Top things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Top things to do in Bwindi impenetrable national park; Bwindi impenetrable forest is one of the gorilla destinations located in southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district. The national park covers a total area of 331 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1991 purposely to protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park was declared a UNESCO World heritage site in 1994 due to its unique biodiversity and its known for harboring half of the worlds mountain gorilla population, 120 mammals, more than 324 tree species, 360 bird species, more than 200 butterfly species among others.

Top things to do in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is an adventurous and one of the most famous activities done in Bwindi impenetrable national park. The activity involves travelers moving deep into the forest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Bwindi impenetrable forest is a home of about 19 habituated gorilla families namely Mubare gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family, Bitukura gorilla family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Kyaguliro gorilla family, Mukiza gorilla family, Nkuringo gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla family, Bikingi gorilla family, Mishaya gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family, Rwigi gorilla family and Kutu gorilla family. The gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park are found in four sectors which include Buhoma sector in the north, Rushaga sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the east and Nkuringo sector in the south.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest starts in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with trails in the jungle. Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, colorful butterflies, variety of bird species, different plant and tree species among others and once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment where you will get a chance to learn about their habits, behaviors, lifestyle, watch gorillas play, groom young ones, feed, breastfeed, take photos and record the moments.

Gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla habituation is the process where the wild gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable forest is done in Rushaga sector and the process takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete. The habituation experience starts with a briefing at the park headquarters where after you will start trekking in the jungle with a team of researchers, scientists, trackers and park guides. Once the gorillas are found you will be able to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to monitor their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, playing among others.

Bird watching

Bwindi impenetrable forest is a home of more than 360 recorded bird species including 23 of the 24 albertine rift endemics, migratory birds, forest birds among others. During bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park you will be able to view variety of bird species such as Rwenzori batis, dusky crimson wing, purple breasted sunbird, blue headed sunbird, red throated alethe, yellow crested helmet shrike, handsome francolin, Rwenzori nightjar, kivu ground thrush, montane masked apalis, yellow eyed black flycatcher, red faced woodland warbler, rwenzori nightjar, grauers rush warbler, archers robin chat, lagdens bush shrike, dusky long tailed cuckoo, great blue turaco, hairy breasted barbet, honey guide greenbl, grey headed sparrow, tiny sunbird, stripe breasted tit, crowned hornbill, dark backed weaver, honeyguide greenbul, cinnamon chested bee-eater among others.

Batwa cultural experience

Batwa cultural experience was created by the displaced Batwa/ pygmies to educate the children and share their heritage and traditions with the world. The Batwa cultural tour takes place outside the park and it gives you an opportunity to visit the Batwa homesteads, learn how to prepare their traditional meals, walk through the forest to learn how they used to live, try out their hunting skills by use of bow and arrow, interact with the medicine men who cure different diseases using herbs, listen to their ancient stories, enjoy their traditional performances among others.

Cycling/ mountain biking

This is an interesting activity where you get an opportunity to explore Bwindi impenetrable forest on a bicycle with the company of an experienced guide who is well conversant with biking trails. Cycling starts in the morning from the park headquarters at Buhoma and during the ride you will follow well maintained 13km trail to Ivi River which takes about 6 to 7 hours ride and on the way you will be able to enjoy wildlife species such as squirrels, duikers, bushbucks, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, spot some birds, visit the local community around the park among others.

Nature walks/hiking

Bwindi impenetrable forest has five different nature walk trails including Munyaga river trail, Kashasha trail, Ivy river trail among others. Nature walks range from 1 to 8 hours and it gives you an opportunity to get up close and personal with wildlife species including primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, forest birds, colorful butterflies, animals like duikers, elephants, feel the cool breeze, breath fresh air, take beautiful photos among others.

Best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable forest can be visited any time throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the park therefore access road, hiking and gorilla trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.

Bwindi impenetrable forest can also be visited in the wet season during the months of March to May and November because that’s the best period for bird watching where bird lovers will be able to view migratory bird species.

For safari bookings and more information about the things to do in Bwindi impenetrable national park, do not hesitate to contact Achieve Global Safaris.