Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda's smallest national park and its quietest gorilla trekking destination — issuing just 8 permits a day, against Bwindi's 160. Tucked into the country's far southwestern corner, it sits within the wider Virunga Conservation Area shared with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, beneath three extinct volcanoes: Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.
Quick facts
- Location: Far southwestern Uganda, on the border with Rwanda and DR Congo
- Best known for: Low-traffic gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking
- Daily gorilla permits: 8 — the smallest allocation of any Uganda trekking site
- Other activities: Golden monkey tracking, hikes up Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, or Mount Muhabura
What sets Mgahinga apart
With only 8 permits issued daily, Mgahinga offers the most exclusive gorilla trekking experience in Uganda — fewer trekkers on the trail, and a markedly quieter forest than Bwindi's busier sectors. It's the right choice for travellers who have flexibility on dates and prioritise solitude over guaranteed scheduling.
Mgahinga is also one of only three places in the world to track golden monkeys, an endangered primate found only in the Virunga massif. Many guests combine a golden monkey trek with their gorilla permit, since both can typically be arranged within the same stay. For travellers with the stamina, the park's three volcanic peaks offer day hikes with views across the Virunga Conservation Area into Rwanda and DR Congo.
Frequently asked questions
How many gorilla permits are available at Mgahinga per day? Mgahinga issues 8 gorilla permits per day, a fraction of Bwindi's 160, making it Uganda's lowest-traffic gorilla trekking destination.
Can I see golden monkeys at Mgahinga? Yes. Mgahinga is one of the few places in the world where golden monkeys can be tracked, and a golden monkey permit can usually be combined with a gorilla trek during the same visit.
Is Mgahinga harder to visit than Bwindi? Mgahinga's permit allocation is far smaller, so availability requires more flexibility on dates. Once booked, the park itself is no more physically demanding than Bwindi's gentler sectors — the trade-off is schedule flexibility in exchange for a quieter trekking experience.
Mgahinga pairs naturally with a Bwindi-based itinerary for guests seeking maximum gorilla access — see our gorilla trekking planning guide.
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