Mountain Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park 
Mountain gorilla tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park is the top safari activity in the park. Uganda gorilla safaris are undertaken each day as a total of 8 tourists above the age of 15 and have purchase a Uganda gorilla trekking permit go in search of the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Each morning, before setting off for trekking, tourists are first briefed on the gorilla trekking etiquette then after head to the jungle alongside armed park rangers. The search for these gentle giants is referred to by many as a lifetime experience. Mountain gorilla tracking lasts about 2-8 hours since the gorillas are mobile and therefore the time spent is unpredictable. However, only one hour is spent in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas then after return to the park headquarters where trekkers receive a Uganda gorilla trekking safari certificate.

The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs 600 USD for foreign non residents, 500 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 Ugandan shillings for East African citizens (2019 prices). Effective 1st July 2020, a gorilla permit will cost 700 USD for foreign non-resident and 600 USD for foreign residents.

Golden Monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park 
Golden Monkey trekking is less exhausting than the popular gorilla trekking in Uganda since they are not so mobile and prefer staying in almost the same area. A glimpse at golden monkeys is priceless since they are beautiful and playful through the bamboo stems. However, with their very playful character a trekker needs a high quality camera to capture their pictures since they leap so fast.

To have a golden monkey trekking safari in Uganda, one needs to purchase a permit prior and this can be done through a tour operator. Golden Monkey trekking starts at 8:00am each morning with briefing then after head to the Gahinga trail. On reaching the presence of the golden monkeys, only 1 hour is spent in their presence out of the 2-4 hours spent on the trek.

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Bird watching safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla park are rewarding with about 184 bird species seen within the park. The best bird watching spots include the gorge between Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo, through the bamboo forest and in the montane forest.  This trail lasts about three to four hours with possible sightings of the Dusky turtle Dove, Kivu-ground thrush, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Streaky Seedeater, Olive Thrush and many more. The other good bird watching spots include the bamboo belt at about 2,500m above sea level an altitude where the Rwenzori Turaco can easily be spotted.

Hiking and nature walks in Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Hiking and nature walks are the best way of exploring the Mgahinga Forest. The trails entail a traveler an amazing walk through the forest with an opportunity to see several flora and fauna species. The three volcano peaks of Mgahinga Gorilla Park can be hiked each on a single day when one chooses to take a hiking trip in the park. Mount Muhavura rises to 4,127m high and can be climbed in 8 hours with a glimpse of the Rwenzori Mountain and Volcano peak. Mount Gahinga hike takes about 6 hours and Mount Sabinyo is about 8 hours hike with the peak on the border of the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

Nature walks can be done around the edges of the mountain within the bamboo and scenic vegetation of surrounding lakes like Lake Mutanda.

The Batwa trail
The Batwa trail in Mgahinga Gorilla Park offers you a  chance to have a close experience with the Batwa pygmies an activity done by the Batwa to preserve and share their culture with the world. The Batwa pygmies are the only peoples who lived in the forest alongside other wildlife species including the rare Mountain Gorillas. For conservation purposes, the Batwa were relocated to the areas around the forest and only Batwa guides enter the Batwa trails with tourists. The Batwa trail is a half day cultural tour as the Batwa demonstrate to you their hunting techniques, medicinal plants and many more instruments they made and used for survival.

Mountain Gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mountain gorillas are the main Uganda safari attraction in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park inhabiting a single gorilla family within the park. Known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family, the mountain gorilla family of Mgahinga has probably the biggest silverback gorilla (Bugingo, 50 years old) that is very peaceful and amazing to encounter on a gorilla tracking trip. The Silverback gorilla heads the family members to different parts of the wild jungle in search of food including fresh plant leaves and stems. The Nyakagezi gorilla family has 9 family members including 1 lead silverback (Bugingo), his 2 silverback sons (Mark and Marfia), 2 blackbacks (Rukundo and Ndungutse), 2 female adults (Nshuti and Nyiramwiza) and 2 infants (Furraha and Nkanda).

Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 
Golden monkeys in Uganda can only be seen in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Golden Monkey trekking safaris in Uganda to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only and best way of catching a glimpse of the beautiful golden-orange coated primate species. Golden Monkeys total to about 3000 – 4000 in number existing in the bamboo forests of the Virunga massif. Golden Monkeys (Cercopithecus Kandti) are a species of the Old World monkey found in the Virunga Volcanic Mountains including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Golden monkeys are restricted to the highland forest especially near bamboo of which they feed on the leaves.

Golden Monkeys live in social groups with about 30 – 80 individuals in each. Though moving in large groups during day, in the night golden monkeys sleep in small sub groups of four at the top of bamboo plants. They use dense bamboo plant or several bamboo plants that weave together to make a sufficient foundation for sleep.

Birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the top bird watching spot for birding in Uganda with about 184 bird species recorded in the park. The park is host to several Albertine Rift’s endemic birds including the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-throated Alethe, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson-wing, Archer’s Ground Robin, Blue-headed Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Collard Apalis, Mountain masked Apalis, Montane Nightjar.

Mount Gahinga Lodge 
Gahinga lodge is the perfect luxury accommodation facility to start off your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The lodge is nestled at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes with its rustic charm inspired by traditional design and building techniques. The lodge has a beautiful living room, sun room and terrace with fantastic views of the volcanoes and Kisoro valley.

Travellers Rest 
Travellers Rest hotel is a top pick for mid-range accommodation in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is one of the oldest hotels in Uganda boosting an impressive list of guests including Dian Fossey, the popular primatologist who did a lot to conserve the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas. From Travellers Rest to Mgahinga its about 10.6km via Kisoro – Cyanika Rd on a road drive of about 30min.