Uganda's hidden gem - Horizon Guides

Mgahinga, set on the Ugandan slope of the Virungas, is my personal favourite among East Africa’s gorilla tracking destinations.

True, there’s only one habituated group here, but if you can secure one of the park’s eight daily permits, you're in for a special experience. This is because the group in question is overseen by a trio of massive male siblings, making for superb silverback viewing. In addition, the gorillas here are generally found in bamboo forest or other relatively open areas, hiking conditions are usually quite undemanding, and low tourist volumes give the park a relatively off-the-beaten-track feel. What’s more, the location, below the volcanic Virunga peaks, is utterly spectacular, and other activities on offer include golden monkey tracking and various volcano hikes.

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At a glance

Destinations

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Activity

Safari, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

Physical Level

Moderate

Season

January - December

Duration

2 days

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What To Do After A Gorilla Trek

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Gorilla Photography Tips

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Your hour with the gorillas will fly by and you’ll certainly want some good photos as a memento.If you are lucky you’ll find your gorilla family out in the open on a sunny day in perfect conditions for photography.

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Philip Briggs

Philip Briggs is a guidebook writer and travel journalist specialised in African travel. He first backpacked between Nairobi and Cape Town in 1986 and has been travelling the highways and byways of Africa ever since. Since the 1990s, he has researched and authored several pioneering Bradt Guides. These include the first dedicated guidebooks to Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda and Somaliland. He has worked on guidebooks for several other publishers including AA, Insight, Berlitz, Eyewitness, Frommers, Rough Guides, Struik-New Holland and 30 Degrees South.