Volcanoes Safaris Mount Gahinga Lodge

Mount Gahinga Lodge is located at the entrance to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, within the Virunga Volcanoes region bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The primary group trekked is the Nyakagezi gorilla group in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This well-known group has historically been notable for the presence of multiple silverbacks, creating fascinating social dynamics within the family.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has multiple habituated gorilla families spread across several trekking sectors, offering greater permit availability and flexibility. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, by contrast, has one habituated family, the Nyakagezi Group, which creates a more intimate and limited trekking experience within the dramatic Virunga Volcano landscape.

Mgahinga is also the only place in Uganda where guests can combine gorilla trekking with golden monkey trekking, making it a uniquely diverse primate experience in the country.

Guests must be 15 years or older to participate in gorilla trekking. Golden monkey trekking is permitted for guests aged 12 and older.

Yes. While younger children cannot participate in gorilla trekking, the lodge welcomes families and offers child minding services and alternative cultural or nature-based activities.

Yes. Due to its location near the Rwanda border, Mount Gahinga Lodge can easily be combined with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or incorporated into a broader East Africa itinerary. We often recommend this cross-border approach, as we have personally tried and tested it, and it allows for a seamless primate-focused journey across the Virunga region.

For guests wanting to conclude their experience with classic savanna wildlife, we also like to pair gorilla trekking with a Big Five safari at Wilderness Magashi in Akagera National Park, creating a well-balanced itinerary that combines forest trekking with traditional game viewing.