What is Unique About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known for its rare species diversity and is home to the magical mountain gorillas. The park is home to over 650 mountain gorillas individuals, making up half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
More fact, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests. The park covers a hectare area of about 32,000 and is known for its outstanding biodiversity, with more than 160 species of tree species and around 100 species of ferns many more. Furthermore, the park is a tropical rain forest that lies in the southwestern Uganda region in Kanungu district, close to Kanungu town, approximately 8 to 9 hours drive from Kampala to the main destination.
Despite this fact, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four gorilla sectors where gorilla trekking and habituation experience takes place, including; Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija. This forest lies close to the Democratic Republic of Congo border near another Virunga National Park in Congo and Albertine rift. More then, the park was created in 1990 and is under the management of ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority and it’s an inhabitant of endangered animal species, plants, and insect species which are preserved, What is Unique About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Why visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
There are many reasons why this destination is the best tourist attraction site for many travelers to Uganda Safari. More so, Bwindi is one of the best places to visit in Africa and ranks one of the world’s number one primary mountain gorilla trekking destinations. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest stuns with a conducive climate with a green cover and was declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biodiversity and is home to the largest population of endangered species.
Interestingly, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the habitat of half of the total gorilla population with 35gorillas in each group. In the park -Gorilla trekking is the major highlight activity done., which can be done with valid gorilla permits. Note Trekking permits should always be obtained in advance to avoid disappointments, What is Unique About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
When is the best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Travelers can visit the park throughout the year, although conditions in the park are more difficult during the rainy season.
The best time to visit for gorilla trekking tours and wildlife game viewing is during the dry season between June to September and December to February.
Things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
The Bwindi National Park has a number of things to do around including; Gorilla trekking, Gorilla habituation, Bird watching, Batwa cultural experience, Forest walks-hiking, Mountain biking, Buhoma community walks, and Lake Mutanda visit;
Gorilla Trekking Experience
The gorilla trekking is a fantastic activity that attracts thousands of tourists worldwide. It starts early in the morning with the briefing at the park headquarters. After you can be grouped into a group of eight people and the guide will allocate you to the assigned gorilla family. You will hike into the forest trailheads in search of the gorillas through the guidance of the rangers, guides, and trackers. The trekking experience can last for 30 to 7 hours and once found an hour is given to the trackers. In that one hour, you can learn how these gorillas behave, feed, play, and enjoy photo shoots. Gorilla permits cost USD700.
Gorilla Habituation; This is a full-day incredible activity where visitors spend four hours with the gorillas once allocated. You can get to learn about the behaviors of the family and interact with them. Gorilla habituation permits costs USD1,500 for foreign nonresident, USD1,000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens. However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts 22 habituated gorilla families that are splintered in four different sectors of the park, including the Buhoma Gorilla Sector, Ruhija, Nkuringo gorilla sector, Rushaga gorilla sectors among others.
Bird watching
Bird watching is interesting here since the park harbors over 350 bird species with 23 species -endemic to the Albertine Rift species. Birds to see include; the Regal sunbird, Black bee-eater, Great blue turaco, Grey crowned crane, Ruwenzori batis, Shelley’s crimson son wing, Mountain yellow warbler, Kivu Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Robin-chat, Rwenzori Nightjar, African wood Owl, Handsome Francolin, Bar-tailed Trogon, Western Green Tinkerbird among others.
Buhoma Village Walk
This can be done with a guide who guides you through the village trails where you will learn the culture and traditions of the Batwa people.
