Travel guide to Bwindi impenetrable national park; Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district on the edge of the Albertine rift valley. The national park was gazetted into a national park in 1991 and covers a total area of 321 square kilometers. In 1994, Bwindi impenetrable national park was declared a UNESCO world heritage site due to the fact that it harbors the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of different wildlife species including mammals like forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers, giant forest hogs, primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys and different bird species. Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most visited destinations in Uganda and this travel guide will help you to plan a successful safari to Bwindi impenetrable national park which involves activities to engage in while in the park, best time to visit the park, where to stay and how to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park, Uganda gorilla tours .
Activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the popular activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park that attracts large numbers of tourists. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park is done in 4 sectors namely Ruhija in the eastern part of the park, rushaga in the south, Buhoma in the north and Nkuringo sector in the south. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group has been allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is conversant with different gorilla trekking trails. Gorilla trekking takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view different bird species, mammals, primates among others and once the gorillas are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their habitat where you will be able to watch them carry out their daily activities, learn more about their habits, behaviors, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari.
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation experience is an adventurous activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. The habituation process takes a period of 2 to 3 months to be complete and it involves a team of researchers, gorilla doctors, park guides and rangers. Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park only allows a maximum of 4 people and the experience starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience takes a whole day and during trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, different plant and tree species, birds among others. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, habits, engage in the naming process, watch them carry out their daily activities among others.
Batwa cultural tour
Batwa cultural tour is an exciting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where visitors get an opportunity to interact with the Batwa people or pygmies who used to stay in Bwindi forest before it was gazetted into a national park. During the Batwa cultural tour, you will be able to learn about their culture, history, way of living, visit their homesteads, listen to their ancient stories, enjoy their traditional dishes among others.
Nature walks
Nature walk is an interesting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will be able to explore the park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed park ranger. During the guided nature walk in Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will follow different hiking trails like the Munyaga waterfall trail, Rushura hill walk, Muzubijiro loop trail, the Ivi river walk, Nuhoma-Nkuringo trail and the Habinyanja trail where you will get up-close and personal with different wildlife species, primates, view colorful butterflies, beautiful views of lake Edward and lake George, Rwenzori mountains, Virunga volcano peaks, view variety of bird species among others.
Bird watching
Buhoma sector is a home of over 360 recorded bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics, forest birds and migratory birds which makes it one of the top birding destinations in Uganda. Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park is commonly done along the Buhoma waterfall trail, Mubwindi swamp trail in Ruhija, bamboo zone among others. During bird watching, you will be accompanied by an experienced park guide who will help you to spot different bird species including Greater Blue-eared Starling, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Bleu, headed Sparrow, Green Hylia, Great Blue Turaco, White-browed Crombec, Green-headed Sunbird, Crowned hornbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Pitta, Rwenzori Batis, Common Bulbul, Handsome Francolin among others.
Best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period, there is less or little rainfall in the park therefore access roads, nature walk and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking easy.
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means. When using road transport means, you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to one of the sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive, Travel guide to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
When using road transport means, you can also access Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then cross to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can as well be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter flights with bar aviation or Aero link Uganda from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Where to stay in Bwindi impenetrable national park
There are a wide range of accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable national park where you can stay during your safari.
The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Buhoma lodge, Mahogany springs safari lodge, Four gorillas lodge, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Buhoma haven lodge, Ichumbi lodge, Engangi lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi lodge, Gorilla hills eco lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Buhoma community rest camp, Rushaga gorilla haven lodge, Ruhija community rest camp, Bakiga lodge among others.
