The famed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda is one of the few national parks in Africa where travelers can have up-close encounters with the mountain gorillas. This UNESCO world heritage site is located on the edge of Albertine Rift Valley in the misty Kigezi hills. It hosts one of Uganda’s oldest and biologically diverse rainforest dating back in 25000 years. The world known park was gazetted in 1991 and declared as UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.
Bwindi impenetrable national park has a huge diversity of wildlife. The park boundaries give shelter to over 120 mammals, including several primates, bush elephants, antelopes and more. It also hosts over 350 bird species of which 23 are Albertine endemics. The park is most known for being home to over 450 of 1000 mountain gorillas left in the whole world.
Many travelers visit the park for the great gorilla trekking experience an adventure that you cannot easily find elsewhere in the whole world. Meeting the silverback and then the rest of the family is a highlight of every Uganda safari. Therefore, when booking a Ugandan safari without gorilla tracking you will have missed a golden opportunity to look into the dark eyes of these endangered apes.
There are 15 habituated gorilla families that are habituated for gorilla tourism within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These families can be accessed from 4 sectors of this park. There are options to undertake a 1 hour close-up with the mountain gorillas or 4 hours’ encounter through gorilla habituation experience.
Things to Do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding in the Bwindi Forest
Apart from gorilla trekking, the park accommodates abundant bird life as it hosts 350 bird species (recorded) including 23 endemics that make 90% of the Albertine Rift Valley endemics like the shortly-tailed warbler, Blue-headed sunbird, and Natal robin chat and so much more.
While here, expect to record elusive bird species such as Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelly’s crimson wing, African green broadbill, tailed warbler, and Kivu ground thrust among others. For any bird lover, your experience will depend on how you utilize your guide, so do not let them with nothing to tell. Binoculars, rain jacket, sun glasses, flesh water bottle among others are a necessary take while on this safari. Do not miss glimpses of all the dwelling birds in the Bwindi national park.
Hiking and nature walks
There are six nature trails do exist in the Bwindi forest. The most popular nature walks are the Munyaga waterfall walk, Muzabijiro loop, Rushura hill walk, the Ivi River walk, Buhoma-Nkuringo trail and the Habinyanja trail. These are some of the finest forest trails that you can try out during your trip. The trails provide unique opportunities for travelers to explore the forest along with the most fascinating views and sights of the forest’s diverse flora and fauna. However, the most interesting trail takes around 3-4 hours of exploration in the forest and that is Buhoma-Nkuringo trail.
Cultural encounters and community walks
Visit the native Batwa (pygmies) and Bakiga communities with a village walk, visit the craft shops for souvenirs, enjoy cultural dances and taste the local cuisines. The Nkuringo Cultural Centre (NCC) is one of Uganda’s finest and authentic cultural site to visit in the Bwindi impenetrable national park. A chance to explore Nkuringo’s nature recipes and getting to understand the modern and ancient traditions/way of life of the Ugandan people is all availed to the visitors. Besides Nkuringo, Buhoma community is also a beautiful setting for anyone interested in cultural encounters and community walks.
Gorilla trekking
This is the most popular adventure activity to during your visit to Bwindi. This activity is done daily and it starts early in the morning. The activity involves walking and hiking up to an elevation of 1160-2600m and only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to track one habituated gorilla family. On a gorilla trek, you have a full hour of photography and interacting with the gentle giants.
The terrain and number of gorillas in the park will give you the best experience ever. Gorilla trekking permit costs USD600 per person.
Gorilla habituation experience
This is a new adventure activity within Bwindi Forest. Would you like to spend more time with the mountain gorillas? You can opt for this adventure! It is only in Bwindi Impenetrable national park where you will get four hours experience with the mountain gorillas along with trackers and researchers. This is one of a kind experience in Uganda to interact with one of the two groups of gorillas that are being habituated in Rushaga region.
Mountain biking in and around the park
Ride on the trails and villages around Bwindi with an organized “Ride for a woman” group that provides bike rentals in Buhoma sector. For an average of 3 hours’, one can ride to the neighboring communities through Ivy trail with well-trained guides who have vast knowledge about the park.
Scenic viewing
This begins the very time you step in your vehicle where you will catch glimpses of the interplay of Uganda’s equatorial vegetation to savanna vegetation, then summed up with spectacular views of the Virunga ranges with their highest peak Muhabura at 4127m, Gahinga at 3474m and Sabinyo at 3669m. The views are always accompanied by a stretch of the small highlands of Lake Bunyonyi and this lava-dammed lake overlooks the volcanoes and the misty forest.
