Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in the Southwestern Uganda, on the edge of the Albertine Rift. This is Uganda’s most popular national park and it is shared by three different districts; Kisoro, Kanungu and Kabale districts.
The lies 534Km from Kampala City, the capital of Uganda. Most gorilla tours to Bwindi start from Kampala and it takes about 10 hours drive from Kampala. The park can also be accessed from Kigali, the Capital Of Rwanda and the journey takes about 6 hours drive.
The park is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West. With over 420 mountain gorillas, Bwindi is the ultimate home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
A Great Biodiversity Area
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site. This true African jungle covers 33.000 hectares, with about 400 species of snakes, about 250 species of trees, 27 species of frogs, over 250 species of butterflies, lizards, chameleons, geckos, chimpanzees, gorillas and baboons.
The altitude of Bwindi is about 1,190m to 2,607m. While the highest point occurs in Rwamunyonyi hill on its Eastern edge, the lowest occurs in the northern most tip of the park. And it’s a tropical kind of climate, having 2 rainfall peaks, which start from March to May and then from September to November. The range of the annual mean temperature is from 7-150C as the minimum to 20-280C as maximum.
The Batwa pygmies who were hunter-gatherers are believed to be the original inhabitants of the forest. And the other neighbouring people are the Bakiga and Bakonjo. Their population is in the range of 350 persons per square kilometre.
Things to Do in Bwindi Forest National Park
Gorilla trekking is the main attraction since the forest is recorded to contain over six habituated gorilla groups of which 8 permits that can be pre-booked from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offices in Kamwokya – Kampala are vacant for every group in the course of the day, These groups can be tracked from four trailheads. The groups open for gorilla trekking are Nkuringo, Nshoji, Kahungye and Mishaya in the eastern part, Rushegura, Mubare, and Habiyanja in the northern part and Bitukura and Oruzogo in the eastern part though some of these have not yet been opened officially.
Below are the must win do activities in Bwindi Forest;
Gorilla Trekking – Its should be noted that gorilla trekking is the major tourist activity in Uganda. Being the home of mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most visited park in Uganda. Gorilla Trekking involves walking in the forest while searching for mountain gorillas. Each group is visited by a maximum of eight people and an hour is given to trekkers to see and take photo of the amazing primates.
Gorilla Habituation – Its one of the amazing activities in Bwindi and some how similar to gorilla trekking but the difference is the duration spent with gorillas of 4hrs and 1hr respectively. Gorilla habituation offers the detailed experience with gorillas compared to normal trekking at the cost of US$1500 and US$800 respectively. Currently, gorilla habituation activity is done only in Rushaga sector where tourists escort researchers to make Gorillas used to human beings.
Hiking through the Forest – Visitors can visit waterfalls in Bwindi Forest, see a variety of tree species, insects, rivers, forest mammals and birds among others. Guided hiking in the forest led by the rangers to offer security and knowledge to the visitors.
Birding in Bwindi Forest – The park offers a variety of bird species. An estimated 350 bird species includes 23 birds unique to the Albertine Rift and 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda, including Fraser’s eagle owl, Neumann’s warbler and Chapin’s flycatcher. Guided birding in Bwindi Forest takes place in the morning or afternoon based on the availability.
Tourists who want bird viewing in Bwindi Forest should target the wet season (March to May and October to November) and the dry season (June to September and December to February).
Batwa Cultural Experience – Batwa are believed to be the original inhabitant of Bwindi Forest. They depended on the forest for survival in terms of food and shelter. The Batwa Cultural experience is among the activities not to miss while in Bwindi Forest. While in Batwa community, expect to share amazing historical stories, entertainment and hunting skills among others. In the early 1990s, the Batwa pygmies were evicted from Bwindi Forest by the government formally established the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Unfortunately, no consultation was carried out with local Batwa Indigenous Peoples whose homes were in the Forests, and Batwa Peoples were consequently forcibly evicted from their Forest home.
Buhoma Village Walk – It’s among the major tourist activities in Buhoma community. The guided Buhoma Village Walk enables the visitors to see how local people make baskets, manufacture local beer, visit different schools, charity organization among others.
Butterfly and other Wildlife Viewing – Afternoon the best time to enjoy butterfly safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park records over 310 butterfly species and with 3 of these butterflies occur only in Bwindi impenetrable Forest in the whole of Uganda.
While on nature walks in Bwindi Forest, lucky visitors can encounter forest Antelopes, Forest Elephants, forest lions, primates among others.
Cycling Tour – You can explore Bwindi Community on bike. Visitors can carry their bikes or hire from Tour operators. Cyclists tour different areas in Bwindi to see a variety of attractions like Lakes, River, mammals, birds, hills and valleys among others.
Other activities that are recommended to be engaged in on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi also include the guided forest walks that are readily available whereby the most popular trail leads you to a waterfall; for birders, this should be the first destination on your tour itenary not forgetting chimpanzee trackers and other categories of scholar and scientific researchers.
Community walks outside the forest are also always prepared that will provide you with an insight into the lives of both the Bakiga and Batwa (pygmy) peoples living beside the forest.
Once your guide has picked you from Kampala, you can also make a stopover at the Equator near Masaka Town which is an astonishing photographic spot as well as a knowledge acquisition center through the informative talks. Continue with the journey while enjoying tremendous views together with the triangular peaks of the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the D.R. Congo.
Nature Walk Trails
There are 4 fantastic hiking trails where you will have an opportunity to see primates, species of birds, butterflies, trees and other organisms. And this usually starts at 9:00am in the morning after breakfast and 2:15pm in the afternoon after lunch.
Buhoma village walk
The village walk is managed by the local community and takes up to three hours. This walk introduces you to different interesting sites such a typical rural homestead, then a visit to the local traditional healer, banana beer brewing demonstrations site and much more. There will be a traditional performance in the evening, which is presented by women ad orphan groups. Proceeds from these go directly to improve the welfare of the families around the park.
The popular waterfall trail
This provides on attractive features of the forest, with a profusion of tree ferns, orchids, epiphytic ferns and Bwindi’s colourful array of butterflies. The trail leads to 3 delightful crystal clear waterfalls, which typifies your impression of a tropical rain forest.
The Munyaga River
The trail provides short walks for the tourists with very little time to spare. It gives you an
opportunity to see birds and primates of the forest edge.
The River Ivi
This trail is the longest in the park and will occupy you for a full day. It is highly recommended for those with a soft spot for bird watching.
The 5.2Km Muzabajiro Loop Trail
It offers breath-taking views of Bwindi Forest, Western Rift valley and the Virungas. On the way, you witness hundreds of pre-historic tree ferns. The top of this trail is a great place for a picnic lunch.
The Rushora trail
The trail commands expansive views across the western park Nationale des Virungas, provides a spectacular backup and on clear days, Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains are visible.
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable
Gorilla Tracking is the major tourist activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, consisting of six gorilla groups currently available daily fro tourists. The groups currently include;
Mubare group, that was opened to tourists in 1993.
The second group is Habinyanja group, that was opened to tourists in July 1998.
The third group is Rushegura, that was opened in July 2002 for tourists.
The fourth group is Nkuringo that was opened in April 2004 for tourists.
The fifth is Nshongi
The sixth is the Ruhija Gorilla Group, which was fully open for tourism in February 2009.
Each of these six gorilla families has between 8-12 gorilla individuals, and 8 trackers are allowed per day – therefore a total of 24 at Buhoma (Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura), 8 at Ruhija and 16 in Bwindi South (Nkuringo and Nshongi)- Bwindi therefore can take up to only 48 trackers a day. With another 8 trackers allowed at Mgahinga, Uganda allows up to a maximum of 56 trackers a day.
Gorilla tracking is an exciting but challenging experience. Therefore, one has to be physically fit for this exercise. The tracking experience starts at 8:30am local time. And time of tracking depends on where you are to find the groups of gorillas that you are allocated.
Bwindi Gorilla National Park Rules
For conservation reasons, visits to the gorillas are tightly controlled. The following rules apply and must be strictly adhered to: –
- Don’t leave litter. All litter must be carried out of the park and disposed off properly.
- No one with a communicable disease is allowed to enter the park.
- Don’t spit on the vegetation or soil while in the park, use your hankies or other garment.
- Don’t use flashes while photographing the gorillas.
- Stay together to a tight group while with the gorillas, don’t surround them.
- You are allowed a maximum of 1 hour with gorillas.
- Turn a way from the gorillas if you have to sneeze or cough. Cover your nose and mouth in the process.
- Don’t get closer than 7 metres to the gorillas.
- Burry all human feaces in a minimum of one feet deep and ensure that the hole is properly covered.
- Don’t eat or smoke when with gorillas or within a distance of 200 from the gorillas.
- No person under 15 years is allowed to track gorillas.
- Don’t make loud noise or move suddenly.
Resources:
- For more information visit the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a guide with informative tips and advice on how to plan a gorilla trek in Uganda.
- Visit Bwindi is also a good read for tourists planning to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.