Climbing Mount Gahinga.
Climbing Mount Gahinga: Mount Gahinga is one of the three Virunga volcanic mountains in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is situated in the Kisoro area in the southwest of Uganda and shares borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Between Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhabura, at 3,474 meters above sea level, is the extinct volcano known as Mount Gahinga. Mount Gahinga, the lowest and most accessible volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, gets its name from the term “Gahinga,” which implies a mound of little volcanic stones.
Mount Gahinga Hiking
Early in the morning, visitors to the park headquarters get a training on the laws and regulations before beginning their hike up Mount Gahinga. Following the briefing, you will begin your hike, which should take you six to eight hours total.
Trekking will take you through various vegetation zones, such as bamboo forests, where you can see a variety of wildlife, including primates, birds, and animals. Once you reach the summit, you will be treated to views of a sizable shallow crater swamp that is home to giant lobelia and sub-alpine plants.
The price of hiking Mount Gahinga
It costs 80 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 70 USD per person for foreign residents, and 50,000 USD per person for East African natives to climb Mount Gahinga in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The price covers park admission fees and a guide, but does not include tent, porter, or chef expenses.
The ideal time to climb Mount Gahinga
Although it is possible to climb Mount Gahinga at any time of year, the best time to do so is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. This is because the park receives less or no rainfall during this time, making the hiking trails dry and passable, making climbing easier than during the rainy season, when they are slippery and wet.
Things to bring for a climb up Mount Gahinga
For your hiking safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you should bring a variety of items, such as hiking shoes to protect your ankles and keep your feet dry, long-sleeved clothing to keep you warm, especially in the morning, energy snacks and drinking water to stay hydrated, a waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rain, a camera and extra batteries to take pictures, insect repellent to keep you safe from biting insects, a walking stick to support you while climbing, garden gloves, a hat to shield you from the sun, a backpack to carry your hiking gear, and more.
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park travel route
The southwestern region of Uganda is home to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is accessible by plane and road. It takes around nine to ten hours to travel from Kampala to the park headquarters in a safari vehicle, passing via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also accessible from Kigali, Rwanda. To get there, take a plane to Kigali International Airport, and then drive three to four hours to pass the Cyanika border near Kisoro or the Katuna border in Kabale.
When traveling by air, you will reserve either regular or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, after which you will take a road connection to the park headquarters.
Accommodations for your hiking safari
There are many lodging options in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where you may spend your trekking safari. Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Bwindu Jungle Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Mucha Lodge, Kisoro Travelers Rest, Mubano Hotel, Montana Guest House, Muhabura Motel, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Travelers Rest Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mt Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, and Muanda Eco Community Center are just a few of the lodging options, which include luxury, midrange, and budget lodging options as well as campsites.
Additional activities in the Gorilla National Park in Mgahinga
In addition to Mount Gahinga climbing, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park provides other fascinating safari activities, such as bird watching, which allows visitors to observe a variety of bird species, guided nature walks, golden monkey trekking, which allows visitors to spend time with the golden monkeys, and Batwa trail experience, which allows visitors to engage with the Batwa people who once lived in the forest before it was gazetted into a national park.
