Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

If there is that one most magical safari park you shouldn’t miss to explore in Uganda then Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of them. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of premier Uganda safaris destinations and it straddles in the extreme Southwestern side of Uganda, about 8 to 10 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe and approximately, 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city of Rwanda. It is shared amongst Kabale, Kisoro and Kanungu districts just at close proximity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park became a national park in 1991 and its establishment was primarily to offer refuge to a section of mountain gorillas which are listed among the most endangered primates and currently remain fewer than 1963 on planet earth. This makes it one of the most exceptional gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and African at large. Later in 1994, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site given its biodiversity endowment which ranges from unique flora to fauna. This premier gorilla park today occupies an area of about 331sq.kms, consisting largely of a tropical rain-forest where its primates, butterflies, diversity of birds and other wildlife live. It straddles between elevation of 1160 and 2607m.

History of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s history can be traced back to 1932 when two of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest portions were designated as Crown Forest Reserves. They included the Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve in the Northern region of this gorilla park and Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve in the South. These forest reserves occupied an area of about 207sq.kms at the time but their size increased and the name also changed to Impenetrable Central Crown Forest, occupying an area of 298sq.kms. This conservancy area was originally under joint management between Ugandan government game and forest department.

In 1964, it became animal sanctuary and this was mainly to provide safety to the endangered mountain gorillas. It was during this period that it was named the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve and later, around 1966, two additional forest reserves were merged to form the main reserve which increased the size of the protected area to about 321sq.kms. All the reserves were managed as forest reserve and game sanctuary.

In 1991, the 3 reserves; the Rwenzori Mountains Reserve, Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve and Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve were merged hence establishment of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This also resulted into increase in the protected area’s size to 330.8sq.kms. Its formation was mainly to protect variety of wildlife. Its creation however, came with some effects especially on the lives of the Batwa pygmies who had spent most their time in the forest as hunters and gatherers. They were displaced and now they are among the marginalized group around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

In 1993, gorilla tracking became a popular primate adventure attracting most tourists on Uganda safaris to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Currently, an estimate of about 459 mountain gorillas live in this gorilla park alone and also features about 20 gorilla groups that have been habituated and set for visitors to trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park originally began with Mubare family being the first gorilla group to be habituated and also to open for tourists to track. However, there are so many other gorilla families to explore in the 4 main gorilla trekking areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Buhoma sector, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo region).

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

An estimate of over 120 mammal species call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park their home. They include a section of mountain gorillas which make up a total of about 459 of the 1063 individuals that today still exist on earth and only live in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Other wildlife species that live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest include the golden cats, buffaloes, elephants, duikers, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, side stripped jackals, civets, bats, blue monkeys, pottos, black and white colobus monkeys. Aside from mammals, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also protected variety of amphibians, an estimate of about 200 butterfly species, reptiles and a lot more.

Birdlife of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts an estimate of about 350 avifaunal species hence making it one of the most outstanding birding tour destinations. Enthusiastic bird watchers on Uganda tours in this gorilla trekking park have opportunity to sight birds about 23 Albertine rift endemic bird species and 14 of these don’t exist anywhere in Uganda. The threatened species worldwide which you should expect to identify here include the Shelley’s crimson wing birds, Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s flycatchers and a lot more. Other birds include collared apalis, black billed turaco, western bronze napped pigeon, white robin chat, handsome francolin, mountain masked apalis, Wilcock’s honey guide, grauer’s rush warblers, bar tailed trogon, short tailed warblers, African emerald, yellow eyed black fly catcher, chestnut throated apalis, kivu ground thrush to mention but a few. Bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is conducted mostly in Mubwindi swamp in Ruhija area. This joins Ruhija with Buhoma region mostly along the waterfall trail.

Tour activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Tracking mountain gorillas is by far one reasons most travelers consider Bwindi Impenetrable National Park their bucket-list destination. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi lets you get up close with mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat which makes it unusual wildlife experience. It is only done by persons above 15 years and only 8 visitors trek only 1 habituated gorilla family.

The 20 habituated gorilla groups represent about 160 gorilla permits and you can reserve one through our reservation team or directly through reservation team at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Tourists on Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi can trek anyone of groups in the 4 gorilla trekking regions depending on where the permit directs you. The 4 regions include Buhoma sector which has Habinyanja, Mubare, Katwe family and Rushegura; Ruhija regions with Bitukura, Oruzogo group, Mukiza and Kyaguriro; Rushaga sector which consists of groups like Mucunguzi, Kutu, Kahungye, Bikingi, Bweza, Busingye, Nshongi, Rwigi and in Nkuringo area with habituated families like Bushaho, Christmas and Nkuringo.

Between now and 30^th June, 2020, you can obtain gorilla permit at $600 (foreign non-residents) and $500 (foreign residents) and shs.250000 (East African citizens). Starting 1^st July, 2020, travelers on Uganda gorilla tour will require 700 US dollars (if you are a foreign non-resident) and US dollars 600 (foreign residents) and shs.250000 remains for East African citizens to reserve their gorilla permits.

Birding in Bwindi Forest Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best birding sites in Uganda. The birds to expect to identify on Uganda birding tour in this protected area include white robin chat, handsome francolin, mountain masked apalis, Wilcock’s honey guide, Shelley’s crimson wing birds, Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s flycatchers, collared apalis, black billed turaco, western bronze napped pigeon, grauer’s rush warblers, bar tailed trogon, short tailed warblers, African emerald, yellow eyed black fly catcher, chestnut throated apalis, kivu ground thrush and a lot more. Amazingly, you can incorporate bird watching with gorilla trekking adventures in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Guided nature walks in Bwindi Forest Park

A nature walk in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best conducted on foot. This lets you explore different trails each of which reward visitors with lots of unique experiences with a great opportunity to see lots of birds, primates and plant species. Th distinct trails to embark on a guided nature walk in this renowned gorilla park include among others Buhoma-Nkuringo trail, Ivi River walk, Muzubijiro loop, Muyanga waterfall walk.

Biking in Bwindi

Biking is another best way to explore in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can get a bike in most of the gorilla lodges in this park which you can hire and embark on biking tour through trails like Ivi River trail starting from Buhoma offices.

Community visit/cultural encounter

The Batwa community offers an incredible cultural experience to visitors on gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Batwa pygmies people are famous as forest dwellers the fact that they spent nearly 500000 years in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest as hunters and gatherers.

When to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has one of the most favorable weather and climatic condition, a reason it is considered as all year-round gorilla park. However, the dry season is preferably the best time to visit Bwindi for you to trek mountain gorillas. This means that you have to pay a visit to this gorilla park in June, July, August, September and December, January, February. In case you are interested in bird watching, then the best months to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are; March, April, May and October, November.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Different regions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have their own lodges with Buhoma sector comprising of Engagi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge. Rushaga region is comprised of lodges like Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort. Nkuringo region has Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge while Ruhija region consists of lodges like Broadbill Forest Camp, Bakiga Lodge and a lot more.

How to access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

By driving to Bwindi, it is reachable starting from Kampala/Entebbe through Masaka-Mbarara then to Kabale about 8-10 hours’ drive or you can drive from Kigali capital city through Chanika/Katuna border to Kisoro/Kabale where you can connect to Bwindi.

You can also opt for a scheduled or charter flight starting from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro/Kihihi airstrips.