Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : Gorilla Sanctuary

About Bwindi Forest National park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a prime Uganda safari destination and a world popular national famous for mountain gorilla trekking safaris, Bwindi impenetrable national park is a nest for mountain gorillas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas recorded to be half of the world’s population and declared in 1994. Bwindi impenetrable forest is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district and lies along the border of Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo.

Bwindi impenetrable national park lies in the altitude range of 1160 meters – 2607 meters above the sea level, Bwindi impenetrable forest covers an area of 331 square kilometers composed of both Montane and lowland forests. Bwindi impenetrable forest was first gazetted as 2 blocks in 1932 that is Bwindi Impenetrable forest designated as Crown Forest Reserve, the Northern block was designated as Kayonza crown forest reserve and the southern block designated as Kabatoro crown forest reserve. In 1964 the reserve was designated as an animal sanctuary for protection of mountain gorillas and it was renamed Impenetrable Central crown Forest reserve and in 1991 it was designated as a national park and renamed Bwindi impenetrable national park.

The park is a habitat to a diverse of flora and fauna, Bwindi forest is the most diverse forest in East Africa protecting over 1,000 flowering plant species including 163 tree species and 104 species of ferns. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a habitat to over 600 mountain gorillas living on the high forested altitudes of the park, mountain gorillas in Bwindi include 19 habituated mountain gorilla families and they include Mubare Gorilla Family, Habinyanja Gorilla Family, Rushegura Gorilla Family, Bitukura Gorilla Family, Oruzogo Gorilla Family, Nkuringo Gorilla Family, Nshongi Gorilla Family, Mishaya Gorilla Family, Kahungye Gorilla Family, Bweza Gorilla Family- Rushaga, Busingye Gorilla Family, Kyaguriro Gorilla Family. On top of mountain gorillas, Bwindi impenetrable forest is a home to many other mammal species such as Elephants, duikers, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, yellow-backed duiker, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats, rodents and many. There is also 11 species of primates living in the forests of Bwindi and they include black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, Red-tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled Galago, Baboons and Chimpanzee.

The park is a great Uganda bird habitat hosting over 350 bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics, 14 species found only in Uganda and globally threatened species. b=these birds include Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimson-wing. More species include; Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed, Regal Sunbirds and many more.

Safari activities to do in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla Trekking

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 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.

Gorilla Tracking Procedure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a well-structured activity aimed at ensuring the safety of both the gorillas and visitors. The first essential step is obtaining a gorilla tracking permit, which is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The cost of these permits varies based on the visitor’s nationality and residency status. As of June 1, 2019, the prices are $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. Starting June 2020, the permit prices will increase to $700 for foreign non-residents and $600 for foreign residents. It’s crucial to note that these permits are specific to a particular tracking sector and date, and it’s advisable to book them at least three months in advance due to high demand.

Once you have your permit, the next step is to travel to the national park. Many visitors opt to use the services of a trusted tour operator to handle logistics and enhance their experience. Upon arrival at the park on the designated tracking date, all visitors are required to attend a briefing session at the park headquarters. During this session, park rangers provide essential guidelines and regulations for trekking. Trekkers are then assigned specific rangers and gorilla families to track.

The trek itself can vary significantly in duration, taking anywhere from 30 minutes to five hours, depending on factors such as the location of the gorilla family, the previous night’s location of the gorillas, and the pace of the trekking group. When the gorillas are found, visitors are allowed to spend up to one hour observing and interacting with them, learning about their daily activities such as feeding and nesting. The experience culminates with the opportunity to take photos and videos, creating lasting memories of this unique encounter.

Gorilla habituation experience

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-st 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 safaris

The park is an exceptional Uganda bird watching destination, this heavily forested park is a home to over 350 bird species including 23 Albertine endemics and 14 species recorded to only be found in Uganda which making bird watching in this park amazing. Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable forest offer excellent of many colorful birds such as Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimson-wing. More species include; Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed, Regal Sunbirds and many more.

Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park is best dome in Mubwindi swamp found in Ruhija sector of the park.

Nature and waterfall walks

Bwindi impenetrable forest is a heavenly endowed destination ideal for nature safaris done on walks using trails running through the park’s thick forests, these trails lead to the magnificent waterfalls found in the park and they include

Buhoma – Nkuringo trail, this trail is of a 4-5 hours walk running through forests between Democratic republic of Congo and Uganda.
Munyaga waterfall walk – this trail leads to Munyaga waterfall
Ivy River Walk – this trail is of 14 kilometers and takes about 7 hours of walk
Muzubijiro loop of 6 kilometers walk on the hills.

Nature and forest walk in Bwindi impenetrable forest offers magnificent views of the park’s various species of plants, flowering plants and many forest and such as L’Hoest’s monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, Red-tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled Galago, Baboons, Chimpanzee and birds such as Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle living in the forests of Bwindi

Batwa community visit

Batwa community visit is an amazing Uganda cultural safari taking you on a visit in the Batwa community, the Batwa people once lived in the forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park before they were gazetted for conservation of mountain gorillas. Batwa are pygmy people and hunter-gatherers depending on forests as a way of life, in the Batwa community you will watch many amazing activities such as hunting demonstration, picking of local herbs and visiting a traditional healer, house built using local materials, interact with local people and be entertained by local dances and songs.

Access and Accommodation

Getting There:

By Road: The park is about 540 kilometers from Kampala, a 6-7 hour drive. Common routes include Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma and Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma.
By Air: Domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi, Nyakabande, or Kayonza airstrips are available.

Accommodation: A range of lodging options exist, from luxury to budget:

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Midrange: Gorilla Safari Lodge, Mahogany Springs Camp.
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Bwindi Guest House.

Best Time to Visit

The park is open year-round, but the best times for gorilla trekking are during the dry seasons: June to August and December to February. These periods offer more accessible trails and more comfortable trekking conditions.

Gorilla Families in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, renowned as a sanctuary for mountain gorillas, is home to several habituated gorilla families that visitors can trek. Each gorilla family is unique, with its own social structure, dynamics, and territory within the park.

The park is divided into four main sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, each hosting multiple gorilla families.

Buhoma Sector: Located in the northern part of the park, Buhoma is the most popular trekking sector with families like Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura.
Ruhija Sector: Found in the eastern part, this sector is known for its rugged terrain and houses families such as Bitukura, Oruzogo, and Kyaguriro.
Rushaga Sector: Situated in the southern region, Rushaga boasts the highest number of gorilla families, including Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza, Kahungye, Busingye, and Mucunguzi.
Nkuringo Sector: Also in the southern part, Nkuringo is famous for its steep hikes and is home to the Nkuringo and Christmas families.

Each gorilla trekking experience offers a unique opportunity to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat, providing unforgettable encounters and insights into their daily lives.

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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park