Bwindi Impenetrable National park is a forested park which was gazatted in 1991 mainly to protect and conserve the world’s remaining mountain Gorillas, and was declared as a UNESCO Natural Heritage site in 1994. Uganda hosts more than a half of the world’s mountain gorillas found in Bwindi-Mgahinga conservation area. Its harbored by the impenetrable forest covering a total surface area of 321km2. The park is found in the south western Uganda on the edge of the Western Arm of the East African Rift valley in the districts of Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro districts. The parks altitude is between 1160m -2607 m above the sea level. The entire vegetation covering the park is the impenetrable forest with hilly and rugged terrain making it the coldest place in Uganda with temperatures often measuring average minimum of (11 degrees C) and average maximum 24 degrees C . Bwindi impenetrable national park is a water catchment area having a source of over 5 major rivers that feed into lake Edward, and also serving water to the surrounding for home consumption.
Bwindi impenetrable national park has one of the oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests and contains over 400 species of plants some of which are over 300 years old. More importantly, this impenetrable forest hosts over 500 mountain gorillas representing more than a half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Some of which are habituated and are tracked on a daily basis, while others are still under habituation and others not habituated. It also harbors other mammals like elephants and antelopes with estimated numbers to be over 120 including several other primate species such as velvet baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and chimpanzees among others. Bwindi impenetrable national park is also a good birding destination with over 350 bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
The national park has 4 major sectors or locations where gorilla trekking takes place. This is a major activity that attracts most of the tourists to come to Uganda. It’s a must see in Uganda and we guarantee 100% of meeting these endangered gorillas while on the tracking. The four major sectors include: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. In total, there are 17 groups in different parks that are tracked on daily basis which include:Kahungye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Busingye, Bweza, Bikingi, Bushaho, and Rwiji,Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Mukiza,Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, and Katwe,Nkuringo and Christmas
Tourism Activities in Bwindi impenetrable National park include;
Gorilla trekking; Bwindi Gorilla national park has a total of 17 habituated gorilla groups found in the four major sectors of Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma. These gorillas are tracked on daily basis with regulated numbers of 8 as maximum per group. This activity is led by UWA rangers and guides, and starts from any of the tracking location with the briefing at the visitor information centers at 8:00 AM. Gorilla trekking takes 3 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family on the tracking day or even where they slept the previous night. You will be allowed to spend only 1 hour with them after meeting them and taking photos in close range. Thereafter, the guides will lead you back to the point where you started for debriefing and award of certificates. This is one of the most rewarding experiences that give you lasting good memories. It’s a MUST do activity on a vacation in Uganda
Gorilla Habituation Experience: Gorilla habituation takes place only in Rushaga sector with the group that is still under Research that has not yet been declared for tracking. This implies that the research group is not yet used to people in comparison with the tracking groups, and as such, there are lots of movements involved in trying to follow them during the activity. Its a very regulated activity in terms of numbers allowed on daily basis which is only 4 people. This experience allows you to stay with the gorillas for only 4 hours studying their behaviors and their ways of living including de-nesting, mating, feeding, nesting among others. The 4 hours start right from nesting (where they slept the previous night). You will be led by UWA Ranger guides and Researchers, and on request you can be availed Gorilla Doctors. After the experience, you will be led back to the information Centre for de-briefing and award of certificates.
Nature walk/Walking safaris; There are nature walk trails in all the trekking sectors to facilitate those who wish to explore the “impenetrable forest” on foot, including waterfall walks, forest walks, primate encounters, mountain views and impressive birdlife. These nature walks last between 3 to 4 hours and can be led either by community guides or UWA ranger guides. You can also take along walking safari from Buhoma to Nkuringo, or from Nkuringo to Buhoma which takes about 5 hours.
Batwa Cultural experience in Rushaga; The Batwa known as pygmies were the original occupants of the forest before it was degazetted into the national park. They used to survive on the forest entirely for water, food, medicine, shelter, fire making, clothing among others. Later, they were moved out of the park and re-settled in the neighboring communities surrounding the national park. They live on the foothill and practice agriculture for domestic consumption. This activity supports them for their livelihoods. The Batwa guides together with the UWA Ranger guides will guide you through the forest with enriching stories on how they used to stay and survive on the forest for their livelihood. They will make a lot of demonstrations on fire making, how they used to fetch water using bamboos, making clothing out of the forest materials, doing visits, conducting marriage and burials, entertainment among others. This will give you an enriching cultural experience that will last a life time. This activity ends with lots of entertainment from Batwa dancing groups.
Canoeing; This is a community-based activity done around the lakes on the foothills of the mountain slopes. Community guides will take you on a canoe experience on either lake Mutanda or lake Mulehe.These are lava dammed lakes formed by volcanicity, and as such they do not attract any fishing activity because of their depth due to their formation. Both lakes are found in Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors
Accessing Bwindi;
It can be accessed by road from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north (2-3 hours), from Kabale to the south (1-2 hours), or from Kampala via Mbarara (6-8 hours).4WD is the most recommended vehicle since Bwindi is surrounded by hills with rugged terrain due to rains.
There are also daily buses going from Kampala to Kisoro, for those who wish to track in Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga. The same bus can be used for those tracking in Ruhija but with a stopover in Kabale. Buses are also available going to Butogota through Kihihi for those tracking in Buhoma sector and others buses go straight up to Buhoma. Special hire can be used to connect you to the tracking location from the nearest town
It can also be accessed by air using local flights from Entebbe or Kajansi Airfield to Kisoro air strip or Kihihi and Kayonza airfields.
Some of the Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable national park;
Rushaga sector;
- Rushaga Gorilla Camp
- Gorilla safari lodge
- Gorilla valley lodge
- Lake mutanda resort
- Chameleon Hill lodge
- Nshongi camp
- Havens lodge
- Ichumbi lodge
- The 4 Gorillas lodge
Nkuringo sectors
- Clouds luxury lodge
- Nkuringo Gorilla camp
- Gorilla close up lodge
- Bwindi back packers lodge
Ruhija sector
- Kiho safari lodge
- Bakiga lodge
- Gorilla mist camp
- Broade bill forest camp
- Ruhija community Rest camp
- Coockland lodge
Buhoma sector
- Silverback lodge
- Trackers lodge
- Engagi lodge
- Buhoma lodge
- Volcanoes lodge
- Buhoma community Rest camp
- GFC lodge
- Ruhondeza lodge
