All You Need to Know About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a popular tourist site for gorilla trekking in Africa and it is home to the largest population of critically endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated on the rim of the Albertine Rift valley and is bordered by the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The 321 square kilometers of lowland and montane forest that make up the park are accessible on foot.
More than ten primate species live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of which mountain gorillas are the most sought-after. Other species to see include common chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, vervet, black and white colobus monkeys , L’Hoest monkey, African green broadbill and Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 120 mammal species, 350 species of birds, 310 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, and geckos, as well as
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park boasts of 22 habituated mountain gorilla families which are accessible to tourists in four different sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo in the districts of Kanungu, Kabale, and Kisoro respectively and are all managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Generally speaking, gorilla trekking is the park’s top tourist draw and a significant source of income for the “UWA” Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, the Mubare gorilla family was the only habituated gorilla family at the time that the activity first became available in April 1993. Be aware that valid gorilla permits must be bought at the Uganda Wildlife Authority or with the assistance of a reputable tour operator if a tourist want to track or trek mountain gorillas.
Additionally, gorilla trekking is only available to a small number of tourists because it is conducted in a gorilla family that has become accustomed to human presence due to the gorillas’ safety threats and habitat loss. Along with guided walks through the forest, Bwindi also offers gorilla habituation, Batwa cultural experiences, forest walks, mountain biking, visits to Lake Mutanda and walks through the Buhoma community.
Climate
Bwindi is located in a tropical climate zone with annual temperature ranges of 7 to 15 degrees Celsius at the low end and 20 to 27 degrees Celsius at the high. Additionally, it receives 1,400 to 1,900 millimeters of rain every year. Therefore, the two seasons with the heaviest rainfall are March to April and September to November. The greatest time to see gorillas in their natural habitat is between December and February, during the peak dry season, which lasts from June to mid-September.
Location
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in South Western Uganda on border with Rwanda and Congo. The travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from the southwest of Uganda takes 8 to 9 hours. As an alternative, you can take a chartered or regularly scheduled domestic flight that departs from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip and lands at the nearby small airstrips of Kihihi or Kisoro in around 1:30 hours.
Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking
The majority of visitors choose to do this during their Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safari. The activity begins early in the morning with a briefing led by a park ranger guide at the park’s administrative center. Following that, the park guides will divide you into eight groups based on the gorilla sector you were given. Depending on how they move, the walk could last 30 to 7 hours. Once located, you are permitted to spend an hour with the gorillas learning from them and taking pictures and videos while you are there. In Bwindi, a day of gorilla trekking costs USD 800 per person.
Gorilla Habituation
The second activity on a safari to Bwindi is gorilla habituation noises, which can only be done in the Rushaga sector, one of the four gorilla sectors. After eating breakfast in the morning, travel to the park’s administrative center, and then leave for the activity. Along with scientists, park rangers, and doctors, trackers will begin a hike or walk through the Impenetrable jungle in order to gather information and learn more about mountain gorillas.
However, after receiving your allotted time, you get four hours to spend with the gorillas so you can observe and engage with them. There are two habituated gorilla families in Bwindi, namely Rushaga, where the activity is permitted eight times a day. To avoid disappointments at the last minute, we suggest you to make reservations in advance.
Foreign nonresidents must pay USD 1500 for a gorilla habituation permit, foreign residents must pay USD 1,000, and East African nationals must pay UGX 750,000.
Birding
A visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will allow you to go birding and witness a variety of rare bird species that call the park home. Western green tinker birds, Ruwenzori Apalis, Purple-breasted sunbirds, Olive-breasted sunbirds, Neumann’s warblers, Mountain masked apalis, Black-faced warblers, Africa broadbills, Black bee-eaters, and Black-billed Turacos are just a few of the bird species to look out for.
Batwa Cultural Experience
One of the main activities in the park is the Batwa cultural experience, where visitors can learn about how the Batwa people once coexisted in the forest with mountain gorillas, how they traditionally prepared food, how to gather wild honey, and how they shared their knowledge of how to make medicine from plants.
Community walks
Visitors can participate in guided community walks around the Buhoma village, where they can see the local school, hospital, and enjoy the spectacular traditional dance and music.
Mountain Biking
This is a fantastic pastime that is best enjoyed in the Buhoma districts, where the women’s community club Ride 4 owns and rents out bikes to tourists for the best bicycling experience.
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