Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for gorilla tracking or trekking. Located in southwestern part of Uganda. The Park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley and a 9-10hrs drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park will take you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It also comprises of 331 square kilometers of jungle forests and contains both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot.
The forest is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, and the diversity of species is a feature of the park. The park provides 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 endemism of the Albertine Rift The Park is a sanctuary for colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and many birds (such as hornbills and turacos).
It is perhaps most notable for the 340 Bwindi gorillas, half the world’s population of the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. There are currently 10 Gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Oruzogo, kahungye and Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya and one Nyakagezi in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Gorilla Trekking; is an experience where a group of people get to hike/trek through the thick forests in order for them to capture a glimpse of what gorillas look like and be able to view the environment in which gorillas stay. Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park currently has six gorilla trekking sectors namely; Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nyundo and Rubugiri, with Buhoma and Nkuringo emerging as one of the most visited sectors.
The proximity of the national park to the border of Rwanda has long made it possible for tourists to combine Uganda gorilla trekking and Rwanda gorilla trekking experiences in a single itinerary. Such trips can begin either way depending on a client’s preference making it possible to do Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Rwanda – about (4 – 5 hours drive) from Kigali.
When is the best time to trek Gorillas in Uganda? The best time to visit the mountain Gorillas in Uganda is mid-June through October, December running through March. This period is the busiest and best time of the year . These are dry months of the year and are the high season or peak seasons for Gorilla Trekking. Though mountain Gorillas can be trekked all year long in Uganda, with no seasonal closures.
Gorilla Habituation
Gorilla habituation is an experience where one gets to visit the mountain gorillas for more than the usual hours time, since these gorillas are being trained to live among human beings. The experience is so fascinating as it gives the tourist more time to learn about the mountain gorillas and their behaviors. In Uganda gorilla habituation only happens in Rushaga gorilla sector which is south of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The best time to do gorilla habituation in Uganda is during June to September and December to March.
Bird Watching; Bwindi National Park is a home to over 320 bird species and 23 species. The bird species include Western Green Tinker bird, African Wood Owl, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Montana Oriole, and Short tailed Warbler, Kivu Ground-Thrush, Chapin’s Flycatcher and African Green Broadbill and Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill, Great Blue Turaco Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Standard-winged Nightjar, flycatcher, Short-tailed Warbler, Doherty’s Bush shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-breasted Barbet and many more.
Getting to Bwindi; Bwindi Forest National Park Uganda is located about 478 kilometers from the capital city – Kampala and can take between 7 to 8 hours drive. The journey is mostly on a smooth surface and a dirt murram road for the last part into the forest. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth National Park, diving through the Ishasha sector with 3 to 4 hours of driving.
Daily buses operate from Kampala to Kabale, Kisoro as well as Rukungiri via Kihihi. From those towns, you can easily connect to Bwindi National Park or arrange with a local guide to pick you up. The park can also be accessed by air, flying from Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip on a domestic flight.Aero link is a domestic operator with daily flights to Kisoro (only in the morning) and Kihihi airstrips of Bwindi.Below are the flight schedules and times;
