Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda in south western Uganda. Bwindi Forest is famous for Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park. Bwindi is on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley. It comprises 331 square kilometres of jungle forests which comprises of both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot.

Bwindi National Park is one of the 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uganda. The park has one of the richest ecosystems in Africa and a variety of animal and bird species. The park is a habitat for some 120 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, 163 species of trees, 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and many endangered species. In particular the area shares in the high levels of endemic of the Albertine Rift.

The park is also a home to colobus monkeys and many birds like horn bills and turacos. Bwindi is most notable for gorillas whose numbers constitute half of the world’s population of the critically endangered primates. In Bwindi Forest, a 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Tours are the most common safari package for most visitors. This gorilla tour package offers wider chances for exploring Bwindi for trekking excursions, nature tours, community walks as well as bird watching among others. Other safari options include a one-day and two days gorilla safaris for visitors who enter Uganda through Kigali in Rwanda.

Gorilla Tours in Uganda

Gorilla Safaris in Uganda take place in this very green impenetrable forest on a daily basis as visitors tour different gorilla groups. The biologically diverse park derives its names from the local language ‘Bwindi’ (dark place) which defines the impenetrable nature of its thick forests.

How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 520 Kilometers from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda. Usually stronger vehicles like 4 Wheel Drives are recommended from Kampala or Kabale.

By Road from Kampala or Entebbe

There are several routes to access Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and these include:-

One can move from Kampala – Kabale (414 Kilometres, between 5-7 hours), then Kabale – Kanungu – Kanyantorogo – Buhoma Park Headquarters, about 120 kms, a three and half hour-drive.
2. Kampala – Kabale (414 Kms), then to Ruhija which is 95 kilometres, a three-hour drive.
Going through Queen Elizabeth National park Ishasha-Kihihi- then Buhoma. With this route, one goes via the Ishasha Sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth national Park known for its tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is a good route for stop by tourists going to Bwindi. Bwindi forest is 160 km from Mweya and 64 km from the Ishasha sector.
Kampala – Mbarara – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Buhoma.
Kampala – Kabale – Rushaga to Nkuringo in the southern section of Bwindi.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda from Kigali to Bwindi

To see gorillas in Uganda, you can start the trip from Entebbe in Uganda or from Kigali to Bwindi forest. Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali in Rwanda to Uganda is the easiest since the gorilla park is nearer than from Kampala or Entebbe. From Kigali, one can do even a 1 day gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi and return to the city in the evening. A 2 day gorilla tour as well as the most common 3 days Bwindi gorilla safari are all possible using Kigali as the shortest route.

Kigali – Ruhengeri – Cyanika Boarder post – Kisoro to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park
Kigali – Gatuna Boarder – Kabale to Bwindi.

Flying from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Forest

Gorilla Tourists can fly from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airstrip on the outskirts of Kisoro town. Alternatively, travelers may fly from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip in Kanungu district. Kihihi is ideal for those doing gorilla trekking in the park’s northern section of Buhoma.

Animal Species in Bwindi Forest

– Mountain Gorillas, it’s a home for over 440 gorilla beringei*, a half of the total remaining world population of around 880 individuals combining those in Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo.
– Monkey i.e. Hoest’s, red-tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus,
– Olive baboon.
– Over 346 species of birds registered (Bwindi contains 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics.
– 200 species of butterflies.

Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla tracking in the thick large forest is done among several Mountain Gorilla Families of gorilla beringei beringei. The families are spread across the different 4 gorilla trekking regions of Bwindi forest. These designated trekking areas include Buhoma Sector in the north of the park and Ruhija region in the eastern side of Uganda’s biggest gorilla trekking destination. The other two are Nkuringo and Rushaga Sectors in the south of Bwindi impenetrable forest. When all the gorillas in the sectors of Bwindi are combined, you get almost half of the mountain gorilla population in the world. This means that the remaining half is shared among the three parks including Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Park.

Mubare Group
Habinyanja Group
Rushegura Group
Bitukura Group
Mishaya Group
Nshongi Group
Nkuringo Group
Kahungye Group
Oruzogo Gorilla Group
Busingye Group
Bweza Gorilla Group
And Mgahinga National Park has the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family.

Current information about gorillas is available from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Headquarters or Bwindi National Park management. Bwindi Gorilla trekking is a bit tiresome, meaning physical fitness is an essential factor. Usually gorilla tracking excursions runs from 8:30 a.m. local Ugandan time up to late hours of the day. About 8 permits are sold on a daily basis for each group at UWA offices. So it’s better to book at least three months in advance to trekking to ensure proper programming. For environmental and animal safety reasons, visits to the gorillas are controlled.

Gorilla Trekking Requirements:-

It’s advisable to come with the following for tracking gorillas.

(a) Hiking boots- ankle level boots are fine but make sure it is something handy.

(b) Video- filming is allowed in the parks though not outside the park

(d) Gloves

(e) A pair of binoculars if you are a keen bird watcher.

(f) A warm cardigan

(g) Thick trousers and a long sleeved top are ideal for tracking.

(h) Water proof container for their cameras

(i) If you prefer wearing a hat, a baseball cap is recommended.

Birding in Bwindi Area

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also a hub for birds. The forest has over 350 birds’ species, representing a 90% of all Albertine rift Endemics. Hiking trails are open to people who want to see birds, butterflies, primates and trees along the Munyaga Waterfall, Rushura, River Ivi, Mu bwindi swamp nature walks and Bamboo.

There are also a cultural walk to Buhoma village community for viewing traditional homestead, the healer, the banana brewing exercise, traditional handicraft and cultural performances.

One can watch up to 150 bird species in a day especially at Buhoma and Ruhija. Define what you need to enable proper arrangements for the trip. Species at the various forest bird spots include:-

Short tailed Warbler.
Yellow-eyed black Fly-catcher,
Bar-tailed Trogon
Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimson Wing,
White-tailed Blue Monarch
Rusty-faced woodland Warbler,
Wilcock’s Honey-guide,
Gruer’s Rush Warbler and many more.

All these bird species are very rare in the Great Lakes Region and it’s in Bwindi where a birder has a golden chance to see them.

The Munyanga River Trail

Munyanga river trail is an interesting short walk for tourist with limited time at their disposal. Interesting to see here are mainly birds and primates of the forest edge. The wonderful waterfall trail provides an attractive feature of the forest with a profusion of tree ferns, epithetic ferns, orchids and Bwindi Forest’s colorful array of butterflies. This trail gives a clear picture and comfort of a true tropical rain forest.

Nature Walks

when you spend between 2 to 4 days in the park, there are 4 interesting hiking trails. There is a chance to see and learn about primates, various rare bird species, butterflies, trees, plants and other organisms on all the four trails. When you are with a guide, who is a must on the tour, you get a comprehensive learning of how park’s system operates. The guides understand well the primatology, ornithology and botany of the park.

The Rusizi River Trail

It’s the longest of the trail and takes a full day to accomplish. It’s always good for bird watchers. Visitors with their own 4WD vehicles transport should consider crossing the rugged centre of the park through Ruhija. This transect affords the visitor with Uganda’s finest vistas of deep undisturbed forests. While on this Uganda safari, watch out for duikers, primates and both forest and grassland bird species. In Ruhija, visitors can take the three-hour scenery packed hike to the Mubwindi swamp. One can also walk conveniently to the Bamboo zone.

Rushura Trail

This trail is very enjoyably because it commands an expansive view across the western rift valley floor. To the west, Congo’s Parc Nationale des Virungas provides spectacular scenery of clear Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountain.

Muzabajiro Trail

Muzabiro Trail gives a comfortable breath taking spectacular scenery of Bwindi Forest, Western Rift Valley and the Virungas. While on your way, you will view a lot pre-historic tree ferns. When you reach the top of this trail, you will realize it is a wonderful site for a picnic lunch.

Bamboo Trail

This one is among the areas of the highest diversity in the park and its trail offers 14 vegetation types. When at the top of this trail, you are treated to an expansive sight of the clear-water Lake Bunyonyi and the thick Mafuga Forest.

Cultural Performance

The evenings are usually characterized by traditional dance performances by local tropes especially women groups. And money raised from these performances is directed towards improve the lives of the people/ locals who live around the park.

Where to Stay?

Bwindi is blessed with a number of affordable accommodation facilities of almost all class of people. Accommodation below is of luxurious and relative in setting:-

Gorilla Safari Lodge
Chameleon Hill Lodge
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Gorilla Mist Camp
Gorilla Safari Lodge
Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Kitandara Lodge
Buhoma Lodge
Silverback Lodge
Mahogany Springs
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite
Lake Kitandara Bwindi Lodge
Haven Lodge Buhoma Community
Bwindi Backpackers Lodge
Bwindi Jungle Lodge
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Montana Tented Camp-Bwindi
Buhoma Homestead
Engagi Lodge
Savannah Resort Hotel at Kihihi
Volcanoes Bwindi adventure lodge

Gorilla Trekking Precautions

When you encounter the gorillas, please try to be submissive as much as possible.
– Try to give a sideways glance; don’t look at them straight in the face.
– Stay in a tight group,
– Talk softly or in whispers
– They don’t like flash photography

Gorillas are wild

Gorillas in Bwindi are a bit wild and should not be provoked recklessly.
According to its warning/notice, UWA does not take any responsibility for any injury sustained by wild animals in their habitats, therefore, always:
• Keep your flight distance about 7 meters from them
• Know that gorillas have freedom of way
• Do not feed the gorillas
• Do not entice them to get into contact with you in any way.
• Do not eat in the vicinity of the gorillas

Gorilla Health

There are currently approximately over 1000 mountain gorillas in the world, qualifying them to be classified as endangered species which need strong conservation efforts. To avoid transmitting human diseases to them, do the following:-

Try to avoid tracking if you suffer from contagious disease. In case you develop a severe case of flu, your money will be fully refunded if you make this known in advance.
Do not sneeze towards them
Do not spit or defecate carelessly in the forest. If you need to, the guides will help you with a tool to dig a hole to bury your wastes.
No trekking for persons below 15 years as they are regarded as under-age.

Where Else Can you see the Mountain Gorillas in the Wild?

Apart from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda for gorilla tour adventures. Mgahinga, a also in south western Uganda is a close neighbor to Bwindi. These two parks are the only gorilla safari parks in Uganda. For gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the only tourist site in Rwanda where mountain gorillas live. In Rwanda, visitors can do a 3 day gorilla tracking safari, a 2 day trekking tour or a 1 day gorilla trip especially when time and budget are very limited. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also got Mountain Gorillas living in the Virunga National Park in the eastern side of the country.

Other Uganda National Parks

The are 10 National Parks in Uganda where you can visit for safaris and tours. Much of the tours in Uganda as well as wildlife safaris centre on these parks as the major holiday destinations these are Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Semuliki National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kibale National Park. The country has also got numerous game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries among others.