A Guided Safari To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safari is all about searching for the world’s unique apes –the massive mountain gorillas in their natural habitat with an experienced park guide. Go safari to Bwindi; soak yourself into the impenetrable rainforest to search for a family of the rare mountain gorillas. Discover Bwindi in-depth with local experts. Here is all you need to know about safaris to Bwindi National Park.

Discover Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted in 1932 and was introduced as a park in 1991. The park is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district and part of Kisoro. Bwindi impenetrable national park is among the world heritage sites and it was recognized by UNESCO in 1994 because of its ecological importance.

The park covers an area of 331 square kilometers, inhabiting over 120 mammal species. The park has over mammal species, bird species and other wildlife but it is famously known for mountain gorillas and many of the travelers come to Uganda to do gorilla trekking. The park has got a tropical climate

Tourist Attractions in Bwindi National Park

Mountain Gorillas

Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the only parks where you can find the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are the main attractions in the Bwindi impenetrable however there are other attractions such as monkeys, birds. The park has got four habituated gorillas that are tracked by travelers in different trekking region which include Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga.

Buhoma

Buhoma sector is located in the northern region of the Bwindi impenetrable national park and it has three gorilla families that is Mubare gorilla family. This was the first gorilla family to be open for gorilla trekking in 1992, Habinyanja gorilla family. This was first sighted near the swamp ponds and it was habituated in 1997 and first trekked in 1999. This gorilla family consists of 13 family members and it is headed by Makara, a silverback and lastly the Rushegura gorilla family which was habituated and opened for trekking in 2000. This group consists of 10 gorilla individuals and it spited from the Habinyanja.

Rushaga

Rushaga sector is located in southern region of the park and is mostly visited by tourists coming from Kigali. This sector hosts the greatest number of mountain gorillas and these include; Kahungye gorilla family which has 17 members, Nshongi gorilla family with 7 family members headed by Bweza, Mishaya gorilla family a group of 12 members and separated from Nshongi, Busingye gorilla family a family of 9 members which separated away from Kahungye gorilla family among others.

Nkuringo

It is also located in the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable in Kisoro district and it consists of three gorilla families which are Nkuringo gorilla families which include 12 gorilla individuals and was habituated in 1997, Bushaho gorilla family with 8 individual and Christmas group.

Ruhija

The Ruhija sector is situated in the eastern region of Bwindi impenetrable national park and consists of three gorilla families that is Oruzogo gorilla family a family of 17 individual which was opened in 2007, Bitukura gorilla family a family of 14 family individuals and was habituated in 2007 and Kyaguriro gorilla family a family of 20 family individual.

Floral and faunal species

Apart from gorillas the park is a home of chimpanzee and other primates such as Colobus monkeys, black monkey and white and L’Hoest monkeys.

Bwindi impenetrable consists of over 100 mammal species which include Warthogs, bush bucks, duikers, forest elephant, and buffalos. There are also reptile and amphibians such as frogs. he Bwindi forest has over 300 butterflies and approximately 324 tree species, 10 of which are only found in Uganda.

Birdlife

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home for over 350 bird species where by 14 bird species are endemic. Bird species include Rwenzori Batis, Kivu ground- thrush, Shelly’s greenbul, strange weaver, Chapin’s fly catcher, handsome francolin. Yellow- freaked greenbul among others. The birds can be found in in Albertine rift and other trails such as bamboo zone, Mubwindi swamp trail and Buhoma waterfall trail. A bird watcher is required to have binoculars and this will provide a great experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Batwa pygmies

These are the ancient people who lived in Bwindi impenetrable national park and where forced to live the park when it was gazetted and they currently settle around the park. The Batwa tribe has unique cultural practices such as hunting skills, ways of dressing, dancing and folk song.

Waterfalls

Bwindi impenetrable national park has a variety of different waterfalls which are found in different areas of the park such as Munyanga river waterfall where one can spot birds, plants, flowers and amazing landscape. In addition Bwindi impenetrable national park has got different hiking trail which include ivy river trail, Kashasha river trail which takes you through the ancient rain forest.

Activities to do – What is Bwindi National Park popular for?

Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla habituation is a process where mountain gorillas are made comfortable with the presence human beings. Traveler interested in gorilla habituation must get a permit from UWA or a Travel agent before coming to Uganda. A foreign nonresident pays US$ 1500, foreign resident US$ 1000 and UGX 750000 to East African member states. Unlike gorilla tracking which takes 1 hour, Habituation takes 4 hours where a traveler is left to see how mountain gorillas behave and how they live.

Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla tracking of habituated mountain gorillas is done in Bwindi since it is a home for half of the gorillas in the world. The park has got four habituated gorillas that are tracked by travelers in different trekking region which include Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The tourist is advised to inquire with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and also get a permit and know the exact date when to track the gorillas since they are mobile. A tourist must go for briefing at the headquarters of the park about the rules and regulations.

As you track stories are told by the rangers about the family so that tourists get an insight on their behavior. In addition to that, travellers are also able to see other primates, plants, and bird species. Gorilla trekking depends on the location of the gorillas because they move from place to place in search for food and once the gorillas are found one would be able allowed to spend one hour with them however tourist are not to feed the gorillas.

Nature walks

A traveler can have a nature walk to different areas of the park to see birds, butterflies, waterfalls such as Munyanga waterfall where one can also take photos while enjoying the scenic view. The tourists can be escorted by the tour guard as he explains the different birds sighted butterflies, plant species, and wild animals among others.

Birding

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home for over 350 bird species where by 14 bird species are endemic. Bird species include Rwenzori Batis, Kivu ground- thrush, Shelly’s greenbul, strange weaver, Chapin’s fly catcher, handsome francolin. Yellow- freaked greenbul among others. The birds can be found in in Albertine rift and other trails such as bamboo zone, Mubwindi swamp trail and Buhoma waterfall trail. A bird watcher is required to have binoculars and this will provide a great experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Community visit

A traveler can also have a guided community cultural experience in Buhoma where one would be able to interact with the local people. The local people perform their dances while singing their folk song to the tourists, show there survival skills in the forest and also tell different stories.

Time to visit the park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is open throughout the year though the best time to visit Bwindi forest is from June to august and December to February since at this time the forest trails are drier and less slippery than during the dry season.

Accommodation facilities –where can I stay

The park has got a variety of accommodation with in and outside the park which cater for luxury, mid-range and low budget tourists. These accommodations include hotels, resorts, camp sites, lodges -Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge, inns. Camp sites include volcanoes Bwindi camp, Gorilla forest camp, Mantana tented camp, wagtail Eco camp. Homesteads such as Buhoma homestead, gorilla homestead among others.

How to get to the park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed through road or air transport. The park has four gates that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija and one can use different routes to reach the park.

a) Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma and this is the quickest route from Kampala.

b) Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu.

c) Kampala to Kibale then Nkuringo

d) Kabale to Kabale to Ruhija and the Buhoma.

The traveler using air transport can fly from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro airstrip while tourists to Buhoma can charter planes to the Kihihi/Kayonza airstrip.