Chances of Seeing Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park

Chances of Seeing Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park

What are the chances of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park? The chances of spotting mountain gorillas in the natural forest in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are 99%. The remaining 1% is due to unavoidable factors such as the location of the gorilla family, the nature of the habitat, and the general fitness level of visitors.

Why is the chance of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga high?

Multiple factors have enhanced visitors’ chances of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. These factors may also apply to other gorilla trekking destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Here are the reasons why the chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Mgahinga are high.

The size of the park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest of all the gorilla safari destinations in East Africa. Overall, Mgahinga covers the land area of about 33.7 sq. km, making exploring easier.

Gorilla habituation

Gorilla habituation has significantly increased visitors’ chances of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park. Like the other gorilla parks, the actual gorilla trek in Mgahinga is mainly done with the already habituated gorillas. Through habituation, gorillas get used to human presence, thus making it easier for visitors to interact with them, unlike when they are not.

Gorilla habituation takes an extended period, about 1-2 years, for gorillas to get used to the human presence before they are officially opened for trekking. On a visit to Mgahinga to track gorillas, expect to explore the Nyakagezi group. The Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only mountain gorilla family open for gorilla tourism in Mgahinga National Park.

Early planning for your gorilla tour

Successful gorilla treks require early planning and preparation. In the process of early planning, you can have everything met at the right time for your adventure. Early planning gives you enough time to secure a valid gorilla permit, conduct adequate exercise to keep fit for the adventure, and obtain the essentials.

A valid gorilla permit is recommended to be booked at least 2 to 3 months in advance. Visitors have often booked gorilla permits a year before the planned gorilla trekking date. Please avoid last-minute bookings because of the high demand for permits. A valid gorilla trekking permit is needed to visit a family of gorillas.

Presence of experienced and well-trained trackers

The trackers have played a significant role in gorilla trekking adventures. As visitors undergo a briefing about gorilla trekking rules at the park offices, the trackers can already be in the field. They ascertain where mountain gorillas are and always keep in touch with the park ranger guides who are in the lead for gorilla trekking. The presence of the trackers has significantly increased the chances of visitors seeing gorillas in the jungles of Mgahinga National Park.

A valid gorilla permit

A valid gorilla permit is necessary for trekking to see the Mgahinga gorillas. A single license costs USD 800 per visitor, and a reliable tour operator such as Native Africa Tours can assist you in securing your permit early enough.

What decreases the chances of seeing gorillas below 99%

Presence of food

Gorillas are ever stationed in one spot. The availability of food often determines their location. This is a factor beyond human control, and do not be shocked to find a family of gorillas far away from the expected location. Mountain gorillas move in search of food, and they even move a bit farther during the peak dry season. The dry season is characterized by few food sources compared to the wet season, when there is an abundance for these apes to feed on. When there is plenty of food for gorillas to feed on, they often keep around nearby places, which can shorten visitor trekking time and increase their chances of seeing these large apes.

Fitness levels

Compared to most safari experiences, gorilla trekking involves walking through the jungle and steep slopes before encountering a family of gorillas. Visitors’ hiking speed also greatly increases their chances of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Weather conditions

The weather conditions play a significant role in gorilla-watching success. The dry season is considered the best period to enjoy a gorilla trekking adventure. But the challenge is when there is an inadequate food supply for gorillas. The wet or rainy season is often the most avoided period of the year for gorilla tours, yet it is a season when there is plenty of food for gorillas to feed on. The abundant food supply means mountain gorillas spend most of their time around, unlike when there is inadequacy, which makes them move deeper into the jungle.

What is the usual gorilla trek in Mgahinga like?

To get things started on the actual gorilla trek in Mgahinga, visitors must first assemble at the park offices (Ntebeko) to get briefed about gorilla trekking rules. Guests are expected at the Ntebeko area as early as 7:00 am to meet the park official who will take you through the pre-trekking briefing. The early morning briefing session also includes clearing with the park reservation desk before you join others for the actual briefing.

The briefing session is expected to last 30 minutes, and the park official allocates an experienced park ranger guide to accompany you. As per gorilla trekking standards, a maximum of 8 (eight) guests get to track one gorilla group. The trekking adventure begins at around 8:00 a.m. and is expected to take 2-6 hours, including a special 1 hour for you to spend with the Great Apes. The one-hour tour includes photography and observing how these apes behave in the wild.

The best time to visit Mgahinga National Park to see gorillas

When you think about seeing gorillas in Mgahinga, the dry season is the best time of the year and guarantees you excellent treks. Access to Mgahinga is eased, and searching for a family of gorillas also comes with fewer challenges considering the low rainfall amount. The vegetation is clear, and the steep slopes remain relatively drier and passable.

Each year, Mgahinga records two dry season phases. The first and longest dry season runs from June, July, and August to September. The shortest dry months fall around December, January, and February. The rest of the months mark the wet or rainy months of Mgahinga and extend from March to May, then from October to November.

Where to stay

To enjoy your gorilla trekking holiday in Mgahinga, you should also have a place to stay. The key accommodation options in and around Mgahinga National Park include Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, and Mount Gahinga Rest Camp.

How to get there

Mgahinga National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda, and by road, expect to spend between 9 and 10 hours driving. This is especially true for trekkers with plans to begin their journey from Entebbe or Kampala City. If you intend to start your trip from Kigali, you can take 4-5 hours to drive up to Mgahinga via the Chanika border. You can spend about 1-2 hours on a scheduled or chartered flight from the Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip by air.