Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Travel guide to Bwindi impenetrable national park; Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most visited national park in Uganda located in southwestern region on the edge of the rift valley in Kanungu district. The national park covers an area of 321 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1991 mainly to conserve and protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park was declared a UNESCO natural world heritage site in 1994 due to its unique biodiversity.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of 120 mammal species including forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, primates like the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys among others. The park also harbors more than 350 bird species including grauers broadbill, chapins flycatcher, handsome francolin, black billed turaco, mountain masked apalis, regal sunbird, western bronze napped pigeon among others.

Activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of half of the world’s mountain gorilla population which makes gorilla trekking the major activity in the park. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector in the north, Rushaga sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the east and Nkuringo sector in the south. Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food thus Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species, mammals, view different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record videos.

Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla habituation is an adventurous activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking.  Gorilla habituation experience takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete and it’s only carried out in Rushaga sector southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. the habituation experience starts very  early in the briefing with a briefing at the park headquarters where after you will start trekking in the forest with a team of researchers, scientists, park rangers, guides and trackers. Gorilla habituation experience is a full day activity and during trekking you will be rewarded with views of others wildlife species including mammals, primates, birds among others. once the gorillas are located you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their environment which helps you to watch and monitor their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities and take photos to show people back home after the Uganda Gorilla safari.

Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of 350 recorded bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics, forest birds, migratory birds among others. Bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park is commonly done along the Buhoma waterfall trail, bamboo zone trail, Mubwindi swamp train in Ruhija among others. During bird watching you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including handsome francolin, short tailed warbler, African green broadbill, grauers warbler, pink footed puffback, African olive pigeon, African paradise flycatcher, mountain wagtail, cassins flycatcher, white headed saw-wing, barred long tailed cuckoo, wallers starling, white throated greenbul, yellow fronted canary, Ruwenzori batis, grey crowned crane, buff spotted woodpecker, cape wagtail, archers robin chat, blue spottrd wood dove, African wood owl, double toothed barbet, helmeted guinea fowl, African goshawk, African pygmy kingfisher, black bee-eater, handsome francolin among others.

Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park

Nature walks in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Nature walk is an interesting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where tourists will get up-close and personal with different wildlife species, enjoy great views of the waterfall, plants, birds among others. There are various hiking trails to follow in Bwindi impenetrable national park including Mubwindi swamp trail in Ruhija sector which takes about 4 to  hours, bamboo trail in Ruhija sector which takes about 7 hours, Kashasha river trail in Buhoma which takes about 4 to 5 hours, Muzabajiro loop trail in Buhoma which takes about 3 to 4 hours, Habinyanja trail in Buhoma which takes about 4 to 6 hours, the ivy river trail which in Buhoma which takes up the whole day, Munyanyage waterfall trail in Buhoma, Rusizi river trail ,Rushura hill trail in Buhoma sector among others.

Batwa cultural tour in Bwindi impenetrable national park

This is an exciting experience where you will be able to interact with the Batwa or pygmies who used to live in Bwindi forest before it was gazette into a national park. Batwa cultural tour in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts with a nature walk through the forest where you will be able to learn they used to hunt small animals and gather honey, learn how they lived in huts made with grass, view different plants which were used to cure different diseases, talk to medicine men , visit their traditional homesteads, learn how the women prepare local dishes, listen to their ancient stories, traditional songs among others.

Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Batwa Cultural Experience

When to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be visited all year round though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the park therefore access roads, hiking and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking easy thus Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be visited during the wet season in the months of March to May and November because that’s the best time for birdwatching where you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.

How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala or Entebbe via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters which takes about 8 to 9 hours’ drive.

The national park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda where by tourists can fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale district.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed by air transport means where by you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.

Where to stay in Bwindi impenetrable national park

There are a number of accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable national park where you can stay during the safari. The accommodation range from budget, midrange and luxury including Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Four gorillas lodge, Ichumbi gorilla lodge, Wagtail safari lodge, Ruhija gorilla mist lodge, Cuckooland tented lodge, Chameleon hill lodge, Ruhija gorilla safari lodge, Gift of nature lodge, Bwindi jungle view lodge, Eco marvels gorilla lodge, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Buhoma lodge, Bwindi view bandas, Buhoma haven lodge, Engage lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Gorilla resort, Nshongi camp, Ruhija gorilla friends lodge, Silverback lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Gorilla resort, Buhoma community rest camp among others thus Travel Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

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