Understanding Weather and Climate in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for effective Gorilla Trekking

If you’re planning to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, it’s important to know about the Weather and Climate in Mgahinga. Here’s all what you need to know:

1. Temperature: The weather in Mgahinga is usually not too hot or too cold. During the day, it’s usually between 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). At night, it can get cooler, around 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F).
2. Rainfall: There are two main rainy seasons: from March to May and from September to November. These times can be quite wet, so be ready for rain if you visit then.
3. Dry Season: The driest months are from December to February and from June to August. This is a good time to go trekking to see gorillas. But even in the dry season, there might be some rain, so bring rain gear just in case.
4. Altitude: The park has different heights, from about 2,227 meters to 4,127 meters above sea level. Higher places are cooler.
5. Gorilla Trekking: The weather can make gorilla trekking harder. In the dry season, it’s easier because there’s less mud. But in the rainy season, it can be tough because of slippery paths. However, the rain also makes everything lush and green, which is beautiful to see.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is small compared to other parks. It’s next to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda. In the park, there are three volcanoes called Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhabura. These are part of the Virunga Mountains.

The park is home to mountain gorillas and Golden Monkeys. It has different types of forests, like lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, montane rain forests, and mountain Bamboo.

Cost of Gorilla Trekking Permit

To go see the gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, you need  a gorilla trekking permit. It’s like a ticket that lets you enter the park and spend time with these amazing creatures. The cost of this permit depends on where you’re from. For people who aren’t residents of Uganda, it’s $800. If you’re a foreign resident in Uganda, it’s a bit cheaper at $700. But if you’re from East Africa, like Uganda, Kenya, or Tanzania, it’s 300,000 Uganda shillings.

What Happens During Gorilla Trekking

Before you go trekking, you’ll have a briefing at the park headquarters. They’ll tell you what you can and can’t do while you’re out in the forest with the gorillas. Then, you’ll be put into groups and assigned a gorilla family to visit. You’ll head out early in the morning with guides and rangers. The trek can be tough because you’ll go through thick forests and climb steep slopes. But it’s all worth it when you finally meet the gorillas. You get to spend about an hour with them, watching them do their thing. After that, you head back and get a certificate to show you completed the trek.

Transportation Costs

Getting to Mgahinga National Park involves some transportation costs. You’ll need to hire a vehicle, which can cost between $100 and $250 per day, depending on the type of vehicle you choose. For a three-day trip to go see the gorillas, you’ll spend around $290 on transportation. Also, don’t forget about the Uganda visa, which costs $30 and you can get it at the airport or any border point when you arrive in Uganda. The park is about a 45-minute drive from Kisoro town. You’ll likely use a 4×4 vehicle with air conditioning and water for the trip.

Accommodation Options

When you visit Mgahinga National Park, you’ll need a place to stay. There are different options for all budgets. If you want luxury, there’s Gahinga Lodge, where prices start at $400 per person per night. For something more midrange or budget-friendly, there’s Lake Chahafi Lodge or Lake Muhele Lodge, where you can stay for around $100 per person per night. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find hotels in Kisoro town for as low as $50 for a room. Kisoro is only a 30-minute drive from the park headquarters. Some people even choose to stay in lodges or camps in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is about an hour’s drive from Mgahinga.