Bwindi impenetrable national park is the most important forest reserve in Uganda and one of the Africa’s most ancient habitats to have survived the last Ice as most of the continent’s other forest disappeared, the park is a swath of steep mountains covered in thick, steamy jungle covering an area of 320 square kilometers all to thrill while on Uganda Safaris Tours.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas with half of the World’s mountain gorilla population with about 19 habituated gorilla groups, the protects one of Uganda’s most important rainforests that is why it is listed among as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park is located in the mountainous region of the Southwest Uganda along the border of Uganda with Rwanda in the south, the park sits on the edge of the eastern side of the Albertine Rift Valley dominated by tropical forest spreading over a series of steep ridges and valley making it one of the largest areas in East Africa with Afro montane lowland forest extending within the montane forest belt.

Bwindi impenetrable national park hosts a rich biodiversity including various species of flora and fauna, the park is famous for being a home to the world’s largest mountain gorilla population, several species of butterflies, forest animals and birds.

Mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a second home to the mountain gorillas which are over 1,063 individuals in the whole world, Bwindi is a home to the world’s largest population with about 603 individuals. Bwindi impenetrable national park is divided into 4 sectors where the 19 habituated gorilla groups are found and can be tracked, these gorilla groups include

Buhoma sector

• Mubare gorilla family
• Habinyanja Gorilla Family
• Rushegura Gorilla Family

Nkuringo sector

• Nkuringo Gorilla Family

Ruhija sector

• Oruzogo Gorilla Family
• Bitukura Gorilla Family
• Kyaguriro Gorilla Family

Rushaga sector

• Nshongi Gorilla Family
• Mishaya Gorilla Family
• Kahungye Gorilla Family
• Bweza gorilla family
• Busingye Gorilla Family

Birds in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is listed among the important Birding Areas in Uganda hosting about 350 bird species with 23 Albertine Rift endemic species and several species recorded to be found nowhere else in Uganda, these birds include Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimson-wing. More species include; Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds among others. Other creatures found in the forests of Bwindi include 200 butterfly species including 8 Albertine rift endemics such as African giant swallowtail and Cream-banded swallowtail among others.

In addition to Mountain gorillas and birds, Bwindi impenetrable national park hosts over 120 mammal species calling the dense forests home, the mammals include Elephants, duikers, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, yellow-backed duiker, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats and rodents among others. There are also 11 primates including black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, Red-tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled  Galago, Baboons and Chimpanzee.

SAFARI ACTIVITIES TO DO IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

GORILLA TREKKING

Gorilla trekking is once in a lifetime experience offering the most remarkable and memorable encounter with the man’s closest relative the giant mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, mountain gorillas are rare and endangered species found in two populations in the world that is one in Bwindi impenetrable national park and the Virunga Conservation Area (vca). Bwindi impenetrable national park has a total of 11 habituated gorilla families found in 4 sectors of the park that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts as early as 08:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters, at the same site the trekkers are assigned a gorilla group to trek and grouped into 8 people. The experience takes about 2-6 hours with one hour of being in the presence of mountain gorillas, in the duration of one hour you get witness and observe the behavior of the gorillas such as picking fruits, taking care of their young ones and protecting their young ones. Each of the mountain gorilla group is led by a dominant silverback who is tasked with protecting their families. 

GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE

Gorilla habituated experience is the same as mountain gorilla trekking but the only difference is that it offers more time in the presence of mountain gorillas and it is only done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, this activity is perfect for researchers and tourists who wish to spend more time in the presence of mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience starts early with briefing at the park’s headquarters then head into the forests looking for the gorillas, the experience takes about 5 to 10 hours and the numbers of people to take part in this experience are limited to 4 people including researchers. Gorilla habituation experience offers trackers enough to observe the behavior of the gorillas and learn more about them, for photographers you get to have enough time to take pictures.

BATWA TRAIL EXPERIENCE

The batwa Trail experience offers an insight into the daily lifestyle of the batwa people who were the inhabitants of Bwindi impenetrable national park before the forests were gazetted as a national park, the batwa lived in the forests for over 50000 years and they depend on the forests by hunting wild animals, gathering fruits and medicine to cure their diseases.

While on the Batwa Trail experience you will have an opportunity to witness the demonstration of hunting techniques, visiting the local medicine man were you will witness the use of various medicinal plants to cure various illnesses, be entertained by local dances and drama, learn how to light fire naturally, witness the making various beautiful craft pieces from wood and you can purchase visit and also visit the Garama Cave.

BIRD WATCHING

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a bird watcher’s haven and an important Birding Area hosting 350 species of birds with 90% of the Albertine Rift Valley endemics that are not recorded in any other area in East Africa, such as the Short-tailed warbler and Blue-headed sunbird. There are also 7 IUCN red listed bird species and migratory bird species.

Bird watching in the park is best done in the Ruhija sector of the park in the Ruhija swamp which is known for the African Green Broad Bill, birds to expect during bird watching include African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, broadbill, Short-tailed Warbler, Jameson’s Antpecker, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Klaas’s Cuckoo, White-throated Greenbul, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, African Paradise flycatcher, Cape Wagtail, Mountain Wagtail, Yellow-fronted Canary, Archer’s Robin-chat, Dusky Twin spot, Brown-capped Weaver, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Lühder’s Bush-shrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Blue Spotted wood dove, Tambourine dove, Handsome francolin, Helmeted guinea fowl, African Goshawk, Sooty Falcon, Great Blue Turaco, African Wood-owl, African Pygmy-kingfisher among others

GUIDED NATURE WALKS

Guided nature walks are exciting activity to do in the park, this activity is done following various trails such as Munyaga River trail, Rushaga trail and others. The Munyaga River trail running through the forest’s interior leading to 3 magnificent waterfalls, hiking on this trail offers magnificent views of the tropical forest, primates such as L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus and many forest birds. Another breathtaking trail to use for guided nature walks is the Rushara trail leading you to a ridge where you get stunning views of the western Rift Valley Escarpment, Lake Edward, ranges of the Rwenzori Mountains, the Virunga volcanoes, the western part of Congo and Congo’s Parc National Des Virungas on a clear day.  

HOW TO GET TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be reached by use of road and air means of transport.

BY ROAD

Bwindi impenetrable national park is situated in about 550 kilometers from Kampala to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is a drive of about 9-10 hours, by road you can use either public or private means of transport. The park can also be accessed via Kigali, Rwanda using the Katuna Boarder into Uganda while on Uganda Safaris, it is a drive of about 4 hours using 4X4 wheel vehicles.

BY AIR

Domestic chartered flights to Bwindi impenetrable national park are organized and offered from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to various airstrips serving the park, for tourists tracking in Buhoma and Ruhija sector you fly to Kihihi airstrip. For tourists tracking in Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors, you fly to Kisoro airstrip.

WHERE TO STAY IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

In the park, there is a variety of accommodation facilities used by tourists visiting the park, these accommodation facilities are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget. Accommodations in the park are situated in the 4 sectors of the park 

BUHOMA SECTOR

• Buhoma Lodge
• Mahogany Spring
• Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
• Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge
• Silverback Lodge
• Engagi Lodge
• Buhoma Haven Lodge
• The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel
• Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Ride 4 the woman.

RUHIJA SECTOR

• Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Bakiga Lodge
• Gorilla Mist Camp
• Broadbill Forest Camp
• Trekkers Tavern Cottage
• Agandi Uganda Eco Lodge
• Ruhija Community Rest Camp
• Gift of Nature Lodge

RUSHAGA SECTOR

• Gorilla safari lodge
• Gorilla Forest Camp
• Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Ichumbi Gorilla Safari lodge
• Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge
• Gorilla Valley Lodge
• Nshongi camp
• Wagtail Lodge

NKURINGO SECTOR

• Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Gorilla Heights Lodge
• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Gorilla Close-up Lodge
• Bwindi Backpackers Lodge