Mgahinga Gorrila
National Park
 The
Park, gazetted in 1991, covers an area of 33.7km2.
It is found in the extreme Southwestern corner
of Uganda that borders with the Democratic Republic
of Congo and Rwanda. It includes parts of Muhavura,
Mgahinga and Sabino Volcanic Mountains. The summit
of Muhavura has a small crater lake and forms
the highest point (4127m) in the Park. The summit
areas are dominated by wort and dwarf heath vegetation.
This emerges into bamboo and broad leaved montane
forest, down the mountains. The lower slopes have
high altitude savannah woodland with lots of lichens
and mosses.
The Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla brengei)
are the most awe-inspiring animals to be found
in Africa. Unfortunately, man has not been merciful
to them. Poachers have decimated them, and man
has destroyed their natural habitat. They have
faced extinction, but today sound conservation
policies have slowed down their decline, and in
the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park they are able
to establish their family groups untroubled by
predatory man.
Here on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains, in
south west Uganda, the Mgahinga Gorilla National
Park (33.7 sq.km) has been established to provide
a secure habitat for these massive, but gentle
creatures.
Access to the families is strictly controlled
(and not always permitted) and small groups of
visitors are always accompanied by a trained ranger.
To keep disturbance to the animals to a minimum
there are limits to the number of tourists allowed
in at any one time. Here we are in the home of
the animals and we must act as the perfect guests.
The park can be reached by road through Kabale
and Kisoro 510km from Kampala.
Visitors to this Park can be accommodated in nearby
Motels in Kisoro or KabaleVolcanoes' Travelers
Rest Hotel nestles under the towering volcanoes,
with spectacular views of the Rift Valley and
the emerald-green Lake Mutanda in the distance.
There is also a mountain camp for climbers in
the saddle between Muhavura and Mgahinga.
Colobus Monkey, Jackal, Porcupine, Golden Cat,
Gorilla, HoneyBadger, Duiker, Aardvark, Elephant.
This Park is the second home of the rare Mountain
Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) in Uganda.
Other animals in the area include golden monkey,
leopard, giant forest hog, bushbuck and buffalo.
There is a wealth of birdlife.
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