Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south-western side of Uganda on the Albertine Rift Valley brim along the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. This popular Gorilla destination was gazetted in 1991 and due to its rich biodiversity was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site three years later (1994).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park extends for approximately 321 square kilometers with its landscape ranging between 1160 and 2607 meters above sea level. With such altitudes, most of the Park’s hillsides are covered by mist and offers shelter to one of the country’s most ancient as well as biologically diverse rainforests dating to more than 25,000 years. This Park is a water catchment area with five major rivers flowing through the steep ridges and valleys into Lake Edward having their sources within the Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a diversity of Biological Species including several mammals, reptiles, Amphibians, birds, trees and butterflies calling the lush montane and lowland forest home.
There are over 120 mammal species in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as well as the popular and endangered Mountain gorillas that total up to 400 individuals. Other primates in the Park include chimpanzees, Pottos, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys and De Brazza monkeys among others. Other mammals include elephants, clawless otters, duikers, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, buffaloes, Side-striped jackals, golden cats, African civets and bushbucks among others.
There are also 350 bird species in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of which 23 are Albertine Rift endemics and 14 species are native to the Park. Some of the species include the Rwenzori batis, Black-billed Turaco, Chapin’s flycatcher, Cream-banded swallowtail, handsome francolin, Purple-breasted sunbirds, strange weavers, African green broadbill, regal sunbirds, mountain-masked Apalis, Shelley’s Crimsonwing and many others.
Apart for the mammals and birds, the 200 butterfly species, reptiles (snakes, geckos, lizards and Chameleons) and Amphibians (especially frogs) will spice up your visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla trekking:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for gorilla trekking with more than 400 mountain gorillas and 20 gorilla families to be trekked. These gorilla families are distributed across the four sectors of the Park that include Buhoma, home to Katwe, Rushegura, Habinyanja and Mubare. Another sector being Rushaga is a home to the largest number of gorilla families that are Mucunguzi, Kutu, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Rwigi, Nshongi, Mishaya and Bikingi. Nkuringo sector is a home to the Christmas, Bushaho and Nkuringo gorilla family while Ruhija a haven to Kyaguliro, Mukiza, Oruzogo and Bitukura families. Gorilla trekking permits allow persons of 15 years and above to spend one hour with a habituated gorilla families. They can be acquired directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or indirectly through a reputable and credible tour operator.
Gorilla Habituation Experience:
The Gorilla Habituation Experience offers trekkers a more elaborate encounter with the Mountain gorillas still undergoing habituation to spend four hours instead of the usual one hour spent during the normal gorilla trekking adventures. With a permit of $1500 per person, tourists can visit the southern sectors of Nkuringo and Rushaga for a moment with the Bikingi and Bushaho families. Surprisingly, the Gorilla Habituation Experience can only be enjoyed from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Birding:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has different habitats/ecosystems that shelter over 350 species of birds including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Each of the four sectors of Bwindi have Birding hot spots sheltering the Kivu ground thrush, common bulbul, short-tailed warblers, Rwenzori batis, African emerald cuckoo, handsome francolin, strange weavers, blue-headed sunbirds, African blue flycatchers, Rwenzori nightjars, white-tailed flycatchers and many others. The Buhoma waterfall trail is the main birding trail in Buhoma sector while the Mubwindi swamp trails as well as the Bamboo zone are the most popular birding trails in Ruhija sector.
Nature walks/hiking:
Nature walks offer one of the best options of exploring the beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Hiking trails in this Park allow tourists to see the primates, waterfalls, unique plant/tree species, mountain views and the extraordinary bird species that call the Park home. These trails last between 2-9 hours and include the Bamboo Trail, Muzabajiro loop Trail, Rushura Hill Trail, Mubwindi swamp trail, Ruizi River Trail, Kashasha River Trail, Ivy River Trail, Munyanga waterfall trail, Habinyanja (Railegh) Trail and Buhoma-Nkuringo Trail among others.
Cultural encounters:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides cultural encounters to explore the culture of the surrounding communities. The encounters provide insights into the local communities, way of life, traditions and norms, food and traditions.
Communities can be visited through the Batwa village trail, Buniga Forest Nature walk, Nyundo community Eco-trails, Nkuringo Community Conservation and Development Foundation, Buhoma Community Tours, Nkuringo Cultural Center and Rubuguri Village walk among others.
Mountain biking / Cycling:
There are several well-maintained biking trails in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park extending from the Park Headquarters. In Buhoma, its organized under “Ride for a woman Foundation”, and biking is also available in Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo areas of the park. Several biking trails are available, and these offer chances of seeing primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks and the red-tailed monkeys among others, Forest Birds, and village bike rides take you to local communities/villages, the local brewery and craft markets among others – along the way.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited all year round. The best time for most activities is the dry season-June to September and December to February because there are less rains, forest floor and hiking trails are less muddy and slippery making gorilla trekking, mountain biking, nature walks and the Habituation Experience less challenging. The rainy season-March to May and October to early December are characterized by heavy rains, thick vegetation and muddy/slippery forest floors and hiking trails but are also ideal for birding.
Bwindi National park being a rainforest, it can rain anytime of the year.
PACKING LIST:
Given the thick vegetation and hilly terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the items to be packed apply for all activities of the Park. The must-have items are strong waterproof hiking boots, snacks, water bottle, a sweater, backpack, long sleeved shirts, toiletries, first-aid kit, safari pants, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, backpack, rain jacket, camera, gardening gloves and pair of binoculars among others.
WHERE TO STAY:
The accommodation facilities chosen for your stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National park will depend on the sector you will be visiting. Lodges range from Top luxury, Luxury, midrange, budget as well as basic lodging facilities.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda is approximately 570 kilometers/8-9 hours’ drive from Kampala. It can be reached by both air and road transport. With air, flights depart from Entebbe International Airport or the Kampala-based Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro/Kayonza/Kihihi Airstrips, then to sector of your choice by road.
For road transport, the commonest route is through Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale to the Park lasting 8-9 hours. Visitors from Queen Elizabeth National Park can access Bwindi through the Ishasha sector and the journey lasts 2-3 hours.