Hiking the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

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The Virunga volcanic mountains stretch through East Africa crossing from the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Volcanoes National Park. The Virunga Mountains are over eight with Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda hosting the host with five of them. However, three of these five mountains are shared with Uganda in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Virunga mountain chain includes some of the most active volcanoes on earth. These mountains include Mount Karisimbi which is the tallest of all with an elevation of 4,507 meters above sea level, Mount Mikeno at 4,437 meters, Mount Muhavura at 4,127 meters, Mount Bisoke at 3,711 meters, Mount Sabyinyo at 3,671 meters, Mount Gahinga at 3,470 meters, Mount Nyiragongo at 3,47o meters, and Mount Nyamuragira at 3,058 meters. All these eight mountains make up a long chain of the Virunga Mountains.

Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda has five of these eight including Mount Karisimbi the tallest, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. The Democratic Republic of Congo on the other hand houses Mount Nyiragongo which is the most active volcano in the world having last erupted in 2021, Mount Mikeno, and Mount Nyamuragira. The mountains in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the focus of this article. The mountains in this park include the following.

Mount Gahinga

Mountain Gahinga is a dormant or extinct volcano that is located on the international border between Rwanda and Uganda. It is the smallest mountain among the three mountains in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mount Gahinga can be hiked from the side of Uganda is Mgahinga. It is located between the mountains of Muhavura and Sabyinyo. Gahinga is a local word in Kinyarwanda that means a pile of stones or rocks. Mountain Gahinga was named so because of the numerous loose volcanic stones it has. The base of this mountain bears large gardens of bamboo trees which are a specialty of the golden monkeys. The hike of Mount Gahinga takes approximately 5-6 including the descending time.

Mount Muhavura

Mount Muhavura or as some may call it Muhabura is located both in Rwanda and Uganda at the border in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro. Standing at 4,127 meters above sea level, Mount Muhavura is the tallest in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the third highest in the Virunga chain of mountains. Hiking this mountain takes between 7 to 8 hours depending on a lot of factors including the physical ability of the hiker, weather, and hiking gear. Muhavura or Muhabura is a Kinyarwanda and Kifumbira word meaning to guide.

Mount Sabyinyo

Mount Sabyinyo is the smallest of the three mountains in Mgahinga with an elevation of 3,645 meters above sea level. Sabyinyo is a local word that means old man’s teeth because the top of this mount is shaped in such a way. Mount Sabyinyo though it is also shared with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, can only be hiked from the Uganda side in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The hike to Mount Sabyinyo takes about 6 hours giving hikers incredible views of Muhavura and Gahinga on the horizon.

Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Hiking is one of the major activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This activity involves traversing through the dense vegetation canopies and steep slopes of the mountains to the summits. Hiking is a demanding activity that requires one to be physically fit as it tests your ability and endurance to overcome the steep trails and other obstacles for the glory on the top summit. However, it is important to note that the mountains in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are relatively steep and not too tall hence even for first-time climbers. The hiking experience always begins with a short briefing about the trails to use and how the hike is expected to go. The hikers then select and check their hiking gear before hiring the porters to carry the visitor’s luggage. A guide hiker leads the hike to the summit of the select mountain to hike.

Hiking these mountains is all not about walking to the top of the summits, as during the hike expect to encounter a variety of wildlife species like primates, small mammals, and numerous bird species. Notable primates include mountain gorillas, colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Bird species to keep an eye on include double-collared sunbird, yellow-billed kite, African paradise flycatcher, black kite, alpine chat, grey crowned hornbill, hadada ibis, malachite sunbird, speckled mousebird, and grey-capped warbler to mention but a few.

What is the best time to hike in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies in the tropical climatic region of East Africa given its proximity to the equator. It records two wet and dry seasons every year. Hiking is a physical activity hence is best done during the dry season when the hiking trails are dry and the vegetation canopy is sparse due to little or no rain in this season. The dry season runs from June to September and December to February. For a successful hike to the summit of the Mgahinga Mountains, weather is an important factor since it determines a lot. When the hiking trails are dry, they ease navigation since they are not slippery or muddy. Heavy rains can be a hindrance to the hiking experience hence hiking in the dry season is the best time.

What is the best packaging list for hiking?

Just like the weather, having a good packing list can be key for a successful hiking experience of the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The following items are essential for a hiking experience.