Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Uganda's smallest national park sits in the southwest corner where Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC meet. Three perfect volcanic cones — Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo — rise from afromontane forest to alpine moorland.

Mgahinga's single habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi, roams between countries but is reliably found here in dry months. Permits sell out faster than Bwindi's, but groups are smaller and the trekking is shorter.

Add the golden monkey trek — a vivid, fast-moving troop in the bamboo zone — and a summit climb of any of the three volcanoes for a complete Virunga experience.