Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and its volcanic forest
Published on 09/24/2026 at 03:48 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a volcanic landscape above Kisoro in south-western Uganda. Its forested slopes include three Virunga volcanoes, while bamboo, montane woodland and high moorland form distinct bands across the park.
The park covers 33.7 square kilometres and was gazetted in 1991. Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are its best-known animals, but the protected landscape also contains buffaloes, elephants, leopards, duikers and forest birds.
Three Virunga volcanoes above Kisoro
Mgahinga lies on the Ugandan side of the Virunga volcanic range, close to the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park’s three volcanoes are Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabinyo, whose slopes rise through forest towards rock, heath and moorland.
Mount Muhavura reaches 4,127 m (13,540 ft), making it the highest summit in the park. Mount Gahinga reaches 3,474 m (11,398 ft), while Sabinyo rises to 3,645 m (11,959 ft). Their volcanic forms give the park a clear geographical identity above the Kisoro district.
From bamboo forest to high moorland
The vegetation changes with elevation. Lower sections contain woodland, followed by bamboo and montane forest. Higher ground carries tree heath, giant lobelias, groundsels and open volcanic terrain.
This sequence gives Mgahinga a compact but varied landscape. The volcanic landscape forms part of the wider Albertine Rift and the transboundary Virunga region.
Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys
Mountain gorillas live in the forest, and their range extends across the connected protected areas of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mgahinga is also associated with the golden monkey, a primate of the Virunga forests.
The park’s wildlife includes buffaloes, elephants, leopards, bushbucks, bush pigs, black-fronted duikers and giant forest hogs. Wildlife in Mgahinga occupies habitats ranging from bamboo forest to montane moorland.
Mgahinga’s conservation history reaches back to 1930, when the area became a game sanctuary under the British administration. It became a national park in 1991, giving the Ugandan section of the Virungas its present protected status. The park’s conservation history is connected with the protection of mountain gorillas.
Visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Mgahinga lies south of Kisoro in Uganda’s south-western corner. Road access connects the park with Kisoro, while the nearest international gateway is Kigali in Rwanda.
- The terrain rises from forest to high volcanic slopes. Hiking involves steep ground, uneven volcanic surfaces and altitude reaching 4,127 m (13,540 ft) on Muhavura.
- The park borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its protected forest forms part of the wider Virunga landscape shared across national boundaries.
- The official language is English and the currency is the Ugandan shilling.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
Searching for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on social platforms
These links open searches for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Where is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
It lies in south-western Uganda, in Kisoro District near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What can visitors expect in the park?
The landscape includes volcanic slopes, bamboo forest, montane woodland and high moorland, with mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other forest wildlife.
What makes Mgahinga distinctive?
Three Virunga volcanoes rise within its 33.7-square-kilometre protected area, creating a concentrated landscape of forests, volcanic peaks and high-altitude vegetation.
