Bwindi National Park
Bwindi National Park, also known as Bwindi Forest National Park, is a UNESCO world heritage site and a tropical rainforest with an average temperature range of 7 to 15 degrees Celsius in the winter and 20 to 27 degrees Celsius in the summer, and an annual rain range of 1,400 to 1,900 millimeters. The endangered mountain gorillas can only be found in Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Massif Area, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. With an estimated 1063 mountain gorillas, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the greatest number of habituated gorilla families that can be encountered on Uganda gorilla trekking excursions.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated on the border of the Great Rift Valley in south-western Uganda. The park is bordered on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on the south east by Kabale, the closest settlement to the park. The Park encompasses a total area of approximately 331 square kilometers, with elevations ranging between 1190 and 2607 meters above sea level. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is approximately 8-9 hours by road from Kampala, but only 1 hour by charter flight.
The park is a gorgeous, densely vegetated tropical rainforest, from which it gets its name “impenetrable” for no reason. The Park is one of the most frequented national parks in Uganda, with a variety of attractions and activities that attract visitors.
Things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Trekking mountain gorillas is one of the most popular activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Tourists enter the tropical rainforest in quest of mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 21 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Ruhija in the East, Rushaga in the south, Buhoma in north and Nkuringo in the south. The day of gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park begins with a briefing at the park headquarters regarding the rules and regulations to be followed during the expedition. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of eight, with an experienced park guide who is familiar with gorilla trekking trails assigned to each group.
Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes between 30 minutes and seven hours, depending on where the gorillas are located. During the trek, you will be able to view various bird species, vegetation, and other primates such as chimpanzees and l’hoest monkeys, among others. Once the mountain gorilla family has been located, you will be permitted to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. During this time, you will be able to observe their daily activities, such as feeding, grooming their young, and playing, as well as take photographs and video to share with friends and family after the safari.
Gorilla Habituation experience
After gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation is the second most popular activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Four hours can be spent in the presence of mountain gorillas during a four-hour gorilla habituation experience conducted exclusively in the southern Rushaga sector of the park. The gorilla habituation experience begins very early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters, after which you will join a team of researchers, scientists, gorilla doctors, park rangers, and guides and begin trekking through the rainforest.
The habituation process takes an entire day, and you will be able to observe a variety of wildlife, including birds, mammals, tree species, and other primates, among others, while trekking. Once the gorillas undergoing the habituation process are located, you will be able to spend four hours with them, allowing you to monitor and record their behaviors, movements, learn about the naming of the mountain gorillas, observe them engaging in their daily activities, and take numerous photographs with a flash-less camera, among other things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bird watching
More than 360 recorded bird species, including 23 Albertine endemics, forest birds, migratory birds, and others, make Bwindi Impenetrable National Park one of the finest birding destinations. Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park is commonly done along Buhoma waterfall trail, bamboo zone, Mubwindi swamp trail in Ruhija with a bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including short tailed warbler, blue headed sunbird, African emerald cuckoo, African green pigeon, kivu ground thrush, giant kingfisher, African harrier hawk, common bulbul, cinnamon chested bee-eater, red headed bluebill, white tailed blue flycatcher among others.
Batwa Cultural excursion
Batwa cultural is a fascinating activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where tourists will have the opportunity to interact with the Batwa or pygmies who inhabited Bwindi forest prior to its designation as a national park. During the Batwa cultural tour, you will be accompanied by Batwa guides, and the experience will begin with a nature walk through the forest where you will learn how they used to live in grass huts, how they used to hunt small animals for food with bow and arrow, how medicinal plants were used to treat various diseases, ancient stories, traditional songs and dances, among other things.
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Nature walks in Bwindi Forest
In Bwindi impenetrable national park, a nature walk is a thrilling activity that will bring you face-to-face with various species of wildlife. During the nature walk, you will be accompanied by an armed park ranger and an experienced park guide who is familiar with a variety of trekking trails, including the Munyanga waterfall trail, the Muzubijiro loop trail, the Rushura hill walk, the Ivi river walk, the Buhoma-Nkuringo trail, and the Habinyanja trail, among others. During the guided nature walk, you will be able to view primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and chimpanzees, listen to the sweet sounds of bird species, view various plant and tree species, birds, experience a cool breeze, relax your mind, and take stunning photographs, among other things.
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Best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park
The ideal time to participate in activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. During the dry season the park receives little or less rainfall therefore access roads, hiking and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can also be visited during the wet season, from March to May and November, because this is the ideal time to observe migratory birds. During the dry season, you will also be able to appreciate the lodge with fewer visitors, and some accommodations reduce their prices, which is advantageous for budget-conscious tourists.
Getting to Bwindi National Park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and is accessible by road. Tourists will travel from Kampala/Entebbe to Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and then to the park headquarters, a journey that takes between 8 and 9 hours in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be reached by air, with tourists booking charter or scheduled domestic flights with Aerolink Uganda limited from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connecting by road to the park headquarters. Your tour operator can arrange for domestic flights to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Accommodations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a variety of accommodations where you can stay during your Uganda Gorilla safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange and budget including Ruhija community rest camp, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Rushaga gorilla lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest lodge, Buhoma community rest camp, Lake Kitandara Bwindi camp, Buhoma lodge, Silverback lodge, Mahogany springs camp, Gorilla friends lodge, Chameleon hill lodge, Nshongi camp, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Ruhija gorilla mist camp, Rushaga gorilla camp, Gorilla safari lodge , four Gorillas Lodge and many more