Sitting high in the clouds at an altitude ranging between 2,227 and 4,127 meters is Mgahinga national park whose major purpose of creation was to protect the less common mountain gorillas. The park is also famous for being home to a multitude of endangered golden monkeys.
Wildlife conservation aside, Mgahinga national park has a lot to do with culture and human history particularly the ancient dwellers of the forest – Batwa pygmies. Mgahinga forest is where their story begins since they gathered fruits and hunted animals in the forest, their mysteries and secrets of life remain unrivalled and enthralling.
The three cone-shaped extinct volcanoes which are part of the mighty Virunga volcanoes lying along Uganda, Congo and Rwanda border are some of the park’s striking features. The park also forms part of the wide Virunga Conservation Area involving adjacent parks in the three countries. Slopes of the mountain are a true reflection of beauty, and also blessed with wide array of biodiversity.
Birding tours in Mgahinga National Park.
Mgahinga national park is home to over one hundred and eighty (180) bird species most of which are endemic to the forest. 12 of these species are restricted to the park and they are endemic to the Albertine Rift valley.
It is through a number of guided mountain hikes that visitors who are passionate about bird get an opportunity of spotting some of the Afro-alpine endemics including the elusive scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. The best time to watch migratory birds in this park is between November and April.
The gorge between Mt. Sabyinyo and Mt. Gahinga, through bamboo and the montane plantations is a hotspot for most birding excursions in Mgahinga. It is in these scenic trails that you can watch the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco.
A number of birds such as the Dusky turtle Dove, Kivu-ground Thrush, Olive Thrush, Cape Robin-chat, Black-headed Waxbill, Bronze and Regal Sunbirds, Blue-headed Sunbird and Streaky Seedeater can be easily observed with the 3-4 hours’ gorge trail lying between Gahinga and Sabyinyo mountains.
Other best trails for birding are those that pass through the bamboo belt (2500 meters above sea level) and those through the montane forest (2660 meters above sea level). Most commonly visible birds in these trails are the Rwenzori turacos, Banded Prinia, Red-faced Woodland Warbler and Doherty’s Bush-shrike (vocal yet inconspicuous inhabitants of the tangled vegetation at the forest’s edge) can be traced along the border of Uganda and Congo.
When is it best to visit Mgahinga national park for bird-watching?
Birding tours in Mgahinga national park can take place throughout the year. This is an opportunity for you (birder) to enjoy the best of birding in the park anytime of your convenience. However, the most recommendable months of birding are from April to mid-May and from October to November. This is specifically due to the fact that it is in these months when migratory birds are in the park.
It is along the way to Mgahinga national park that you get an opportunity of viewing landscapes that cannot leave your memories. The park itself is blessed with a good number of flora and fauna, dominated by the elusive human-like mountain gorillas. The park comprises of montane vegetation supported by cool climatic conditions. Bamboo vegetation takes sixty percent (60%) of the park’s vegetation cover.
Other than birding, Mgahinga national park presents a lot on your safari bucket list that you ought not to miss, among which include but not limited to the following; trekking mountain gorillas, guided nature walks that can introduce you to a multitude of animals and mountain gorilla tracking expeditions. Dare not to miss being part of at least one of these activities!
Apart from Mgahinga national park, Uganda is blessed with a number of other vast destinations that can as well make your birding dreams come to fulfillment. These include; Murchison fall national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kidepo valley national park, Budongo forest reserve, etc.
