Bwindi National park.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in south western Uganda on the edge of the rift valley covering an area of 325 square kilometers, in the junction at the plain and mountain forests. The park is known for its exceptional diversity with more than 160 tree species and over 100 species of ferns. Many types of birds and butterflies can also be found there and many endangered species including the mountain gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO heritage in 1994 and is one of the largest areas in East Africa which still has Afromontane lowland forest well with in the montane forest belt. More famously, this impenetrable forest also protects an estimated 459 number of mountain gorillas roughly half of the world’s population including several habituated groups which can be trekked.

This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to over 120 mammal species including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, elephants and antelopes. There are over 350 bird species hosted in this forest including 23 Albertine rift endemics.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park is also home to at least 200 bufferfly species including the eight Albertine rift endemics and home to many reptiles.

Best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

Bwindi is visited at any time throughout the year, but the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to early September and December to February when the trekking trails are dry and passable.

Activities in Bwindi National park.

Gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking is the leading safari activity that attracts thousands and thousands of travelers to Uganda throughout the year. It is the highlight of all visits done in Uganda, mountain gorillas being a unique product only seen in 3 countries in the world. Uganda being the leading country with the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world.

Gorilla trekking is an experience where a group of people hike through the tropical rain forest of Bwindi searching for the endangered species. The activity starts with briefing by the ranger guides about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking and allocation of groups. Normally only 8 members are allowed to visit each gorilla group per day and spend only one hour with the gorillas for observations and photography.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park currently has 4 gorilla trekking sectors including Buhoma sector in the northern part of Bwindi, Ruhija in the eastern region of the park, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern region. All these sectors shelter the mountain gorillas and you can visit any sector of your choice.

Gorilla habituation.

Gorilla habituation is an experience where one gets to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas for more than the usual one hour, since these gorillas are trained to live among human beings.

This experience is so breath taking as it gives the tourists more time to learn about the mountain gorillas and their behaviors. In Uganda gorilla habituation is only done in Rushaga sector in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

Bird watching.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park is home to over 320 bird species and 23 species only found in the Albertine rift. The bird species include African green broad bill, handsome francolin, bar, great blue turaco, green breasted pitta, regal sunbird collared Apalis, western green tinker bird, African wood owl, Rwenzori batis among others.

The park boosts a variety of bird species especially the water bird species and the forest birds. It is also a perfect spot for montane forest bird watching in Africa. The most amazing trails for bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National park is Buhoma water fall trail, Mubwindi swamp trail and Bamboo zone.

Cultural visits to the Batwa community.

The Batwa pygmy people are the most ancient in habitants of the Bwindi forest, but they were later forcefully driven out of the forest as they were gazetted the Bwindi Impenetrable National park to the outskirts of the park. The Batwa people are regarded as the keepers of the forest who lived by hunting the wild animals and gathering fruits for their food. Up to today they still practice their ancient life style.

Upon visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National park, you will visit the Batwa community and get to learn about their life style as the people of the forest and enjoy their cultural dances and other forms of entertainment. You will also witness them building houses with local materials, hunting small animals and many activities that will blow your mind.

Hiking and nature walks.

The hiking trails in Bwindi Impenetrable National park are also a fascinating attraction in the park, these trails lead to numerous trails of the parts of the park and attractions. While using them you get to encounter many mysteries of the park. You may take some of the trails like kashasha river trail, water fall trail, bamboo trail while on your hiking and nature walk experience.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

By Air.

Travelling by air is the fasted way to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National park and there are a number of flights each day. Most visitors arrive at Entebbe International airport which is approximately 29 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda.

From Entebbe Airport and Kajjansi Air strip there are many domestic flights connecting to Bwindi Impenetrable National park. It is also possible to book chartered flights to Bwindi.

For visitors travelling to Buhoma or Ruhija sectors, the closest airport is Kihihi, but there is also an option of chartering flights to Kayonza airstrip. If traveling to the southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo the best option would Kisoro airstrip. The total flight times from Entebbe international airport to any of the airstrips in Bwindi is around 2 hours plus a short drive of 1-2 hours drive to the destination sectors.

By road.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park can also be accessed by road from Entebbe International airport through Mbarara, Kabale to Bwindi. While the journey by road is much longer than flying but worth because the road passes through fantastic scenery and driving through a country gives you much better impressions and understanding of the country than flying.

However, driving is the most popular way for visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable National park. The drive from Kampala or Entebbe International airport takes you roughly 9-10 hours.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park receives many tourists per year and as a renowned tourist destination the park has many wonderful accommodation facilities aiming at accommodations to tourists in the park. The accommodations range from Luxury, mid-range and budget.

Luxury accommodations.

Buhoma lodge

Chameleon Hill lodge

Clouds mountain Gorilla lodge

Sanctuary Gorilla forest Camp

Gorilla safari lodge

Mahogany springs Camp

Ruhija Gorilla safari lodge.

Mid-range Accommodations.

Gorilla mist camp

Gorilla valley lodge

Bakiga lodge

Nkuringo Gorilla camp

Silver back lodge

Engagi lodge

Budget accommodations.

Broadbill forest camp

Buhoma community Rest camp

Bwindi view bandas

Gift of nature lodge