Three conical extinct volcanoes dominate the skyline of the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Part of the Virunga Mountain Range, they are cloaked in dense forest. It’s a dramatically beautiful backdrop for the park but, more importantly, also one of the last remaining places where you can see mountain gorilla in the wild.
Researchers have habituated one of Mgahinga’s gorilla troops, and you can see them by trekking through the forest on foot with an expert guide. This is an all day activity, as it takes some time to reach the gorilla, but undoubtedly well worth the effort. Sitting in a forest glade, watching the gorilla family groom one another, eat, and play, is a magical experience and one which few people are ever privileged enough to witness.
Before Mgahinga became a national park, it was also home to Batwa hunter-gathers. Some members of this fascinating community have become guides, and they will lead you through the forest on the Batwa Trail. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the Batwa’s cultural heritage, in particular their sacred caves, medicinal plants, and songs.
