Mgahinga Gorilla Tours Uganda, Expedition, Wildlife Safari Mgahinga Attractions Africa

February 27, 2008

Gorilla tracking:
Of all activities at the park, Gorilla tracking is the most loveliest and unforgettable move one  makes because of the experience one gets.

Nyakagezi is one of the groups currently available fro tourism and it consists of
11 members, 3 adult females, 4 juveniles, 2 silver backs, 2 infants.
For more up dates contact UWA head quarters or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park office in Kisoro.
To ensure the availability of requested dates, book 3 months in advance.
Tracking starts off at 8:30am, which takes almost 3-8 hours depending on where the gorillas are.  However, you should report to the Registration office at around 7:45am.

What to bring:
§    For those who feel unfamiliar with jungle sounds, bring earplugs.
§    For steepy muddy slopes, wear jungle shoes.
§    Carry packed food.
§    Carry sunscreen lotion, a hat, rain gear and a repellant for insects.
Gorilla Guides and Rules:
§    Never get too close to gorillas within 5 metres.
§    Never split into groups. Stay in a tight group.
§    Never use flash when photographing the gorillas.
§    Never smoke or drink or even eat while within 200 meters close to the gorillas.
§    Turn a way from gorillas is you feel like sneezing or coughing.
§    No one with a communicable disease is allowed in the park i.e. Flu, diarrhea.
§    Never make loud noise within the park.
§    Gorilla tracking is 15 years and above strictly.
§    Never spit on vegetation or soil in the park.

Written by admin · Filed Under mgahinga-gorilla-park 

Lodges Mgahinga National Park Accommodation Uganda Africa

February 27, 2008

Accommodation:
The park offers a variety of accommodation facilities ranging from luxurious full board hotels  and those best on the camp site, which include Sky blue hotel, Mt. Gahinga Rest camp, Virunga  Hotel, Blue Hotel, Mubono hotel and not forgetting Rugingana Campsite. Also present is a “do it  yourself camping site” near the park gate.

Access:
From Kampala Kisoro takes 8 hours drive for about 540kms via Kabale. There are daily transport  services for those who don’t have private vehicles. The bus from Kampala takes off at 7:00am and  when in Kisoro, you can hire a special taxi to the park for 131/2kms from Kisoro town.

Charter flights are also available from Entebbe to Kisoro. Flights are on Mondays and Fridays,  with Eagle Air.

Viewing Plat Form:
The Plat Form is 800m from the park’s entrance. Once on the Plat Form, you will be able to view  the surrounding areas and the park’s natural beauty.
Information about what you can see is displayed on the hill point and a guide may not be  necessary since the activity is for free.

Written by admin · Filed Under mgahinga-gorilla-park 

Hiking Mgahinga Uganda Safari,Vacation Ideas, Travel and Safari Trip Africa

February 27, 2008

Volcano climbing:
(1). Mt. Muhavura 4127m (The Guide):
The peak of the cone-shaped mountain provides one of the loveliest views of the country.  Climbing in on a rock surface covered with shrubs. Once on top the reward is views of Lake  Edward, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Park, Virungi volcanoes and not  forgetting Rwenzori Mountains.

Being 12kms covering the round trips the hike takes almost 8 hours.
Visitors are advised to bring their own food, sleeping gear, water and not forgetting the tents  since the camp has no such facilities. Camping at Muhavura base camp the night before the hike  takes on is recommended.
(2). Mt. Sabinyo (3669m) Old man’s teeth.
Mt. Sabinyo offers 3 challenging tasks when climbing its peak. It takes one to the ridge along  the Eastern side of the mountain to Peak 1 to peak 2. It involves walking a ridge with breath  taking drops into Uganda and Rwanda gorges.
One should expect his hands to be dirty since the 3rd steep is very steep.

(3).  You will be at the point in Rwanda, Uganda and DRC once on top of the peak
at the same time.
To cover the 14km stretch it takes up almost 8 hours around the trip.

(4). Mt. Gahinga (347m) small pile of stones:
Gahinga locally means small piles of stone. So when you reach Gahinga, you will come across  small piles of stones around the Gahinga gardens.
Mt. Gahinga is quite large than the real stones “Gahinga” and when you compare it with Mt.  Muhavura, makes it very small. On top of Gahinga, there lived a crater lake. However, with time,  it changed into a lush swamp. A hike at Gahinga takes you about
6 hours for a round trip.

Garoma Cave:
This was a home to the Batwa warriors who fought their neighbours the Bantu. The distance  between the park’s entrance and the cave is just 3km long. The cave is 342m in length and 14m  deep, however, its now home to the bats.
You will be shown how the Batwa lived and fought while out of their caves by the guides.

Bird watching:
Bird watching is available after booking by 10:00am. From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, the guides will take  you along the edge of the park.
Towards the DRC, a stroll along the buffalo wall will take you. Via a wetland area where fire  finch Ibis and speckled mouse bird are found. Among other birds around include wax bills,  yellow-vented bulbul stone chart and grey capped warbler.
A Guide will always be available to take you to the best sports.

Written by admin · Filed Under mgahinga-gorilla-park 

Mgahinga National Park Uganda Safari Africa, Adventure Holiday Uganda

February 27, 2008

MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK.

The park is the smallest of all in Uganda covering a bout 38 sq km. However, small it may be, it  is very important since it also has the endangered mountain gorillas.

The park is located in Southwestern part of Uganda in Kisoro district.
The park became one of Virunga Conservation Area when it was gazetted in 1991. The park  neighbours DRC’s Virunga National Park and Rwanda’s volcano.

In the months of February-May the park experiences 2 wet rainy seasons as well as in the months  of September to December.

The maximum amount of rainfall is 250mm in a year and the minimum being 10mm in the month of  October and July respectively.

Local people:
The major ethnic group are the Bafumbira who live most of their life cultivating.
The Batwa (Pygmies) are the minority group and are believed to live in caves and feed on  wildlife.

Kisoro district is heavily populated, with 331 people per sq km. However, due to the UWA the  park is well protected, which controls the people on a few resources than destructing the park.  With the majority staff being from the community, a law established by UWA indicates that 20% of  park entrance fee goes to the development of the surrounding projects near the park.

Flora and Fauna:
The park’s vegetation is generally a fro montane since it’s a mountainous region with a cool  climate with the vegetation being a bamboo (60%), hence being a scare to mountain gorilla.
Among other flora include the Haegenia and the Lobelia, and birds include crowned hornbill,  black kite, crowned crane and Rwenzori turaco.
Examples of animals include elephants, bushbucks, mountain gorillas and buffalos.

Written by admin · Filed Under mgahinga-gorilla-park