Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site popular for endangered mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees and these two great African apes are listed in the ‘’IUCN’’ International Union for Conservation of Nature Red Data Book. It has gorilla trekking as the major tourist’s attraction with 4 outstanding gorilla trekking trailheads such as Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushanga, and Nkuringo sector. Also 21 habituated gorilla families and only 8 tourists booked per group per day. The forest trails used for trekking gorillas leads you to various attractions like rivers, swamps, waterfalls and high level of wildlife concentration. Then Birding is another tourist attraction here that provides great chances to view various Albertine rift endemics like the short-tailed warbler.

However, the park is located in southwestern region of Uganda in Kanungu district, approximately 9 to 10 hours’ drive from south of Kampala main city to reach the main destination. Bwindi was gazette in 1991 to conserve and protect the endangered mountain gorillas and in 1994 was listed on world heritage site due to rich in biodiversity with over 400 species of plants ,600 endangered mountain gorillas ,120 species of butterflies,163 species of trees,120 mammal species and 27 species of frogs, geckos and chameleons among others. The park being the oldest and hosting the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world, whose view is the most exciting and remarkable wildlife experience in the entire Africa.

The park covers about 332 square Kilometers of its low land and it lies on the edge of the rift valley in southwestern Uganda, managed by UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority a body in charge of all conservation areas and national parks.

Bwindi Tourist Attractions

Mountain gorillas

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of the gorilla safari destination that inhabits the half remaining mountain gorillas in the whole world. Bwindi Mountain gorillas are stipulated in four gorilla sectors such as Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Rushanga gorilla sector. Gorilla trekking can be done in one of these four sectors in montane rain rainforest.

Chimpanzees

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is also home for chimpanzees but they are not habituated. They can be spotted during gorilla trekking experience or nature walk. Other primates to see in Bwindi Impenetrable forest include White and black monkeys and L’hoest’s monkeys among others.

Wild Animals

The park harbors with over 120 species of mammals which include buffaloes, duikers, side striped jackal, giant forest hogs, golden cats, civet many more.

Bird Life

Bwindi is hoven for birds with more than 360 bird species and 23 species are endemic to the Albertine rift valley. Notable bird species to be encountered include Grey crowned crane, Jameson’s Antpecker, Barred long tailed Cuckoo, Yellow rumpled Tinker bird, blue headed sunbird, Common bulbul, African green pigeon, Kivu ground thrush, giant kingfisher among others.

Batwa Pygmies

Before the existence of Bwindi Impenetrable national park, these Batwa pygmies were the first people to live in this forest with mountain gorillas and they used to eat the same food with gorillas. On your visit here never leave the park without visiting the Batwa pygmies to have good interaction with them, learn about their thrilling lifestyle, listen to their interesting story on how they used to live with gorillas in the forest.

Activities encountered in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is a quite an unforgettable experience which is worth repays the effort needed to access Bwindi and trek through the Impenetrable forest. Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning after your morning breakfast, go for briefing at the park head quarter. After briefing head to the forest in search for them but the activity is bit challenging and one needs to be physically fit before undertaking to venture into the experience. Registration and briefing at Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushanga visitor commences at 7:30am with general briefings carried out at 08: 00am.Then gorilla trekking starts at 8:30 am and can last from 30 to 8hours depending on where the gorillas were left the previous day. Trekkers have to be 15 years and above to engage in gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking goes for USD 700 per person trek for foreign nonresidents, Foreigner resident USD 600 and UGX 250,000 for East African Citizens per visit one hour is given to spend with them. Gorilla habituation experience goes for USD1500 it’s a full day activity while in the jungle with the researchers trekking for gorillas and once are seen 4 hours are given to visitors to watch them and enjoy their exciting behaviors with our closely related cousins.

Guided Nature Walk/Hiking

This activity is quite rewarding which starts in the morning at 9:00am and might end in the afternoon at 2pm depending on the trails you used. You might use Munyanga River trail in Buhoma region that provides an ideal short walk to watch birds and variety of primates along the forest edge. Waterfall trail also leads you through beneath tree ferns, epiphytic ferns as well as to Uganda’s most pristine tracts of rainforest. River Ivi trail leads you through beautiful forest emerging close Nkuringo on the southern edge of the forest, good for bird watchers. You might also walk through Muzabajirro Loop Trail and be able to climb up to the summit of Rukubira Hill for cool breathtaking views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Virunga volcanoes and the western Rift Valley.

Mountain Biking

It’s not commonly done by the tourists on their Uganda safari but quite remarkable as you can be able to ride in 13 kilometers trails starting from park headquarters to River Ivi which can last in 6 to 7 hour. A ride that provides great view of primates, meeting the local people interact with them thus having an ideal encounter.

Birding

The park is also good for birding with over 360 bird species which can be easily spotted in different trail heads within the park such as Mubwindi swamp trail, waterfall trail in Buhoma and at River Ivi trails Such birds to see are Collared, Apalis, African wood owl, Strange weaver, Mountain yellow warbler, handsome francolin, black bee eater, African emerald Cuckoo, Giant kingfisher, Grey gecko shrike, African green pigeon, African green broadbill, Mountain yellow warbler among others.

Cultural Experience

The Batwa people who used to live with mountain gorillas they now stay around the park who entertain tourists by their traditional dances, good in storytelling and their life style is such amazing which has attracted millions of tourists who visits the park.

Places of stay in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable national park offers classic and comfortable accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury to Budget but the room rate depends on visit’s wallet. Such accommodations include; Silverback lodge, Gorilla valley lodge, Broadbill Forest camp, Cloud lodge, Gorilla safari lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Buhoma lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Lodge among others.

Best Time to Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The park can be visited all year around but the best time is in drier seasons starting in the month of June to September and December to Mid-March during this period of the year roads are passible and forest trails are not slippery.

Accessibility

Bwindi Impenetrable national park can be accessed by road transport approximately 9 to 10 hours’ drive from Kampala or Entebbe International Airport to main visiting destination.

Alternatively, you can choose to fly from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi Airstrip in less than 1:30 hour.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in the south western region of Uganda and can be reached either by road or by air transport means.

Inclusion, book your gorilla trekking permit in advance in order to access our dear closest cousins in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable forest ‘’Gorilla trekking ‘’as an activity worth a visit to pearl of Africa ‘’UGANDA TOURS’’.