Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP is a home to half of the world population of mountain gorillas and a prime destination for mountain gorilla trekking experience. Lying on the edges of the Albertine Rift, the 330km2 UNESCO world heritage site of Bwindi is one of the oldest rainforests on the continent that survived the ice age and now protects a unique variety of flora and fauna. Bwindi’s rich biodiversity include a 54% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, a large population of chimpanzee, elephants, butterflies, endemic birds and plant diversity.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP is also the best place to trek up-close the mountain gorillas a unique and a lifetime humbling adventure. The rich ancient rainforest is also a top birding hotspot with over 360 specie checklist that includes the 24 Albertine Endemics and high altitude specialists.
Quick Facts:
- Park Size: 330km2
- Elevation: 1160m-2607m
- Birds: 360 species
- Mammals: 122 species including the Mountain Gorilla, Chimpanzee and more.
Activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
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Gorilla Tracking Experience
The major highlight for visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP is a trek experience alongside and up-close a family of mountain gorillas in their natural rainforest home. Of the total population of gorillas here, only up to 22 gorilla families are available for daily trek expereince. Mountain gorilla trekking at Bwindi, is offered in two different trekking options that give visitors diverse experience with these gentle apes.
A gorilla habituation experience is where a small number of visitors in a company of ranger researchers, trek to a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family to gain insights of its wild behavior and personalities. This behind-the-scenes experience gives you a chance to see the dedication and the delicate work of researchers and also offers an extended time for observation of these gentle apes.
This rewarding and almost full-day trek experience is more physical demanding, starting very early in the mornings to find the gorilla family leaving their nests and following along as they forage till late afternoon. These gorilla families are shy and forage in difficult forest sections completely away from the established forest trails. Limited permits are issued per day and the cost is 1500 USD per person.
Ordinary Gorilla Tracking Experience tend to be shorter and rather easier as only 8 visitors trek to a well habituated gorilla family to its home range. And once the gorilla family has been located, the visitors spend the standard One-hour to observe, photograph and watch the different family interaction. These gorilla families are well used to visitors and less shy offering quality observation. Tracking duration at Bwindi forest vary daily but anywhere between 4-8 hrs is normal.
It is important to note that gorilla tracking experience require a minimum age of 15 years.
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Bird Watching in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the region’s premier birding hotspot notably for the rare 24 Albertine Endemics and quality afro-highland specialists unique to this ancient rainforest. The rainforest of Bwindi offers the safest and best access to bird the Albertine Rift Endemic zone, known for its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Birding tours here explore various altitudes and micro habitats where from a total checklist of over 360 species occur. Bird highlights include; African Green Broadbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Ayres Hawk-Eagle, Brown-necked Parrot, Montane Oriole, beautiful Doherty Bush-shrike, Stripe-breasted Tit, Strange Weaver, Neumann’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin and more.
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Guided Nature Walks
Bwindi Forest offers stunning guided walks that reveals the rich rainforest interior rich with mammals, birds, butterflies and various tree species. The UNESCO world heritage forest of Bwindi is the oldest in Africa estimated to be over 2-million years, with a rich diversity of flora and fauna including the endangered mountain gorillas. The forest which spreads over diverse vegetational zones between altitude ranges of 1650 to 2650m is a naturalists’ heaven where a checklist of over 360 species of birds, 300 species of butterflies and various tree species occur.
Popular guided forest walks at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest include birding for local Albertine endemics and montane specialists across rewarding forest trails. Adventure enthusiasts looking for an expereince should undertake follow the main trail that leads to scenic ice-white waterfalls. Our highly recommended long walk from Buhoma to Nkulingo takes you across the rainforest where the interior is rich with birds, mammals and panoramic views of forested ranges.
Duration and difficult of Bwindi Walking Trails. Bwindi Forest is highland rainforest spread across various ridges and ranges along the Albertine Rift therefore requiring above average fitness levels. That said, walking/hiking experiences across this is rainforest include short-to-full-day tours tailored to your’ time, fitness levels and interests.
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Meet the Batwa on a Community Walk Experience in Bwindi
While at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP, take a community visit to meet the Batwa, an indigenous group of people that formerly lived in the highland forests across the equatorial Africa. Rich in ancient traditions and culture, the Batwa lived as nomadic hunter gatherers in these vast rainforests till up to recent times when modernity came knocking. As a crucial need to preserve and conserve both the mountain gorillas and its dwindling rainforest habitats arose, the Batwa found themselves at cross roads and were forced out of their forest homes to adapt to modern lifestyle. This guided community tour is a demonstrative experience, showcasing the Batwa’s rich culture and traditions including various skills and sheds light into their adopted modern lifestyle today.
Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
By road from Entebbe/ Kampala: The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP with its 4 sector offices lie close to 500 km from Entebbe/Kampala, requiring 9 hrs to full-day drive. A road transfer from the nearby Queen Elizabeth NP north of Bwindi and Lake Mburo NP requires up to 3-hrs and 5 hrs respectively.
By road from Kigali, Rwanda: For travelers looking for short safari plans to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and Mgahinga NP can opt to land in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital crossing into Uganda through the land borders of Gatuna/Katuna or Kyanika/Chanika. Here drive time is about 4 hrs. Note that such travelers will need to purchase an East African visa that allows multi-entry to several East African countries.
By air: For travelers looking to avoid long direct drives or with short time on hands, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is served by domestic scheduled flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi airports landing at Kisoro Airport for southern sector offices of Rushaga and Nkulingo will be about 50km (1hr0 away. For the northern sector offices of Buhoma and Ruhija, domestic flights land at Kihihi Airport also 50km (1hr) away.