Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
3 hand-picked glamping camps and lodges in and around the park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park guide
Overview
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, covering about 34 km² in the far south-west of the country. It was established in 1991 and sits on the slopes of three of the Virunga volcanoes, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, where Uganda meets Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area, together with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. Bamboo forest, montane forest and open alpine slopes climb towards the volcano summits, which rise to more than 4,000 m.
Mgahinga has one habituated mountain gorilla family, so it gets fewer visitors than Bwindi. It’s also the best place in Uganda to track golden monkeys, and visitors can climb the volcanoes or walk the Batwa Trail, which is led by members of the Batwa community who once lived in the forest.
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Primates
The habituated Nyakagezi gorilla family can be tracked from the Ntebeko gate. Golden monkeys, a rare subspecies found only in the Virungas, live in the bamboo zone.
Other wildlife
Forest elephants, buffalo and bushbuck live in the park but are rarely seen. Birds include the Rwenzori turaco and many species found only in the Albertine Rift.
Best Time to Visit
Short answer: June to August and December to February, in the drier months, when trails are less muddy.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Jun – Aug | Long dry season | The best trekking conditions. |
| Sep – Nov | Short rains | Wetter, but permits are easier to get. |
| Dec – Feb | Short dry season | Good trekking conditions. |
| Mar – May | Long rains | Muddy trails. Discounted gorilla permits in April and May. |
Bring waterproof boots, gloves and a rain jacket. It can rain on any day in the mountains.
Getting There
By air
| Airport | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entebbe International (EBB) | International arrivals | About 9 to 10 hours by road. |
| Kigali International (KGL) | International arrivals | About 3 to 4 hours by road via the Cyanika border. |
| Kisoro airstrip | Domestic flights | Scheduled and charter flights from Entebbe. About 30 minutes from the park. |
By road
From Kisoro town, a 14 km dirt road leads to the Ntebeko gate. Many visitors combine Mgahinga with Bwindi or with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Entrance & Fees
Uganda Wildlife Authority charges a conservation fee per person for each 24 hours in the park. Mgahinga is a Category A park.
| Visitor | Adult | Child (5–15) |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident | US$40 | US$20 |
| Foreign resident | US$30 | US$10 |
| Rest of Africa | US$25 | US$5 |
| East African citizen | UGX 20,000 | UGX 5,000 |
A gorilla tracking permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents (US$600 in April, May and November), US$700 for foreign residents, US$500 for other African citizens and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. Golden monkey tracking costs US$60 for foreign non-residents, US$50 for foreign residents and UGX 40,000 for East African citizens, not including entry. Volcano climbs and the Batwa Trail are charged separately.
Fees last checked October 2026 against the Uganda Wildlife Authority rates.
