New Trek Safaris Uganda Logo
Book Now

Mgahinga Gorilla Safaris – Only 8 Permits Daily

Skip the crowds. Trek rare mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s quieter gorilla destination in the Virunga Mountains.

  • ✔ Limited to just 8 permits per day
  • ✔ Quieter, more exclusive gorilla trekking experience
  • ✔ Gorilla permits secured for you

Plan your Mgahinga gorilla trek with expert local support before permits sell out.

Plan Your Uganda Safari

short forms

This field is required.
This field is required.
UTB
tripadvisor
AUTO
UHOA
UWA
tourradar
ATA
safari_Bookings
GetYourGuide
expedia
viator

Popular Mgahinga Gorilla Safari Packages

Why Trek Gorillas in Mgahinga

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits in Uganda’s Virunga Mountains on the borders of Rwanda and the DRC, offering gorilla trekking with only 8 permits available per day. This makes it the most exclusive gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, with the Nyakagezi gorilla family consistently present on the Ugandan side of the massif since 2012. Uganda’s permit costs USD 800 per person compared to Rwanda’s USD 1,500 for the same one-hour encounter, and Mgahinga adds golden monkey tracking in the same park, a primate combination available nowhere else in the world.

With Trek Safaris Uganda, permits are secured as part of your package and all routing, accommodation, and logistics are managed from arrival to departure.

The Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

Mgahinga is home to one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi group, which is notable for having multiple silverbacks coexisting peacefully within the same family. The group moves within the transboundary Virunga Conservation Area shared between Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC, but has been consistently present on the Ugandan side since 2012. Uganda Wildlife Authority guarantees a full refund or transfer to Bwindi if the family crosses the border on your permitted trekking date.

With only 8 permits issued daily for the Nyakagezi family, Mgahinga offers one of the most private and intimate gorilla trekking experiences available anywhere in the world. There are no sectors, no competing groups on the trail, and no crowds at the briefing point.

Combining Gorilla Trekking with Golden Monkey Tracking

Mgahinga is the only park in Uganda where golden monkeys can be tracked. These endangered primates, found only in the bamboo forests of the Virunga region, are habituated in Mgahinga with one troop of 60 to 80 individuals available for daily tracking. Golden monkey tracking is typically done on a separate day from gorilla trekking, making a two-night Mgahinga stay the recommended minimum to experience both primates.

The combination of gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking in a single park is a primate experience unique to the Virunga region and gives Mgahinga a distinct advantage over Bwindi for travellers wanting maximum primate diversity within a compact itinerary.

Build Your Mgahinga Safari

Most travellers combine Mgahinga with one or two additional Uganda or Rwanda destinations. These are the most popular combinations:

2 to 3 Days – Gorilla Focus Day one covers the drive to Kisoro and Mgahinga, day two the gorilla trek, day three the return to Kampala or Kigali. Fly-in options to Kisoro airstrip reduce overland travel significantly for travellers with limited time.

3 to 4 Days – Gorilla and Golden MonkeyTwo nights in Mgahinga covering gorilla trekking on day one and golden monkey tracking on day two, with the third day for travel. The only itinerary in Uganda where both great apes and golden monkeys are tracked in a single park.

5 to 6 Days – Mgahinga and Bwindi Gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking at Mgahinga combined with a second gorilla trek at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, covering two distinct trekking environments and multiple gorilla families within a single southwestern Uganda circuit.

7 to 10 Days – Full Southwestern Circuit Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, game drives and boat safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a Lake Bunyonyi stay. Uganda’s core safari experiences in one well-connected itinerary.

All Mgahinga Gorilla Safari Packages

10-Day Primates and Wildlife Safari
From $3,290.00
10 Days

10-Day Primates and Wildlife Safari

Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetratable Forest NP, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Experience the best of Uganda on this 10-day Primates and Wildlife Adventure. Trek mountain gorillas...
🐘 Mid Range Tour
🏃 5 Activities
Explore Tour
14 Day Magical Kenya and Uganda Safari
From $4,500.00
14 Days

14 Day Magical Kenya and Uganda Safari

Amboseli National Park, Bwindi Impenetratable Forest NP, Kibale National Park, Lake Mutanda, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Experience the very best of East Africa on this unforgettable 14-day journey combining Uganda’s lush...
🐘 Mid Range Tour
🏃 8 Activities
Explore Tour
7-Day Primates Safari and Beach Holiday
From $2,605.00
7 Days

7-Day Primates Safari and Beach Holiday

Bwindi Impenetratable Forest NP, Kalinzu, Lake Bunyonyi, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Discover Uganda’s top wildlife and primate destinations on this midrange safari. Start with a boat...
🐘 Mid Range Tour
🏃 3 Activities
Explore Tour
→ View Full Uganda Safari Packages

Gorilla Permit Pricing

Permit Type Foreign Non-Resident Foreign Resident East African Citizen
Standard Trekking USD 800 USD 700 UGX 300,000
Golden Monkey Tracking USD 60 USD 50 UGX 20,000

The standard permit covers park entrance fees, UWA guide, armed ranger escort, and one hour with the Nyakagezi gorilla family. With only 8 permits issued daily, Mgahinga sells out faster than any Bwindi sector during peak months.

Peak season months, June to September and December to February, sell out earliest. Book at least 3 to 6 months in advance. With Trek Safaris Uganda, permit booking is included in your safari package.

→ Secure My Gorilla Permits

Best Time for Mgahinga Gorilla Safaris

Dry Season (June to September and December to February)

Drier trails on the volcanic slopes, more manageable terrain for both gorilla and golden monkey trekking, and the clearest views of the Virunga volcanoes. Highest permit demand during these months. Book 3 to 6 months in advance.

Green Season (March to May and October to November)

Better permit availability, lower accommodation costs, and lush bamboo forest conditions. Golden monkey tracking is particularly rewarding during the green season when the bamboo zone is most active. The gorilla encounter is unchanged by season.

Mgahinga Booking Insight

With only 8 gorilla permits available daily, Mgahinga sells out faster than most Bwindi sectors during peak months. Travellers with fixed peak season dates should book as early as possible. Green season offers the best availability and value.

About the Mountain Gorillas of Mgahinga

Mountain gorillas are one of the world’s most endangered great apes with a total population of approximately 1,063 individuals, existing only in the wild across Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. The gorillas of Mgahinga form part of the Virunga population, which shares its range across the three-country Virunga Conservation Area, distinct from the Bwindi population to the north.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was designated in 1991 specifically to protect the mountain gorillas of the Ugandan Virunga sector. At 33.9 square kilometres it is Uganda’s smallest national park, but its position within the larger transboundary Virunga Conservation Area means the gorillas move freely across a much larger protected landscape encompassing Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the DRC’s Virunga National Park.

Revenue from gorilla trekking permits at Mgahinga contributes directly to UWA conservation operations, ranger salaries, gorilla health monitoring, and community development programmes surrounding the park.

Mgahinga Frequently Asked Questions

How many gorilla permits are available at Mgahinga?

Only 8 permits are issued daily for the Nyakagezi gorilla family. This makes Mgahinga significantly more exclusive than Bwindi, where around 20 families issue up to 8 permits each. Book as early as possible to secure your preferred date.

What happens if the gorillas cross into Rwanda or the DRC?

The Nyakagezi family moves within the transboundary Virunga Conservation Area and occasionally crosses into Rwanda or the DRC. If the family is not accessible from the Ugandan side on your permitted trekking date, UWA policy provides for a full refund or a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The family has been consistently present on the Ugandan side since 2012.

Can I do gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking on the same day?

he two activities can technically be done on the same day but it makes for an extremely long and demanding day. Two nights in Mgahinga is strongly recommended to allow gorilla trekking on one day and golden monkey tracking on the following day, with time to recover between both.

Is Mgahinga harder to trek than Bwindi?

Mgahinga's terrain is volcanic with steep slopes and high altitude, ranging from 2,227 to 4,127 metres. The trek to find the Nyakagezi family can be physically demanding. It is comparable in difficulty to Bwindi's Nkuringo sector. Porters are available and strongly recommended.

How does Mgahinga compare to Bwindi?

Mgahinga offers a more exclusive experience with only 8 permits daily and no competing groups on the trail. Bwindi offers more gorilla family options, four sector choices, wider accommodation variety, and the Gorilla Habituation Experience. Mgahinga adds golden monkey tracking in the same park, which Bwindi does not offer.

How far is Mgahinga from Kampala and Kigali?

From Kampala the drive takes approximately 9 hours via Kabale and Kisoro. From Kigali the drive takes approximately 3 to 4 hours via the Cyanika border crossing, making Mgahinga a popular choice for travellers arriving via Rwanda. Charter flights from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip take approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?

15 years. No exceptions are made by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

What is included in the permit?

Park entrance fees, UWA guide, armed ranger escort, and one hour with the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Transport, accommodation, meals, and porter fees are not included.

Plan Your Mgahinga Gorilla Safari

Tell us your travel dates, group size, and budget and our team will secure your gorilla permits and build a complete Mgahinga safari itinerary around your time in the Virunga Mountains.

Get My Gorilla Safari Quote

About Us

Trek Safaris Uganda is a Kampala-based tour operator specialising in gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris, and tailor-made itineraries across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Founded in 2008, we handle everything from gorilla permits to lodge bookings, so you can focus on the experience.

Facebook Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Quick Links

Our Company

Get In Touch

  • +256 (0) 764 018 995
  • info@treksafarisuganda.com
  • Plot 63, UMA show ground, Lugogo
Chat on WhatsApp WhatsApp Send us an Email Email
Let's chat