Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Bwindi Impenetrable National park is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the rift valley bordering DR. Congo in the west. The park was gazetted in 1942 as a forest reserve and later in 1992 it was upgraded to a national park. In 1994 Bwindi Impenetrable national park was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. The protected area covers an area of 331 sq km in the Kigezi highlands. The park is known for being rich in biodiversity with mountain forests. Bwindi Impenetrable National park holds half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable National park

The park is a home to 120 mammal species including 12 primates for instance; gorillas, olive baboons, red tailed monkey, L’Hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and chimpanzees(unhabituated) which are rarely seen. Others that can be spotted include; forest elephants, duikers and bushbucks. The park is also a home to 350 bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics and 14 that are recorded nowhere in Uganda. Bwindi has over 200 reptile and amphibian species. The butterflies add color and also indicate the ecological health of the forest.

Flora in Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Because of the low and high altitude, the park has afromontane forests. Bwindi forest has more than 200 tree species and 100 fern species. There are also other vegetation types for instance; lowland montane vegetation. These act as the water catchment where some animals stay. The forest is also composed of rainforest which attract a number of bird species. The lowland montane rainforests are covered with mixed forest that is characterized by a canopy for plants. For instance; east african yellow wood, newtonia, strombosia scheffleri, red stinkwood and symphonia globulifera. Below the major forest there are plant species like allophylus abyssinicus, monospora, teclea nobilis, xymalos, myrianthus holstii and neoboutonia macrocalyx. 

Activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park is based on 24 gorilla groups that are habituated there. These groups are always monitored by the Uganda Wildlife Authority trackers. These trackers ensure that the gorillas stay within the park borders. The activity starts at park headquarters in different sections of the park and these include Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo. Visitors are briefed about the rules and regulations about visiting the park and are grouped in a maximum of 8 people each with a UWA ranger. 

However there are chances of tracking in less than 8 people especially in low season. Hiking starts at this point navigating through lush vegetation and forests in search of gorillas. The trek can last for 1 to 6 hours and visitors are allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas. Tourists are required to have the right packing gears. Some of these gears include; long sleeve shirts, long pants, hiking boots, rain jackets, and insect repellents. Since hiking is challenging those who can’t manage walking sticks are provided and potters are available at the briefing center. They can help you through this experience.

Gorilla habituation

During this experience visitors spend more hours with the gorillas than during gorilla tracking experience. The rules are the same as those of gorilla trekking. In East Africa gorilla habituation is only done in Uganda only in Rushaga and Nkuringo the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Visitors are arranged in a group of 6 people including the researcher and the UWA ranger. Gorilla habituation experience is a bit expensive compared to gorilla tracking as visitors pay $1500.

Batwa community

The Batwa people were the early inhabitant of the Bwindi forest but when it was gazetted as a national park, they were forced out and they stayed at the park’s outskirts. The batwa are regarded as forest keepers, hunter gathers because they majorly depend on hunting and gathering fruits.

Birding watching

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a home to 350 bird species among these include 23 Albertine rift endemics and 14 Bwindi Impenetrable endemics. Some of the birds found in the park include; shelley’s greenbul, collared apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Chapin’s flycatcher, strange weaver, Red-throated alethe, Dwarf honeyguide, Bar tailed trogon, Tit Hylia, Handsome francolin and Kivu ground thrush.

Best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Climate in Bwindi is unpredictable as one should always be prepared for rain. However gorillas can be tracked any time throughout the year. The best time to visit the park is around the months of June to mid- September and December, January and February. In other months there is always heavy rainfall especially in the mid- march and end of May.  During this period the trails become harder to navigate due to mudslides and running water.

Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National park

There are a number of lodges within and outside the park where one can have the overnight stay. These range from budget to midrange and luxury. For instance Four gorilla lodge, Gorilla leisure lodge, Bakiga lodge and Mahogany springs.

How to access Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Bwindi Impenetrable National park can be accessed from any part of the country by road or air. By road, from Kampala it takes between 9 to 10 hours driving along Masaka- Mbarara road to Kabale to Kanungu to the park. The time may depend on the sector that is indicated on the gorilla permit. The park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda using different borders to cross and the journey can take about 4 hours to access the park depending on the sector. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National park can also be accessed by air with flights departing from Entebbe or other airports to various airstrips. For instance the Kihihi airstrip for Buhoma and Ruhija sector. The Kisoro airstrip for Nkuringo and Rushaga sector. There is also another route one can use for those tourists who want to experience the wildlife diversity of Masai Mara National park and gorilla trekking in Uganda. One can use flight from Masai Mara in Kenya to Bwindi Impenetrable National park  by air Kenya