Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a massive park of high-altitude forested mountains known for its dense vegetation, heavy mists, streams, and dew, endangered mountain gorillas, and loud, colorful birds. Because of its famous gorilla treks, it is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist destinations. It is situated in the country’s southwest. A gorilla trek is a guided expedition into the forest to meet and spend time with a mountain gorilla group. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that only a few individuals get. And it almost never alters your mind. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – or just Bwindi for short – is notable for being one of only a few places where you may view mountain gorillas in their native environment. It was founded in 1991, mostly to safeguard the species. Mountain gorillas can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bwindi has roughly 400 mountain gorillas, which is more than half of the world’s population. It is also the only location on the planet where mountain gorillas and chimps coexist. At Bwindi, you may embark on a guided forest excursion to discover and witness a group of mountain gorillas. The search for a gorilla colony leads you through magnificent and old montane forest that is frequently wet in dew if it isn’t raining.

Because of its ecological richness and significance, Bwindi National Park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park has 160 different tree species, making it the most diverse forest in East Africa. It also features over 100 fern species, over 347 woodland bird species, and over 200 butterfly species.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is accessible by road and air. By road, you will go from Kampala to the park headquarters in one of the sectors through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale. Bwindi may also be accessed via Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector or by public transportation, where you can take a public bus from Kampala to Kabale and then rent a private car to the park, which takes around 9 to 10 hours.

You may arrange scheduled or chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi airstrip, Kisoro airstrip, and then connect to the park headquarters via road.

What to see and do on your safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

As previously stated, Bwindi National Park is home to around 400 mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National area is a fascinating and exciting activity that is the main feature of every visit to the area. These endangered primates are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla species and are the centerpiece of most park visits. Visitors to Bwindi can trek fifteen habituated gorilla groups during their stay to the park. Gorilla trekking activities in Bwindi begin at the Buhoma tourist center and run around 8 hours, including one hour spent with the gorillas once they are located.

The habituated gorilla groups can be tracked from four trailheads in the park: Buhoma, which has three habituated gorilla groups, Ruhija, which has four gorilla groups, Nkuringo, which has four gorilla groups, and Rushaga, which has four habituated gorilla groups. The national park issues eight trekking permits for each of the gorilla groups, for a total of 120 permits every day. Every morning, tourists trekking gorillas must register at 7:30 a.m., followed by a briefing at 8 a.m. After guests have been assigned to their different trekking groups, gorilla tracking begins at 8:30 a.m.

Gorilla Habituation Experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also Africa’s only gorilla location that conducts gorilla habituation, in which tourists spend longer time with mountain gorillas than the one hour allotted during gorilla trekking. The gorilla habituation process in Bwindi National Park takes place in the Rushaga area and costs USD 1500 per person.

Guided Nature Walks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Nature walks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are exhilarating and daring, and tourists of all ages may participate. Although gorilla trekking is the major attraction of Bwindi, the national park also offers other activities such as guided nature hikes.

Nature walks allow tourists to experience the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of Uganda’s most beautiful rainforests. Nature walks in the national park are held every morning at 9 a.m. and every afternoon at 2 p.m. There are walking routes in the park that provide tourists with fantastic views, such as the Munyaga River Trail, which is located below the Buhoma trailhead and provides visitors with a short stroll to watch birds and monkeys living in the forest.

The Waterfall walk: This walk takes tourists through one of Uganda’s most pristine tracts of rainforest, past tree ferns and orchids, and culminates to three stunning dazzling crystal blue waterfalls.

On clear days, the Rushura Hill Trail offers spectacular views of the Albertine Rift Valley lowlands and Lakes Edward and Rwenzori.

Muzabajiro Loop nature trail: This path ascends to the peak of Rukubira Hill, providing tourists with panoramic views of Bwindi Forest, the Albertine Rift Valley, and the Virunga Volcanoes.

Visitors doing nature hikes in the forest also utilize other trailheads, such as the River Ivi nature trail in Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Birdwatching.

Bird viewing is a popular pastime at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Starting from four major trailheads, the national park provides great bird viewing options for tourists. The River Ivi Trail between Buhoma and Nkuringo is the most recommended trailhead for travelers on birding trips, however all four trailheads in the national park are ideal for birding. Ruhija’s Bamboo Trail, Munyaga River Trail, and Mubwindi Swamp Trail are among the other routes. Other intriguing activities and attractions in the park include, to name a few, the Batwa Trail Experience, mountain biking, and hiking.

Community/Cultural Tours.

Bwindi provides tourists the opportunity to meet with local people living around the national park and learn about their rich cultural history through community walks. After hiking gorillas in that sector, the Buniga Forest Walk at Nkuringo may be done. This community tour is guided by Batwa guides who show off their extensive knowledge of the forest.

Where to Stay during your visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation in the park includes Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi, Gorilla Resort, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, among others. These lodges cater to travelers in the premium, mid-range, and budget categories. Visitors can also stay at Kisoro town hotels or any resort on Lake Mutanda.

What to pack when visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are advised to bring gorilla trekking equipment such as warm clothes such as cotton sweaters, long sleeved shirt and trousers for warmth during trekking in the morning or during the rainy season and at night while at the lodge, hiking shoes, hat and sunglasses, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket, backpack, long stockings, camera to capture all the moments on your safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

When is the best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best visited between June and August, and then again between December and February. Although rains are always possible, these are the driest months, with the highest possibility of bright skies and clear days ideal for wildlife viewing.