Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Details, Gorilla Tours & Location

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the world’s unusual destinations that boasts for its remoteness, natural beauty and abundant flora and fauna. Not only is it popular for its unique mountain gorillas, but also diverse bird species making it a remarkable destination worth exploring by all nature lovers worldwide.

Location, size and formation of Bwindi;

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is largely a tropical rainforest park and is located in Southwestern Uganda, East African region. The park covers the land area of up to 331sq.km and officially.

It became a National Park in Uganda in 1991 then in 1994, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biodiversity significance. Bwindi was designated as a National Park primarily to protect the rare mountain gorillas in the wild.

The surrounding districts to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Kanungu, Kabale, Rukungiri and Kisoro. This National Park lies along the rift valley edge and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo –DRC on the west.

The park’s elevation range is 1160 to 2607m, and Rwamunyonyi hill in Ruhija –the Eastern section is where its highest peak is. Bwindi National Park features not only the misty rainforest cover but also undulating valleys, bamboo forest, shrubs and a lot more.

Different sectors in Bwindi National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is composed of 4 key areas or regions also referred to as gorilla sectors. They include Ruhija sector in the East, Buhoma to the North, and in the Southern end, there is Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;

Bwindi National Park is a complete tourist destination, home to diverse attraction which range from wildlife, birds to flora. Here is a detailed list of tourist attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda;

Wildlife/Fauna

Bwindi offers refuge to a range of faunal species including over 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species, 27 frog species, 220 colorful butterfly species, reptiles and different plant species.

The different mammals in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include over 459 mountain gorillas, golden cats, buffaloes, elephants, giant forest hogs, yellow-backed duikers, civets, side-striped jackals, black-fronted duikers, clawless otters, rodents and bats.

Besides the rare mountain gorillas, there are additional 10 species of primates worth exploring in this park. They include blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, spectacled galagos, l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, pottos, Demidoff’s galagos and more.

Bwindi also holds a significant population of amphibians which include frogs and toads; and reptiles accounting for over 14 lizard species, snakes, chameleons and others. The park also supports about 220 butterfly species and include 8 Albertine rift endemic species. These include the cream-banded swallowtail and African giant swallowtail.

Bird species

Bwindi accounts for over 350 bird species which make it a great birding destination in Uganda and Africa at large.

The park protects at least 23 Albertine rift endemic species of birds but overall, the park’s diverse avifaunal species include the western bronze napped pigeon, handsome francolins, regal sunbird, Fraser’s eagle, white-bellied robin chat, blue headed sunbirds, Rwenzori turacos, African harrier hawks, giant kingfishers, crowned hornbills, montane oriole, black-billed turacos,

Doherty’s bush shrikes, Kivu ground thrush, Augur buzzard, white starred robin, black crowned night herons, black bee-eaters, Shelley’s crimson wing, grey cuckoo shrikes, buff-spotted woodpeckers, African olive pigeon, yellow-rumped tinker bird, long tailed cuckoos, African green broadbill, purple breasted sunbird, yellow streaked greenbul,

Blue headed sunbird, Neumann’s warblers, black faced rufous warblers, Chapin’s flycatchers, red throated alethe, bar tailed trogon and many others.

Activities to do in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;

Gorilla Trekking.

Gorilla trekking is a unique primate adventure which involves visitor active walking through the lush tropical rainforest in search for a family of already habituated gorilla group. Unlike the usual treks, gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes you on a search for the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild.

This is done with the park ranger guides on lead and only persons above 15 years can engage in it. Gorilla treks in Bwindi start from the four sectors; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi like other destinations is done once a day and each gorilla group is allocated to a group comprising of 8 guests. The length of the gorilla trek is usually determined by several factors including visitor’s walking speed, location of gorilla families, nature of the habitat and others, but on normal occasion, you can take between 2 and 6 hours.

After the long day search for gorillas, there is opportunity for you to enjoy a maximum of one hour face to face with these apes, taking pictures and observing how they behave. Once the gorilla trek is done, visitors are provided gorilla trekking certificates.

What should you have for a successful gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi? The essentials to consider on your packing list for Bwindi gorilla trekking adventure include waterproof walking or hiking boots, a daypack, a good camera, a pair of gardening gloves, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, a safari hat, a tin of an insect repellent, and many others.

Gorilla permits are also essential for visitors interested in guided gorilla trekking in Bwindi and each permit is obtainable at USD 800 per person. This can be booked through the local tour operator and you can do so via info@adventureugandasafaris.com.

Gorilla families to visit in Bwindi; about 22 habituated gorilla groups are open for gorilla trekking in Bwindi and include among others Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bitukura, Mukiza, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Mubare, Mucunguzi, Kutu, Bikingi, Bushaho, Rwigi, Christmas, Katwe, and Nshongi.

Birding/Bird watching.

Bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park involves searching for diversity of birds that make it the number one birding spot.

The birds to identify on a guided birding tour in this park including the Shelley’s crimson wings, Chapin’s flycatchers, grauer’s swamp warblers, African green broadbills, regal sunbird, dwarf honey guide, red-faced woodland warblers, handsome francolins, strange weaver birds, Neumann’s warblers, Kivu ground thrush and others.

Birding in Bwindi is best done starting from Buhoma waterfall trail, Ivy river trail, Kashasha river trail, and Mubwindi trail.

Guided nature walks/forest hikes.

Beyond thrilling mountain gorilla encounters, Bwindi is an ideal location for you to enjoy guided nature/forest walks. There are well-established walking trails worth conquering in Bwindi and each has something unusual for nature enthusiasts to experience.

The key trails of Bwindi include the Buhoma-Nkuringo trail, Ivy river trail, Bamboo zone, Muyanga waterfall walk, Habinyanja trail, Muzubijiro loop trail, Rushura hill walk, Kashasha trail, and others.

Biking/cycling

Biking around Bwindi offers cyclists a remarkable rural setting experience. Cyclists navigate around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to nearby local communities. The bikes are available for hiring at the Ride for a Woman offices.

Community walks/cultural experiences

Adjacent to Bwindi are local communities, especially the Batwa and Bakiga. The available cultural experiences at Bwindi include the Batwa cultural experience or Bakiga community visit.

The Batwa cultural experience allows you interact with the Batwa pygmies in their local community, learn how they co-existed with wildlife in the wild for years, explore their unique traditions and cultures, etc.

The Bakiga cultural experience is all about interacting with the renowned energetic Bakiga people, get to know their practices, traditions and cultures then also great entertainment.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

When choosing your place for stay in or around Bwindi, it is better to find accommodation option nearby the region or sector where you intend to track mountain gorillas from.

If Buhoma sector is where you intend to track gorillas, then the available accommodation options include Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge and Buhoma Community Rest Camp.

At Rushaga, you can book the following accommodation options; Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and others.

Ruhija sector’s lodges include Broadbill Forest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Bwindi Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Agandi Lodge, Bwindi Panorama Resort, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Mist Lodge and others.

At Nkuringo sector, the lodges to book include Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe, Nkuringo Guesthouse, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Tourists intending to explore the wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can reach the park by road or air. Using the road transportation is best done in a 4×4 safari vehicle and takes you between 8 and 9 hours to drive on Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route to Bwindi. Or you can use the shortest route starting from Kigali via Katuna/Chanika border to Bwindi.

By air: This is the fastest option of getting to Bwindi and you may spend about 2 hours and this involves taking a flight from Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip where you can drive to any region of the park.