Mgahinga National Park
The park, famous since 1991, covers an area of 33.7 km2. It is located in the utter south western corner of Uganda, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It includes parts of Muhavura, Mgahinga and the Sabino Volcanic Mountains.
The top of Muhavura has a small crater lake and is the highest point (4127 m) in the park. The peaks are dominated by herbs and dwarf vegetation. This transgresses into the bamboo and dense forest at the foot of the mountains. The lower slopes have a savannah woodland adapted to high altitudes with many (crust) mosses.
The mountain gorillas are the most impressive animals found in Africa. Unfortunately, man has given them no mercy and poachers have greatly reduced their number, besides destroying their natural habitat. They were almost extinct, but the current rules have slowed their extinction. In the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park some have even able to form family groups again, unhindered by predatory men. Here, on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains in south western Uganda, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (33.7 km ²) was founded in order to create a safe environment for these massive, yet gentle creatures.
Visits to the gorilla families are strictly managed (and not always permitted) and small groups of visitors are accompanied by a trained ranger. In order to keep disturbance of the animals to a minimum, there is a limit to the number of tourists that is allowed at a time.
