Bird watching in Mgahinga gorilla national park; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest protected area in Uganda located in south western region in Kisoro district. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is famously known for harbouring the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, animals like forest elephants, duikers, giant forest hogs, bushbucks and three volcanic mountains including Mount Sabyinyo which is 3,645 meters high, Mount Muhavura which is 4,127 meters high and Mount Gahinga which is 3,475 meters high.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a home of over 115 recorded bird species including 14 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics, afro-tropical highland biome and migratory bird species which make Mgahinga Gorilla National Park one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can either be done early in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening with an experienced bird guide who is well conversant with different birding trails. During bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you will be able to spot different bird species including Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow-billed Kite, African Paradise Flycatcher, Black Kite, Alpine Chat, Grey Crowned Hornbill, Hadada Ibis, Malachite Sunbird, Speckled Mousebird, Grey Capped Warbler, White-necked Raven, Fire Finch Stonechat, Kivu Ground-thrush, Ruwenzori Batis, Olive Woodpecker, Archers Robin-chat, Blue-headed Coucal, Dusky Crimson Wing, Moorland Chat, Cape Robin-chat, Malachite Sunbird, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Black-headed Waxbill, Western Tinker Bird, Bronze Sunbird, White-tiled Blue Flycatcher, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Strange Weaver, Handsome Francolin, African Firefinch, Black Collared Apalis, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Red-throated Alethe, Ruwenzori Turaco, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Chubb’s Cisticola, Bronze Sunbird, Dusky Turtle Dove, Streaky Seedeater among others.

Cost 

Bird watching in Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 30 USD per person for foreign non residents, 25 USD per person for foreign residents and 20,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. The bird watching rates exclude entrance fees to Mgahinga gorilla national park which costs 40 USD per person for foreign non residents, 30 USD per person for foreign residents and 20,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

Best time to go for bird watching in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done all year round though the best time is during the wet/rainy season in the months of April to May and October to November because that’s the best period where bird lovers will be able to view colourful and migratory bird species.

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be done in the dry season during the months of June to September and December to February because during this period birding trails will be dry and passable which makes bird watching easy.

What to carry on a birding safari in Mgahinga gorilla national park

There are various essential items that you should carry when going on a birding safari in Mgahinga gorilla national park including insect repellent, hiking shoes, safari guide book, a pair of binoculars, camera and extra batteries, waterproof rain jacket, long sleeved shirt and trouser, energy snacks and drinking water, hat and sunscreen, warm sweater, back pack among others.

Other activities in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park offers different activities like gorilla trekking where you will be able to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas, guided nature walk where you will get up-close and personal with different animals, golden monkey trekking where you will be able to spend time with golden monkeys, mountain climbing where you will be able to climb mount sabyinyo, mount gahinga and mount muhabura, batwa cultural experience where you will be able to interact with the batwa people who used to live in Mgahinga forest before it was gazetted into a national park.

Where to stay in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park has a number of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your birding safari including Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Travellers Rest Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Ntebeko River Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Gahiza Island Retreat, Ikaze Cottages among others.

How to get to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in south western part of Uganda and can be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road. Domestic flights to Mgahinga gorilla national park can be booked by your trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris.

Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala/Entebbe via masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.

You can as well access Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then cross to the park headquarters through cyanika border in Kisoro or katuna border in Kabale which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.

For more information about bird watching in Mgahinga gorilla national park, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris