Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, aside from being the world’s best natural habitat for gorillas and gorilla tracking. With over 500 individual gorillas Bwindi has the half of the world left gorillas protected and kept here in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular of Uganda’s national parks. Located in the South Western region of Uganda approximately 527km from Kampala city, Bwindi is a world known heritage site – one of the only three UNESCO world heritage sites within the country. The unique nature of the National Park makes it the ultimate destination for most visitors to Uganda and East Africa. The Forest Reserve was set up in 1942 and later revived around 1992 into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park . In 1994 the park earned international recognition, as a World Heritage Site.
The thick and very dense forest is not only a home for mountain gorillas but also a thousand of bird’s stay here fisting on the few fruits in the forest. With over 300 bird species Bwindi has got a few endemics that you never knew existed
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a famous safari destination in Africa for gorilla safaris. Given the fact that the forest protects more than half of the remaining gorilla population, the forest has become of great mountain gorilla conservation value in Africa.
Bwindi was first gazzetted as a forest Reserve in 1942 and later upgraded to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1992 and recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1994. In the local Lukiga language, Bwindi actually means ‘Impenetrable.’ This double warning is apt, for Bwindi is all but impenetrable; 327km2 of tangled vegetation draped over a deeply fissured landscape of steep, slippery valleys and high, draughty ridges. A trek through this, one of Africa’s most ancient rainforests, in search of the endangered mountain gorilla, ranks among the world’s premier wildlife encounters.
Bwindi can be cold especially in the morning and at night. The annual average temperature range is 7°C – 20°C with the coldest period being June and July. On your safari, warm clothing is required, plus wet weather gear since Bwindi receives up to 2390mm of rain/ year. This is concentrated during two wet seasons, short rains in March-May and heavy rains in September-November.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) is in southwestern Uganda in three districts of .is at the borders of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) border next to the Virunga National Park.
On about 321 square kilometers there is a thick dense forest that can only be accessible only on foot. BINP is a world heritage site and an educational center for many students studies done in the whole world.
It is commonly known as a home of gorillas because it has over 40 gorilla individual species left in the whole world. However the park is a home to many other animal primates and afew wildlife with reptiles like chameleons.
It provides habitat for 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, and many endangered species. You will find elephants, l’hosts, monkeys, and chimpanzees.
Birds like hornbills and turacos are also among the 348 bird species here in the park. These birds spend all their time flying around ad making nests in this most diverse forest in the whole Africa.
With more than 1,000 flowering plant species: 163 species of trees and 104 species of ferns, the forest has actually gotten different type of trees that are only found here in the whole Africa. Trees here and the whole habitats are endemic.
Quick Facts About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Location: Kabale
Animals: Mountain Gorillas Monkeys & Birds
Activities: Forest Walks, Game Viewing, Birding, etc
Main Attraction: Mountain gorillas are the star attraction
Things to Do: Gorilla Tracking, Nature Walks, Cultural Experiences
Entrance: East African Citizens: Ush10,000(Adults), Ush5,000(Children). Foreign Residents in E.Africa US$25(Adults), US$10(children). Foreign non-residents US$35(Adults), US$20(Children). School children in groups Ush2,500(E.Africa Residents). Entrance permit is valid for 24 hours from time of entrance.
The main eye-catching areas of the park are open all year round thereby attracting a multitude of tourists locally, regionally and internationally. Anytime is time to visit, though conditions involving hiking and gorilla tracking are a bit challenging during the wet season.
The park covers an area of about 327square Kilometres of densely compacted vegetation and is well endowed with the World’s critically endangered mountain gorillas, over 300 bird species, primates such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus, red colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and L’Hoest’s monkey. We also find giant forest hogs, small antelopes, ants, chameleones and butterflies.
Biodiversity In Bwindi Gorilla Forest
5windi supports a tremendous biodiversity. While most of today’s forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. The park protects over 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. Primates in this park include chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi’s most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.
Bird Watching in Bwindi Forest
Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossibl e to see in any other part of East Africa. An experienced bird watcher can easily identify up to 100 species in a day!
Local people around Bwindi Gorilla Forest
The local people neighbouring the park are mos’ and Bafumbira. Small communities of Batwa (Py!
also present. The Bwindi area supports one of the rural population densities in Uganda with 350 people. Nature Walks can be arranged for you to tour the neighbouring areas sorrounding the park. Other interesting activities include Buhoma community walk and cultural performance, participating in community dances.
Things to See
Wildlife
Bwindi impenetrable national park has got over nine other primate wildlife species here aside from the endangered mountain gorillas these include chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’host monkeys, olive baboon and some more different primates.
The forest is also a home to elephants that are very rear to see though there and many I numbers, bush Burks, different duikers. Reptiles also are here like chameleons and the funny part is gorillas fear chameleons and caterpillars.
Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
The park is inhabited by about 459 individual mountain gorillas as per the last 2019 Gorilla Census known as the Bwindi population, which makes up almost half of all the mountain gorillas in the world.4
The rest of the worldwide mountain gorilla population lives in the nearby Virunga Mountains. These mountains are again shared by Uganda in the Mt Mghahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park of Congo and Virunga national park in Rwanda.
Uganda has got another Gorilla national park deep down in the southern part of kisoro. The Mgahinga gorilla national park is a so a home of Gorillas however these do not cross because the distance is big and there is a lot of population settlement in between the two parks.
The mountain gorilla is an endangered species, with an estimated total population of about 650 individuals. However with the protecting a community sensitization there is hope of these number increasing in a few years’ time.
Bwindi forest has got different mountain gorilla groups with 14 habituated mountain gorilla groups are open to tourism in four different sectors of Buhoma, Ruhijja, Rushaga and the Nkuringo in the Districts of Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro respectively all under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Gorilla tracking is the park’s main tourist attraction, and it generates much revenue for Uganda and the community around benefits a lot though not up to what is expected. Going for gorilla tracking you must obtain a gorilla permit from the Uganda wild life authority in Kampala the capital city..
They do not take cash on ground and will not let you track gorillas without a permit. Permit costs $700 for gorilla trekking and $1500 for gorilla habituation. Selected gorillas families have been habituated to human presence, and the number of visitors is tightly controlled to prevent risks to the gorillas and degradation of the habitat.
Several tour companies are able to reserve gorilla tracking permits for prospective visitors to Bwindi. Because the government gave the first choice to reserve a permit though when you reach out to the Uganda wild life authority you can book a gorilla permit if there is one available.
Guided walks through the forest include a walk to a waterfall, and walks for monkey watching and birding.
Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit
I would personally say depending on your own taste. I love the mad and the adventures that are filled with tracking gorillas in the wet seasons. However during the months of June to August and December to February there is lighter.
Slippery trails and occasional mist make wildlife watching more challenging during the wetter months of the year.
Getting There
You can travel by road from Kampala via Mbarara to Kabale which is about a six-eight hours drive. Those who find travelling by road a little bit un comfortable can opt for transport by Air; Tourists can fly from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe and land off from Kisoro airstrip. Those who may want to visit Buhoma may take on the charter planes and land off from Kayonza airstrip.
What to do;
- Gorilla Tracking
- Nature Walk / Hiking
- Bird watching
- Guided walks
Accommodation
Buhoma Campsite is well known for its range of accommodation that favors both budget and up-market tourists. It’s always better to book in advance. For more information contact, Buhoma Lodge. Other places include; Silverback lodge, Buhoma Community rest camp, and Natures Prime Island.
“Seeing the endangered apes on a gorilla trek through the impenetrable nature of the national park and the luxuriant thick ever green vegetation is one of Africa’s most memorable experiences: don’t miss it.”