Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley covering a size of 32,000 hectares.
The Park has been recognized by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization as World Heritage Site (UNESCO) to be one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth with half (495) of the remaining world’s endangered mountain gorillas population living there making it an ideal park to do both gorilla trekking as well as gorilla habituation.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also home to a diversity of animals with approx. 120 mammals including chimpanzees, baboons, 360 bird species, a variety of tree species, butterflies with some Albertine rift endemics, reptiles, and plants.
Getting there: The Park can be either accessed by road or by flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield with flights landing at Kihihi or Kisoro.
Popular activities:
Gorilla trekking Or Gorilla Habituation experiences
Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most exciting, and memorable experiences you can do during your visit to Uganda. The trekking experience starts in the morning with a briefing by the park guides. You are recommended to carry drinking water, a rain jacket, and hiking boots, a walking stick is provided by the ranger. The treks vary and it may take longer than expected majorly depending on the location of the gorilla family you are visiting.
For conservation purposes, you are only allowed to spend only one hour with the gorillas. For clients who would prefer a more extended experience, they are recommended to book the gorilla habituation which gives trekkers a chance to spend 4 hours in their presence.
Batwa Community visits
The Batwa are considered to be the original people of the forest and have co-existed with the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and lived a simple and harmonious way of life.
When the forest became a national Park, in 1990 the Batwa people were evicted from there to protect the endangered Mountain Gorillas and for conservation purposes of the forest as well as the rest of the ecosystem.
During the visit, you can experience their way of life and you are welcome to participate. their unique songs, dance, storytelling, and pottery skills will amaze you.
Bird Watching
Apart from Gorilla trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is also a bird watchers haven with over 348 bird species. Bwindi has three bird species that are the only surviving representatives of their respective genera: African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Warbler (Graueria vittata), and Short-tailed Warbler (Hemitesia Neumann). The Buhoma section is the most popular area for bird-watching tours and the Ruhija section where forest birding and swamp birding takes place with knowledgeable local guides.
