Mgahinga gorilla trekking from Arusha
Mgahinga gorilla trekking from Arusha: Mountain gorillas are not found in every country in this world. People who want to see them normally have to move distances to meet the in the few countries where they do live. Mountain gorillas in the world live in four national parks in three countries. The mountain gorillas live in Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda, Virunga national park of DR Congo, and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda.
Mgahinga national park is one of the areas where tourists can go gorilla trekking if they want to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Mgahinga national park is a habitat for mountain gorillas in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The 33.9 sq. km area is home to over 100 mountain gorillas some of which have been habituated and are used to human presence around them.
Tanzania is one of the most visited countries because of the wildlife and wild beast migration however none of the national parks has endangered mountain gorillas said to be close relatives to human beings. Tourists after visiting different national parks in Tanzania or those that want to see mountain gorillas have Mgahinga national park not so far from the country.
Mgahinga national park is in southwestern Uganda and travelers from Tanzania can always cross to Uganda by passing through Kenya or flying to Entebbe international airport or Kigali international airport. Any of the routes or modes of transport used can get you to Mgahinga national park where you will be able to trek mountain gorillas as long as you have a gorilla permit.
Mgahinga gorilla trekking permits from Arusha
Tourists from Arusha need gorilla trekking permits to encounter the mountain gorillas of Mgahinga national park. A gorilla trekking permit is purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a local tour operator at the same fee. Tourists from Arusha will need to do early permit boking and must have secured the permits before coming to Mgahinga national park.
All trekkers at Ntebeko Visitors Centre must show their gorilla trekking permits to be allowed in the trekking activity. The gorilla permits from Arusha can be purchased at $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East African member states. Only 8 gorilla permits are available in Mgahinga national park therefore tourists from Arusha need to do advance bookings.
Mgahinga gorilla trekking experience from Arusha
From Arusha, you need to know that mountain gorilla trekking does start in the morning at 7 pm. The activity starts at Ntebeko Visitors Centre with a briefing from the ranger guides. The briefing has rangers teaching the trekkers about the rules and regulations of the activity. A maximum of 8 people does trek Nyakagezi gorilla family according to the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.
The trekkers are led by rangers who have firearms into the jungle where they search for where the mountain gorillas could be. The search for mountain gorillas does take 2 to 7 hours with trekkers going through different trails. The search takes trekkers to different tree species where these mountain gorillas normally hang. During the search, trekkers are able to encounter different wildlife species and vegetation within the park.
After hours of searching and allocating the fully habituated gorilla family of Nyakagezi, trekkers do get 1 hour to be around the members learn about their habits, take photos and watch the members carry out daily activities among which include nesting, coupling, hunting, grooming, eating and breastfeeding among others.
After spending 1 hour with the mountain gorillas, trekkers do get out of the jungle and get back to their cars. They are driven to Ntebeko Visitors Centre where they pick up their gorilla trekking certificates. Later tourists can go back to their lodge or drive to the next destination. From Arusha, tourists need to be physically fit to complete their gorilla trekking exercise in Mgahinga national park.
What to pack for Mgahinga gorilla trekking from Arusha?
To have the best gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga national park from Arusha Tanzania you need trekking gear. What to pack for a successful safari includes waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shorts, a sweater, a rain jacket, a hat, a light backpack, sunscreen, insect repellents, a drinking water bottle, energy giving snacks, a camera, and a pair of binoculars among others.
Best time to trek Mgahinga national park gorillas from Arusha
Mountain gorilla trekking from Arusha can be carried out at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry season months from June to September and December to February are the best to carry out gorilla trekking from Arusha because they are characterized by little or no rainfall. These months have gotten dry and passable trekking trails, the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of wildlife, and roads connecting to the park are in good states.
Tourists can still visit Mgahinga national park during the rainy season which occurs from March to May and October to November because the park is open all throughout the year. The rainy season favors budget travelers from Arusha because the lodges and tour packages are discounted to attract the few traveling that season. What makes the rainy season not so good for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga from Arusha is the too much rainfall, trekking trails are muddy and slippery, and vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of rainfall.
Getting to Mgahinga national park from Arusha Tanzania.
Tourists can get to Mgahinga national park from Arusha Tanzania by road transport or air transport. The quickest way to get to Mgahinga national park from Arusha would be using air transport. Air transport to Kigali international airport or Entebbe international airport if you are to fly again to Kisoro airstrip. Flights to Kigali international airport would mean using road transport to Mgahinga national park via Cyanika border.
For tourists that can’t afford air transport to Mgahinga national park, they can still use road transport. By road transport, tourists will have to connect to Uganda after passing through Kenya. If you use road transport, you must plan more days of your safari because road transport alone takes some days.
Where to stay on your gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga national park from Arusha
From Arusha, there are so many accommodation facilities that tourists can stay in based on their travel budget. Mgahinga national park has the budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities that include Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Musasa Mountain Triangle Lodge, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Tiloreza Volcanoes Lodge, Mountain Gahinga Rest Camp, and Mutanda Safari Lodge among others.
