Bwindi Impenetrable National Park stands as the main stopping destination to see the endangered mountain gorillas. More so, it is one of Africa’s most ancient and biologically diverse rainforests, located in south western Uganda region on the rim of the Rift valley. While mountain gorillas are the main attractions, Bwindi also harbors over 120 species of mammals, including chimpanzees, baboons, elephants and forest antelopes, over 350 bird species, featuring 23 Albertine Rift endemics like the African green broadbill and Shelley’s crimson wing many more. It is also home to more than 200 colorful butterflies, including eight Albertine Rift endemics as well as variety of reptiles and amphibians.
Interestingly, Bwindi is home to half of the world’s remaining population over 650 individuals of the total of 11000 individuals and the rest are found Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda and Virunga National Park of Congo. Despite the fact that, Impenetrable Forest ranks as one of the best places worldwide to experience gorilla trekking, offering visitor/tourists a great chance to come face to face with these unique primates in their natural habitat.
Generally, Bwindi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and boasts with over 25 habituated gorilla families, divided in four gorilla sectors namely Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga. It is said, gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi begun in early April 1993 and the first gorilla group to open up for tourism was Mubare gorilla group.
Things to Do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking is an incredible activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is because the park is home of about 25 habituated gorilla families, stipulated in four gorilla sectors namely Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhijja sector in the east and Rushaga sector in the south.
Gorilla trekking activity starts very early in the morning at around 7:30am with a short briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will be sub-divided by park ranger guide into group of 8 people where each group is allocated through trekking in different trails in the forest. Trekking experience can take about 30minutes to 7 hours, depending on the mountain gorillas’ movement while looking for food. During trekking, you will be able to spot other primate species like I’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, various bird species, plants among others. Once the mountain gorilla family is located, you will be given an hour to spend with them, as you observe their habits, behaviors, feed, watch them play, groom their young ones, enjoy taking memorable photo shoot as well as recording videos among other.
Gorilla habitation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla habituation experience is the second done activity in the park, where you will get a chance to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas under the habituation process.
Gorilla habituation is a process where mountain gorillas are first trained to get used to human presence for trekking. The process weighs a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and if the park ranger notices is fully trained – introduces it to tourism. This georgeos activity involves a team of researchers, scientists, park rangers and trackers. Bwindi has four habituated gorilla sectors; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo and among them, Rushaga sector is the only sector separated for gorilla habituation – it is located in southern part of the park.
Gorilla habituation experience only allows a maximum number of 4 people to visit a group under the habituation process and during trekking you will have a chance to view different wildlife species including mammals, birds, plant and tree species. On finding them, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat, as you watch them carry out their daily activities and learn about the naming process among others.
Birdwatching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also known as paradise for birders, hosting over 360 bird species including Albertine rift endemic species and forest birds among others. Birding in Bwindi is best done along the bamboo zone, Buhoma waterfall trail and Mubwindi swamp trail you will be accompanied by a skilled park guide who will help you to watch different bird species. List of birds to see in Bwindi National Parks include; Regal sunbird, Mountain oriole, Doherty’s bush shrike, Black bee- eater, Handsome spurfowl, Bar- tailed trogon, Black – billed, Shelley’s crimson, Dusky crimson, Yellow eyed black flycatcher, strange weaver, Ruwenzori nightjar, archer’s robin chat, Blue headed sunbirds among others.
Nature walks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Nature walk is an adventurous activity where you will be able to explore Bwindi Forest on foot with a well-trained park guide and an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. The Park stuns with several nature walk trails where guided nature walk is conducted such as Muyangwa waterfall trail in Buhoma sector, Muzubijiro loop trail, Rushura hill walk, Buhoma -Nkuringo trail, Ivi river trail and Habinyanja trail.
Batwa cultural tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is an exciting activity that gives one an opportunity to interact with the Batwa people who used to live in Bwindi Forest before it was gazzetted as a national park. During your visit here, you will get to learn about their lifestyle for example how they used to gather honey, learn how to prepare their local food, different plants they used to cure illnesses, demonstrate how they used to build huts made of grass and trees, visit their traditional homesteads, learn how to prepare their local dishes, enjoy their amazing traditional entertainments among others.
Best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited all year round though the best time to visit the park is during the dry season ‘’peak season’’ which usually happens in the months of June, July, August, September, December and January to February.
During the dry season the park receives little rainfall thus making hiking trails passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.
Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern part of Uganda and by road transport means – drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara to the park. It is approximately 8 to 9 hours’ drive.
By Air Transport
You can fly to Bwindi by booking ‘’domestic flight ‘’charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro and then connect to the park headquarter by road.
We recommend booking your Gorilla Trekking Safari with a recognized tour operator life we bswtravelconsults.