Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwest of Uganda in the Kisoro district. This park is well known for harboring the rare mountain gorillas with an estimate of over 350 primates believed to stay here. This means that Bwindi is the most populated national park in the world with mountain gorillas. With about 11 gorilla groups well situated in the park to offer trekkers the best trekking challenge in the wild, Bwindi is undoubtedly a gorilla paradise. Whenever tourists are planning for an Uganda safari, the first thing that runs into their minds is the question; where should I visit? Well, this is interesting especially if it’s someone’s first time going on an Uganda trip. But one thing for sure that will keep on echoing in someone’s ears is that Uganda has gorillas. This will somehow persuade someone to include a gorilla tracking activity in his travel program. But the challenging aspect here will be where to go gorilla trekking. In Uganda, there are only two national parks where these rare primates can be found namely; Bwindi Impenetrable NP and Mgahinga NP. Among these two, Bwindi offers the best atmosphere for the activity, and tourists are always advised to visit this park for a guaranteed tracking experience.
The park is wide enough covering an area of about 322 sq km and it’s divided into 4 gorilla trekking sectors which include; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga sectors. Among these, the Buhoma sector is the most popular due to its uniqueness and the fact that it was the first to be established for gorilla tourism. While at this sector spectacular views of nature are expected especially from the established Munyanga River Trails in its valley which is popularly used for bird watching and primate views. Not forgetting a cultural walk through Buhoma as a thrilling adventure that involves meeting the local people with a rich cultural setting. If you have ever had of the Batwa group of people who live in Bwindi, then you should go to Buhoma are because they are currently dwelling in this sector. Also, the sector is rich with gorilla trekking atmosphere, and it’s divided into 3 gorilla families including; Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura.
Close to Buhoma about 10 km, there stands the Nkuringo sector. The distance sounds to be long but the ever-green breathtaking cover of Bwindi Impenetrable forest makes it to be short as one enjoys an eye-catching view. On a trek, connecting from Buhoma to Nkuringo takes approximately four hours. Unlike Buhoma which has 3 gorilla families, Nkuringo has only one.
Ruhija sector is considered the most remote sector compared to others. However, bird watching in this sector makes it amazing and thrilling. The sector has numerous bird species including those that are rare to find. The sector is also near the Mubwindi swamp which is just a 3-hour hike from Ruhija. On top of that, the sector also has 3 gorilla families; Kyaguriro, Bitukura, and Ruhija.
The last sector is Rushaga which has the highest population of mountain gorillas. It has 4 gorilla groups including;-Busingye, Nshongi, Kahungye, and Mishaya.
Key things to do in Bwindi
Gorilla tracking is the major activity to do in Bwindi. You can book a safari to this park through an operator who will arrange everything for you apart from the international flights. A tourist is required to obtain a gorilla permit before being allowed to see the primates.
When to go gorilla trekking to Bwindi
Although Uganda is good for tourism throughout the year, the best time to visit especially for those interested in gorilla tracking is during the dry season. This is because rainy seasons make the roads through, the park muddy and not accessed easily. The rainy season in Uganda runs from March to May and October to November. That means that the remaining months are good for an Uganda Safari. For more information on planning a visit to Bwindi visit www.visitbwindi.com