climbing in mount Gahinga about 3474m and chance to glace swamps full of craters and giant lobelia. Most interestingly here is that you will glace the rare golden monkeys as they head to the Bamboo jungle or you can choose to climb mount Muhabura one of the highest peaks of about 4127m and experience a lot of clear scenic views of the lake Edward, Virunga volcanoes and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as well as the several peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.
Cultural encounters
After mountain gorilla adventures at the park, never miss to pay a visit to one of the cultural communities adjacent at the park and interact with the Batwa pygmies. There is Batwa trail, that takes you through cultural exploration with the Batwa the famous forest dwellers, hunters and gatherers to explore more about their ancient lifestyles. Your presence in the cave is such an incredible moment that you will never wish to leave but rather opt for yet another return to the destination.
Golden Monkey Tracking
The other incredible activity that you shouldn’t miss out in this park is golden monkey tracking. Besides the rare mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park is also famous as one of the areas where silver meets gold due to its striking golden monkeys.
In conclusion therefore, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park that rewards visitors with variety of natural wonders. The park features wide range of attractions right from primates, volcanoes to bird life.
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