Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Encyclopedia
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in the far south-west of Uganda
near the town of Kisoro
.
and is contiguous with the Volcanoes National Park
in Rwanda
and the Virunga National Park
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. Mgahinga is situated about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi), by road, south of the town of Kisoro
and approximately 55 kilometres (34.2 mi), by road, west of Kabale
, the largest city in the sub-region. The entire park is located in Bufumbira County, in Kisoro District
. The coordinates of the park are:01 22S, 29 39E (Latitude:1.3650; Longitude:29.6500).
s can be found; the other being Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
. The park has one habituated gorilla group, although this group sometimes crosses the border into Rwanda
, which means Mgahinga is not a reliable spot for viewing gorillas.
The park is contiguous with Virunga National Park
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
to the west and with Volcanoes National Park
in the Republic of Rwanda to the south. The three parks, together form the 434 square kilometre Virunga Conservation Area (VCA). At 33.7 square kilometre, Mgahinga forms only about 8% of the VCA.
Each country is responsible for protecting its own portion of the VCA.
The national park
also covers three of the eight Virunga
volcanoes
: Mount Muhabura
, Mount Gahinga
and Mount Sabyinyo
, all of which lie on the Uganda/Rwanda border. Any of these can be climbed in one day from the park headquarters.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
near the town of Kisoro
Kisoro
Kisoro is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
.
Location
The park is located in the Virunga MountainsVirunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu...
and is contiguous with the Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park
For the park in Hawaii, see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla...
in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and the Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. Mgahinga is situated about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi), by road, south of the town of Kisoro
Kisoro
Kisoro is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
and approximately 55 kilometres (34.2 mi), by road, west of Kabale
Kabale
Kabale is a city in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kabale District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, the largest city in the sub-region. The entire park is located in Bufumbira County, in Kisoro District
Kisoro District
Kisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
. The coordinates of the park are:01 22S, 29 39E (Latitude:1.3650; Longitude:29.6500).
Overview
Mgahinga is one of two locations in Uganda in which mountain gorillaMountain Gorilla
The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
s can be found; the other being Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley...
. The park has one habituated gorilla group, although this group sometimes crosses the border into Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, which means Mgahinga is not a reliable spot for viewing gorillas.
The park is contiguous with Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
to the west and with Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park
For the park in Hawaii, see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla...
in the Republic of Rwanda to the south. The three parks, together form the 434 square kilometre Virunga Conservation Area (VCA). At 33.7 square kilometre, Mgahinga forms only about 8% of the VCA.
Each country is responsible for protecting its own portion of the VCA.
The national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
also covers three of the eight Virunga
Virunga
* Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu.* Virunga National Park, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.* DC Virunga, a Congolese football club based in Goma.* Stade de Virunga, a multi-use stadium in Goma....
volcanoes
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
: Mount Muhabura
Mount Muhabura
Mount Muhabura, also known as Mount Muhavura, is an extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and Uganda. At 4,127 m, Muhabura is the third highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. Muhabura lies partly...
, Mount Gahinga
Mount Gahinga
Mount Gahinga, is a dormant/extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and Uganda. Gahinga lies between Muhabura and Sabyinyo, but is the smallest of these three. The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is named after the mountain, and tourists can climb Gahinga from that side....
and Mount Sabyinyo
Mount Sabyinyo
Mount Sabyinyo is an extinct volcano in eastern Africa, in the Virunga Mountains. The summit of the mountain, at , marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda...
, all of which lie on the Uganda/Rwanda border. Any of these can be climbed in one day from the park headquarters.
See also
- Kisoro DistrictKisoro DistrictKisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- KisoroKisoroKisoro is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
- Virunga National ParkVirunga National ParkThe Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
- Volcanoes National ParkVolcanoes National ParkFor the park in Hawaii, see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla...
- Mountain gorillaMountain GorillaThe Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...