Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most famous Uganda safari destination in Uganda and the world at large famously known for the endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Bwindi Forests host one of the only two populations of mountain gorillas in the world and it is the largest gorilla population.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a renowned for mountain gorilla tracking with over 600 mountain gorilla individuals, the park is situated in the Southwestern part of Uganda and cover approximately 331 square kilometers comprised of assortment of jumbled vegetation, landscape, high slippery valleys, drought ride and thick forest with undergrowth vegetation.

Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site hosting 163 tree species and over 100 different species of ferns and habits over 110 mammal species, over 346 different bird species, 202 butterfly species, 27 frog species, numerous chameleons plus geckos.

Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park is divided into 4 gorilla sectors that are Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija sectors. These sectors are where mountain gorilla tracking takes place and hosts different mountain gorillas groups.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Bwindi impenetrable national park was was first gazetted in 1942 as Bwindi impenetrable Forest reserve and in 1992 it was upgraded to a national park.

Wildlife In Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the best eco-systems in Africa with one of Africa’s most ancient rain forests inhabiting to over 110 mammal species, over 346 bird species, 202 butterfly species, 27 frog species, numerous chameleons plus geckos

Gorillas in Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park is a home to half of world’s population of the critically endangered mountain gorillas, these gorillas are both wild and habituated gorillas (encountered on gorilla trekking experience) and they are found in 4 sectors of the park that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

In Uganda, gorilla trekking activity became popular in 1993 and since then it has become the most popular safari activity in Uganda. Mountain gorilla families in Bwiindi Impenetrable national park include

Mubare Gorilla Family – Buhoma sector
Habinyanja Gorilla Family – Buhoma sector
Rushegura Gorilla Family – Buhoma sector
Bitukura Gorilla Family- Ruhija sector
Oruzogo Gorilla Family – Ruhija sector
Nkuringo Gorilla Family – Nkuringo sector
Nshongi Gorilla Family – Rushaga sector
Mishaya Gorilla Family – Rushaga sector
Kahungye Gorilla Family – Rushaga sector
Bweza Gorilla Family- Rushaga sector
Busingye Gorilla Family – Rushaga sector
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family – sector

Other wildlife species in Bwindi impenetrable national park include chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, African Elephant, African Green Broadbill, the cream-banded swallowtail, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, vervets, the giant hog, and small antelope species. There are quite a number of carnivores too including the side-stripped jackal and African civet among others.

Birdlife in Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park hosts over 346 bird species including Wood Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Evergreen Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Buff-throated Apalis, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cardinal Woodpecker, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Honeybird, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Collared Sunbird, Common Bulbul, Compact Weaver, Coppery Sunbird, Crowned Hornbill, Dark-backed Weaver, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Tit, Stripe-breasted Tit, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-headed Malimbe, Fork-tailed Drongo, Great Blue Turaco, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Green Crombec, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, White-browed Crombec, Green Hylia, Green-headed Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird among others.

What to do in Bwindi Forest National Park

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is highlight safari activity offered in Bwindi impenetrable national park started since gorillas were first habituated since 1993, Bwindi impenetrable national park has 19 habituated gorilla families with 18 gorilla families open for gorilla tracking and one is reserved for research purposes and habituation experience.

Mountain Gorilla trekking experience starts as early as 08 am early in the morning with briefing at the park’s headquarters where you are taken through rules and regulations to follow during the experience.

This experience allows 1 hour of being in the presence of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, with the help of a ranger you will be able to find the gorillas in the thick jungles of Bwindi. During your stay in the presence of the gorillas you will enjoy watching their behavior which is similar to humans and take amazing pictures.

Note: You are allowed to stay in the presence of mountain gorillas for one hour and this experience can be carried out any time of the year. Tourists participating in this experience are limited to 8 people.

Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla habituation experience is similar to Moutain gorilla trekking experience however the only difference is that it offers you more time in the presence of mountain gorillas that is 4 hours. In the whole world, gorilla habituation experience can only be done in Bwindi impenetrable national park and it can be done all year round.

Numbers of people participating in this breathtaking experience are limited to 4 people, trekkers accompany researchers and spend 4 hours observing the gorillas which are still wild or semi habituated and unstable. Viewing these gorillas depends on the moods they are found in that very day, however the researchers, guides and trackers are experienced with ethics of gorilla behavior to give you a memorable gorilla experience. In the 4 hours of being in the presence of the gorillas, you will be able to observe their behavior, learn how the gorillas adopt to human presence and take amazing pictures and videos.

Batwa Cultural experience

The Batwa – pygmy people are the original inhabitants of Bwindi forest before it was gazetted as protected area and after the gazetting of the area they were pushed away from their homes to areas around the borders of the park where they currently live in communities. These people still have their original cultural practices and traditions and during your visit, you will be fascinated by them.

During your visit, you will start your experience by trekking through the forest and after encountering them you will be entertained by their local dances and drama, witness their hunting skills, searching for food, visit the local dances and drama among others.

Nature walks

Nature walks in the jungle of Bwindi forest gets you close to nature, reduces and keeps us away from depressions. Nature walks are done using various trails running through various corners of the park including Buhoma Community walk, Munyaga river trail, Muzubijiro loop trail, waterfall trail, Rushura Trail and Bamboo trail among others.

During the nature walks, you will be able to encounter many forest animals such as mountain gorillas, baboons, L’Hoest’s monkey, Red-tailed monkey, and duikers among others and many bird species.

Bird watching

Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the best birding sites in Africa with over 348 bird species recorded to be in the jungle, these birds include 25 restricted range species of which 23 are confined to the Albertine Rift and 4 are globally threatened. During bird watching safari, birds to look out for include

Jameson’s Antpecker
Pink-footed Puff back
Waller’s Starling
Crested Guinea fowl
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
Grey Crowned Crane
White-headed Saw-wing
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
African Olive-pigeon
Buff-spotted Woodpecker
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 among others

HOW TO GET TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in Southwestern Uganda about 530 kilometers from Kampala the capital of Uganda and the main entry into Uganda is Entebbe International airport. The park can be accessed by road and air means of transport.

By road, it approximately 9-10 hours drive from Kampala to Bwindi impenetrable national park using several routes including

Kampala – Kabale through Kanugu to Buhoma a route of 414 kilometers and takes approximately 5-6 hours
Kampala – Kabale – Ruhija – Buhoma a route of 96 kilometers
Kampala – Kabale – Nkuringo a route of 80 kilometers.

By air, daily domestic chartered flights fly from either Entebbe International airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip, Kayonza airstrip, Kihihi airstrip and Nyakabande Airfield.

WHERE TO STAY IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

In Bwindi impenetrable national park there are various accommodation facilities found either inside the park or along the borders, these accommodation range from budget, mid-range and budget.

Accommodations include