Hiking the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

A visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a thrilling adventure that involves hiking the Virunga volcanoes is a must-do. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 3 of the 8 volcanoes that make up the Virunga ranges in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga are the 3 volcanoes you can hike in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Each of the volcanoes can be hiked on separate 1-day tours. Each mountain hike starts at the Ntebeko gate. Here is where you assemble for a brief regarding hiking rules and regulations. You will be led by an experienced ranger guide to the summit of the volcano. Your physical fitness will be tested while you move past bamboo and montane vegetation as you ascend.

When you reach the summit of the volcano, you will get lovely views of other volcanoes, birds, primates, vegetation, crater lakes, etc. You are allowed to take pictures. Afterward, you will descend the volcano on that very day. The cost of hiking each volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is USD 100 per person per day. The fee includes the park entrance and guide.

About the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

With a total land size of 33.7 square kilometers in southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the country’s smallest. Found in the Albertine Rift region, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park became a national park in 1991 and is found in the Greater Virunga landscape. With an altitudinal range of 2,227-4,127 meters, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has the following volcanoes.

Mount. Muhabura

With an impressive 4,127 meters above sea level, Mount. Muhabura is the highest volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This dormant volcano has the third-highest summit of the 8 Virunga ranges. Muhabura in Kinyarwanda means ‘The Guide,’ settled on the Rwanda-Uganda border, with bamboo and montane vegetation.

Hiking the Mount. Muhabura is the most challenging of the 3 volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, this 1-day thriller adventure offers stunning views of Sabyinyo and Gahinga. A crater lake is also available to be observed and photographed on your hiking tour here. Other highlights include mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and plenty of bird species.

Mount. Sabyinyo

At 3,668 meters above sea level, the Mount. Sabyinyo is the oldest volcano among the 8 Virunga ranges. This is an extinct volcano situated west of Lake Bunyonyi. Its name comes from the Kinyarwanda word “Irinyo,” meaning ‘teeth.’ The peak of Mount Sabyinyo is serrated, quite similar to worn teeth in the gum thus dubbed “The Oldman’s Teeth” by the locals.

A Mount. The Sabyinyo hiking tour is very thrilling and adventurers will enjoy delightful sights of birds, the forest, birds, gorillas, and other primates. Views of other Virunga volcanoes like Muhabura and Gahinga can be had from Mount. Sabyinyo. Mount Sabyinyo offers hikers unique opportunities to reach the intersection of Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo.

Mount. Gahinga

This is the third and smallest volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, standing at 3,474 meters above sea level. The dormant Mount. Gahinga is at the border between Rwanda and Uganda and is also nestled between Gahinga and Muhabura. The name Gahinga is derived from a Kinyarwanda dialect meaning ‘Small piles of stones.’

The 1-day volcano hike is a captivating adventure presenting opportunities to view Sabyinyo and Muhabura. Other stunning views are offered by Mount. Gahinga is the swampy caldera, bamboo forest, and Afromontane scenery. Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and birds are key attractions here as well. You can also visit the Batwa Pygmies.

Best time to hike the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

Any day of the year is a chance to hike on the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. But, since the dry season offers more favorable weather conditions for hiking the volcanoes, visit the destination at this time. The dry season is experienced in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park between June to August, and also between December to February.

Dry seasons have the advantage of causing relatively drier weather patterns with less chance of rainfall during the day. This subsequently causes the hiking trails to remain drier and thus less slippery. The vegetation cover is also less dense. The traversable trails make the hike less challenging compared to the rainy season.

How to get there?

A transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kampala/Entebbe is done by both road and air transportation. This is a 500-kilometer drive along Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Kisoro. A comfortable road trip takes 9 to 10 hours, with a much better experience on a Standard Safaris 4×4 safari vehicle driven by one of our experienced guides.

You can also reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Lake Mburo National Park (290 km), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (80 km from Rushaga), Queen Elizabeth National Park (260 km), Lake Bunyonyi (60 km), Murchison Falls National Park (680 km) and Kibale National Park (370 km).

Domestic flights by AeroLink are available for luxury transfers to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A domestic flight is from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airport. The transfer takes a much shorter time 1 hour and 15 minutes. We at Standard Safaris are also your trusted tour operator in helping you with booking a scheduled flight for you to avoid inconveniences.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

Hiking the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

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