Bwindi impenetrable national park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas, whose encounter and consequent eye contact is the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter in the whole of Africa. This impenetrable forest is the oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest with over 400species of plants and it lies at the edge of the rift valley in southwestern Uganda and protects at least 120 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, 163 species of trees, 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, among many endangered species. And the park is considered as the world heritage site for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, the two great African apes listed as endangered animals.

Bwindi has gorilla tracking as major tourist attraction with 4 gorilla tracking trailheads and also 9 groups of mountain gorilla families have been habituated and only 8 tourist’s book per group per day. Forest trails in the park lead to various attractions including rivers, waterfalls, swamps and high level of wildlife concentration.

Birding

This is another attraction that provides great opportunities to see several various Albertine rift endemics such as the short-tailed warbler and a 6-hour bamboo trail leads to rwamunyonyi peak, at 2607m is the highest peak and notable spot for birding. While a 3 hour descends to mubwindi swamp could lead a visitor to endemic and localized African green broadbill. Other rewarding activities are biking and nature walks to the waterfalls and parts of the forest.

A short drive to buhoma, which sits on the Congo border, offers wonderful hikes along the hill crest and rivers to discover waterfalls, glorious views and the traditional lifestyle and folklore of the kigezi people.

Accessibility to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

can be by where the park is located in the south western Uganda about 530km from Kampala the park can be reached by road through several directions which include: Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhuma about 5-6 hours Kampala- Ntungamo- Rukungu-Kihihi-Buhoma about 5 hours The Kabala- Ruhija- Buhoma about 5-6 hours Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo about 6-7 hours.

Air travel

Visitors can fly from Entebbe to a modern tarmac airstrip at Kisoro town. And Buhoma visitors can also charter planes to Kayonza near Butogota or savannah Kihihi airstrip.

Activities at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla tracking

Tracking gets to be interesting and unforgettable in experience and repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi ad trek through the forest. Gorilla trekking can be quite challenging and one needs to be physically fit before undertaking to the amazing venture. Registration and briefing at buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga visitors’ receptions commerce at 7:30am with general briefing conducted at 8am. And gorilla tracking starts at 8:30am ad can last from 3 to 8 hours or even a whole day depending on where the gorillas were the left the previous day.

Other activities around the park can be arranged and they include:

Nature walks

Nature Walks provide opportunities to spot birds and monkeys while exploring Uganda’s loveliest rain forests.

Mountain biking

It is one of the good activities around the park and its usually done through a well-maintained trail 13km trail of ivi river from the park office.

The following nature walks can be arranged to depart in the morning at 9 am and in the afternoon at 2:15pm: The Muwanga river trail in the valley below buhoma provides an ideal short walk to view birds and primates along the forest edge.

Waterfall trail leads through one of Uganda’s most pristine tracts of the rainforest passing beneath tree ferns, epiphytic ferns and orchids to visit three sparkling waterfalls. Rushura hill trail provides expansive views across the plains of the western rift valley to the west and Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains to the north. Muzabajiro loop trail climbs to the summit of Rukubira hill for breathtaking views of Bwindi forest, the western rift valley and the Virunga volcanoes. River ivi trail follows an old road through beautiful forest emerging near nkuringo on the southern edge of the forest it’s highly recommended for bird watchers.