2 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trek from Kigali

The 2-day Mgahinga National Park tour is an ideal trip that starts from Rwanda through the Cyanika border near Volcanoes National Park and continues to Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda. Visiting Mgahinga National Park gives you a chance to explore Uganda’s smallest national park, covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers, where mountain gorillas live alongside golden monkeys, the place where “gold meets silver.”

The park is located in Kisoro District, about 495 kilometers from Kampala, Uganda’s capital, which is an 8–9-hour drive along the Masaka–Mbarara road. From Kigali City, the park is about 131 kilometers away, taking roughly 3 hours by road via the Cyanika border into Kisoro District.

Mgahinga is best known for being home to the rare and endangered mountain gorillas, making this small park very special. It is also home to other primates such as golden monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys. The park protects three of the eight Virunga volcanoes, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Visitors have the opportunity to hike these volcanoes and enjoy scenic views that stretch across Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially from the summit of Mount Sabyinyo.

2-Day Kigali Mgahinga Tour Highlights

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali & Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Departure

Detailed 2-Day Kigali Mgahinga Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali & Transfer to Mgahinga National Park

Upon your arrival at Kigali international Airport the international Airport of Rwanda, you will warmly be welcomed by a professional English speaking tour guide who will shortly tell you about the international airport of Rwanda and then transfer to Mgahinga National Park in southern Uganda.

The journey covers a distance of 131 kilometers from Kigali to the park that is approximately 3 hours’ drive via Cyanika boarder – Kisoro district.

Mgahinga National Park is one of the smallest National Parks in Uganda but very unique in itself, offering a rich variety of Uganda Safaris that include both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. It was established in 1991 with the purpose of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas; the Park derives its name Mgahinga from one of the Virunga Mountains Mount. Gahinga that are encompassed within the Park, Mgahinga National park is bordered by Rwanda to the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.

Upon reaching the park in the afternoon, you will check in the lodge for lunch then after proceed for a cultural trail to Batwa pygmies to experience and see the lives and hospitality of these people that lived in the forest before establishment of Mgahinga National Park. After this cultural experience, you will transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Departure

Following your early morning breakfast with your packed lunch, water and some snacks, have a road transfer to/from Bwindi forest for gorilla trekking, the trek starts from the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest, then after hike into the forest to search for these endangered primates.

Mountain gorillas are scientifically believed to be 99% human DNA and in their ways of style, the way they feed their young ones and how they conduct their day to day activities proves that they are really humans. Trekking activity lasts for 2-8 hours depending on the location of these primates.

As soon as you reach them, you will be required to spend only one hour with them and you are advised to keep at least one-meter distance from these primates.

After the activity, retire to the lodge, check out, and transfer back to Kampala, having experienced an unforgettable Bwindi National Park Gorilla Trekking Tour.