Volcano Climbing In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Guided day hikes to each f the three volcanic peaks in Mgahinga National Park leave on-demand daily from 07:00 to 07:30 at a cost of ;

• US$80 (per person) for Foreign Non-Resident visitors
• US$70 for Foreign Resident visitors
• UGX 50,000 for East African Citizens

A regional level of fitness is required for these hikes, all of which take between 7 and 9 hours. You will need;

• Good waterproof hiking boots
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Warm clothes
• Hiking Boots
• Garden Gloves
• Rain Jacket
• Long-Sleeved Shirts / Blouse
• Energy Giving snacks
• Cameras and extra batteries
• Hat and Sun Glasses
• Pair of Binoculars

The most popular climb strenuous ascent from Ntebeko Gate to Mount Sabinyo, a hike that culminates in 3 challenging ladder climb up rock faces that will sorely test anyone with a poor head for heights, before summiting at the three-way border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Less vertiginously challenging but far more of an uphill slog, the hike to the park’s highest point, the 4,127 meter Mount Muhabura Peak, involves a 1,793 meters altitudinal climb from the trailhead at Muhabura Gate, which means that hikers may well feel mild altitudinal related symptoms near the peak.

The open moorland that characterizes Muhabura offers great views in all directions, though unless you are lucky this will be reduced by haze by the time you reach the top.

Lookout for Afro-montane endemic such as the elegant Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. A small crater lake at the top of Muhabura is encircled by giant lobelias.

Rather than less demanding than either of the above is the climb from Ntebeko to Mount Gahinga, which entails an altitudinal gain of 1,100 meters, and provides opportunities to see a variety of forest bird species in the bamboo zone, while duikers and bushbucks inhabit the crater at the peak.