National Park · Southwestern Uganda (Virunga range)
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda's smallest national park, and the only place in the country to see golden monkeys alongside a second, smaller gorilla-trekking option.
How to get there
By road from Kabale or Kisoro, roughly an hour further south of Bwindi's Rushaga sector.
What to find
Golden monkey tracking, gorilla trekking (single habituated family), and hikes up the three extinct Virunga volcanoes on the Uganda side of the border.
Overview
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda's smallest national park, at about 34 km², but it sits in one of the most dramatic settings in the country: on the slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes, where Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo meet.
The park's slogan is "where gold meets silver": it's the only place in Uganda where you can track both golden monkeys and silverback gorillas. It's also the ancestral home of the Batwa people, whose history is told on the Batwa Trail.
Highlights
- Golden monkeys in the bamboo zone, an endangered Albertine Rift endemic
- Gorilla trekking with the Nyakagezi family
- Volcano hikes: Muhavura (4,127m), Gahinga (3,474m) and Sabinyo (3,669m)
- On Sabinyo's summit, you can stand in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo at once
- The Batwa Trail and Garama Cave
Things to do
Golden monkey tracking
US$60 for foreign non-residents, or US$100 for the longer habituation experience.
Gorilla trekking
The same UWA gorilla permit as Bwindi (US$800), with fewer permits per day.
Volcano climbing
Full-day hikes. Muhavura's crater lake summit and Sabinyo's three-country peak are the classics.
Batwa Trail
A cultural walk led by Batwa guides, ending at the sacred Garama Cave.
Best time to visit
All year. The drier months of June to August and December to February make the volcano hikes much more pleasant. The bamboo zone can be very muddy in the rains.
Getting there
Kisoro town is about 14 km from the park gate. It's reached by road from Kabale (around 1.5 hours) or by scheduled flight to Kisoro airstrip. From Kigali, it's about 3 to 4 hours via the Cyanika border.
Where to stay
There are lodges close to the park gate and in Kisoro town. It pairs perfectly with Bwindi's southern Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors, which are only an hour or two away.
Mgahinga & Kisoro
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Uganda →
Good to know
- Golden monkeys move fast through bamboo, so keep your camera ready.
- Volcano hikes are steep and high. Start early and bring warm layers.
- Combine with gorilla trekking in southern Bwindi for a primate-rich few days.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.
Related guides