Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Kisoro district in the Kigezi region of southwestern Uganda. This park is famous for accommodating the rare and endangered apes, “the mountain gorillas,” which are endemic to this park and the Virunga Conservation Area. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park shares borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside the western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley, neighboring the Virunga Massif. The forest is home to more than 120 mammals, 350 bird species, 310 butterfly species, and approximately half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Before Bwindi was co-occupied by mountains and other wildlife with humans, “Batwa hunters,” however, the Batwa, with time, were considered to be a threat to the futures of the apes, and in 1991, the government evicted them without their consent. And the decision was made to create room for the future of the gorillas, which were almost at the edge of completion.
The tropical forest accommodates several endangered species, of which some strictly pioneered the conservation of the forest. The mountain gorillas are the prime animals among species, followed by other species like L’Hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobus, and baboons, among many others. Expect forest elephants, giant forest hogs, and forest buffaloes—about 450 bird species among so many other species.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park experiences two weather seasons annually: the rainy/wet season and the sunny/dry season. However, the park can be visited throughout the year; the sunny/dry season, which is characterized by limited downpours, is perfect for adventures like gorilla trekking. Each season doubles a year; the peak/dry/sunny season manifests during the months of December, January, and February and returns during the months of June, July, and August. However, during the peak season, being in an equatorial zone, expect rainfall at any time of the day. During the dry or sunny seasons, the grounds tend to be dry and the floor is less moist, making it the perfect time to trek gorillas and do the rest of the adventures. Though the park is visited throughout the year,.
Things to do at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking
The adventure of physical fitness Though there is no level of fitness required, gorilla trekking actively demands a certain level of physical energy to enable you to go through dense jungle. Gorilla trekking is a prime adventure to do on your visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In addition to having the world record for the highest population of mountain gorillas, Bwindi also hosts the highest number of habituated gorilla families. Gorillas are well habituated to the trek, and you will have a close-up encounter with the gorillas. To trek gorillas at Bwindi, one needs a permit, which costs $700, and for gorilla habituation, a permit costs $1,500. Gorilla trekking trails at Bwindi are organized through the four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.
Nature walks and bird watching
Before or after your gorilla trek, you can consider taking a nature walk through various walking trails through various sectors. Nature is rewarding with various encounters with monkeys, forest elephants, buffalos, and many bird species. The park records about 400 bird species; it’s among the finest places to be in Uganda when opting for birding experiences. A walk through various landscapes of slopes, valleys, and highlands rewards you with an untamed nature walking experience. The walking trail taken depends on the nature of the experience a tourist or visitor would require to have.
Mountain biking
The adventure is organized by a women’s initiative at Buhuma Community and is one of the amazing things to consider. It starts at the Buhoma community rest camp, where bikers hire their bicycles from the camp, then start their biking through various trails. The most interesting one is the one that goes from Buhoma to Nkuringo.
Community visits
Visit communities around Bwindi Park and enjoy their cultural packages, which are well organized for visitors. Following the painful eviction from their ancestral home, the Batwa people, also known as the forest pygmies, suffered for long for the luck of a specific home to be located. However, tourism around the park enables cultural initiations, which are now a source of income for the local people who once lived in gorilla forests. Community visits take you to experience the lifestyle and tales of their life story, dances, tasting local dishes, or even buying some of their handmade crafts.
Getting to Bwindi.
By road, it’s about 460km from Kampala, which is about 9 hours of driving through Kampala, Mbarara, and Kabale to Bwindi. However, through the Cyanika border, driving from Kigali takes about 4 hours to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.