Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the smallest parks in the country. It is about 33 sq km and is found on the extreme end of south western Uganda in Kisoro district. It is one of the 2 only Parks in Uganda which are habitants for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Mgahinga was gazetted in 1999 and its part of the 3 National Parks that make up the Virunga Conservation Area or the Virunga massif. Mgahinga adjoins Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Within this park you will find the 3 extinct volcanoes which are Mount Sabinyo (3.669 m.), Mount Gahinga (3.474 m.) and Mount Muhavura (4.127 m.). The Park derived its name “Mgahinga” from Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhavura.
The Gorilla habituated family in this Park is Nyakagezi gorilla group which was always very had to track in the passed year because it would cross borders back the Virunga especially in the periods with less foods, however the group came back and it has now settled in Mgahinga and its reliable to go gorilla tracking in Uganda since the family has a very large range with more 4 silver-backs . Tourists are now enjoying the group because of the good number of gorillas in the group and its now a usual activity where 8 permits are available every day for visitors so remember to reserve your gorilla permit earlier enough before your tracking date
Besides Gorillas, there are also other recorded species of Mammals and birds. These include: buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, leopards and almost 115 bird species have been recorded, including Rwenzori turacco, crowned hornbill, black kite and crowned crane.
Mgahinga National Park is the only park in Uganda that has Golden Monkeys, and they can only be tracked here.