Affordable Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park

Affordable Activities to do in Mgahinga National Park: Mgahinga National Park, which is situated in the Kisoro district in the southwest of the country, is one of the two gorilla parks in Uganda, along with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The national park’s alpine greenery, magnificent mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys provide nature and wildlife lovers with unique activities. With the intention of safeguarding these endangered mountain gorillas, the park was gazetted in 1991. The bamboo and afro-montane vegetation cover of Mgahinga National Park are home to 180 bird species, more than 76 animal species, and several primates.

The term “affordable activities” at Mgahinga National Park refers to trip package activities that are reasonably priced. Due to the endangered status of the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, trekking is the primary activity conducted there. In addition to gorilla trekking, guests may also participate in the following additional activities:

Top affordable activities to do in Mgahinga National Park

Mountain gorilla trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in Mgahinga National Park; thus, even though some people think it is pricey, it is one of the more affordable options. Many visitors come to Mgahinga National Park, particularly to trek for mountain gorillas. All tourists who enjoy mountain gorilla trekking can afford a gorilla trekking permit. The cost of a permit is UGX300,000 for East African state members, $800 for foreign non-residents, and $700 for foreign residents.

Trekking for mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park entails going into the jungle and searching for potential locations for these mountain gorillas. Armed ranger guides usually lead the hunt, leading visitors along various trekking routes in search of potential primate locations. Trekkers are allowed to spend an hour with the mountain gorilla family, seeing them go about their everyday lives, taking photos, and learning about their behaviours like communication and feeding habits—the Batwa cultural experience.

Batwa Community Visit

A visit to the Batwa is carried out by all categories of travellers, including budget ones. A small amount of money is paid, and a local guide takes you to different homes around the Batwa community. During the movement, one is able to visit farmers, traditional healers, and storytellers. The Batwa used to live inside Mgahinga National Park but were later evicted to create space for wild animals. By visiting the Batwa, you will learn about how they lived in the jungle and how they are surviving outside the jungle, among others.

Bird watching

Another affordable tourism activity that visitors to Mgahinga National Park can engage in is bird watching. The cost of a bird-watching permit is $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, and UGX30,000 for East African citizens. All types of travellers, including those on a tight budget, will find the pricing to be very reasonable. 14 of the 180 bird species found in Mgahinga National Park are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Bird watching is among the other affordable activities to do in Mgahinga National Park that attract visitors, especially bird enthusiasts. Bird watching is carried out in different birding spots of the park, and such bird species include the White-tailed Crested Flycatcher and Regal Sunbird. Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Malachite Sunbird, Shelly’s Crimson Wing, Rwenzori Double Collared Sunbird, Black-faced Apalis, Dusky Crimson Wing, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Cinnamon-bracken Warbler, and the Mountain Yellow Warbler, among others.

Nature walks

Other affordable activities that visitors could engage in at Mgahinga National Park include nature walks. The woodland zone is the focus of half-day nature walks in Mgahinga National Park. The Sabyinyo Gorge, the bamboo trail, and other trails that take visitors to Rugezi Swamp and Garama Cave are just a few of the several trekking routes in Mgahinga.

Best time to visit Mgahinga for budget activities

Although you can visit Mgahinga National Park for affordable activities at any time of year, some months are better than others. June, July, August, September, December, January, and February are the finest times to visit the park during the dry season. Little to no rainfall occurs, the roads leading from Kisoro to the park are passable, the foliage is sparse and offers good views of the wildlife, and the trekking routes are dry and easy to navigate.

Due to the park’s constant accessibility, visitors can still visit Mgahinga National Park during the rainy season. Tourists on a tight budget who enjoy staying at affordable hotels may be the ones that visit the park less frequently during the wet season. Due to the heavy rainfall during the rainy season, the trekking routes become muddy and slick, the foliage is sparse and short, making it difficult to see the wildlife, and the roads connecting to the park—particularly the Marram ones—are impassable.

Getting to Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is located in southwest Uganda, can be accessed by both air and road transport. Since flying takes 1:45 minutes, it is the fastest way to go to Mgahinga National Park. Tourists can connect to Mgahinga National Park via the Kisoro airstrip, which is served by Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda on daily morning flights. Travellers from Entebbe/Kampala can reach Mgahinga National Park in nine to ten hours by car. Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, and Kisoro are all on the route from Entebbe/Masaka to the park. By crossing the Cyanika border into Uganda, people from Kigali take 4 to 5 hours to reach Mgahinga National Park.