Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a visit to one of the world’s only homes for endangered mountain gorillas. This remarkable park receives a considerable number of visitors from throughout the world to experience epic gorilla trekking since 1994. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife, majestic flora, spectacular waterfalls and pristine rivers, among others.

Is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park your dream safari destination? Have you ever heard of impenetrable tropical rain forests in Africa? Find facts and information about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to help you plan a perfect dream adventure.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at a Glance.
Where is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located?
Which tourist attraction is found in Bwindi?
What activities are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
When is the best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
How do I get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Where can I stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Combining Bwindi with other destinations.
Best Gorilla Safaris in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at a Glance

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s flagship of tourism and number one destination to visit on a Uganda safari. It is more famously home to over half of the world’s 1060 mountain gorillas, with an estimated population of 480 individuals.

Several gorilla families have been habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and trails have been developed on the lighter side to ease accessibility to trekking travelers to have the opportunity to see the endangered mountain gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a large mist-covered rain forest and the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystem. It dates back over 25,000 years and comprises about 400 species of plants. This old forest survived the tectonic shift that led to the formation of the beautiful western rift.

The name Bwindi is derived from a local term which alludes to the dark, complex, ferocious and impenetrable nature of this rain forest given the tree canopy is so thick in some parts that light barely reaches the ground. The park was established in 1991.

Where is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Located?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. It covers parts of the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, and Kabale. The park is located about 25 kilometers north of the Virunga Volcanoes, bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It sprawls over 321 km2 (128 sq mi) area and has an elevation range of 1,160 to 2,607 meters (3,806 to 8,553 ft).

Which tourist attraction is found in Bwindi?

Mountain gorilla. The main attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the endangered mountain gorilla. It is home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.

While mountain gorillas are the most famous of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it is also home to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as blue monkeys, chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, l’Hoest’s monkeys, vervet monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.

There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest such as great blue turacos, black-billed turacos, handsome francolins, black bee-eaters, African green broadbills, African black ducks, and Cassin’s grey flycatchers, among others including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.

Furthermore, there are 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns, atleast 200 species of butterflies including eight albertine rift endemics and a varied range of reptile species.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the traditional home of the Batwa people – an indigenous community within Ugandan society. Visitors can experience their culture through performances, workshops, and village trails while the neighboring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo both have an impressive array of luxury lodges, rustic bandas, budget campsites, restaurants and craft stalls.

What activities are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

1. Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s dense forests is a lifetime dream adventure for every traveler and has been dubbed ‘the best wildlife experience on earth’. An up-close encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and seeing the sheer might yet gentleness of a silverback and the playful nature of the juveniles is an experience so rewarding and unforgettable.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi has greatly improved, attaining global prominence and fame since its launch in 1993, with the Mubare gorilla family being the first habituated gorilla group to be made available for daily treks. Accessibility to the park is way easier than before, with more accommodation options for visitors.

A safety briefing at 8 a.m. is followed by groups of no more than eight tourists led into the dense forest jungles by expert ranger guides and advanced trackers. Treks usually last anywhere between 1 hour and 8 hours, depending on where the gorillas will be feeding on a specific day. After finding a family of habituated gorillas, visitors will be allowed a maximum of one hour to observe them closely.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is led on a daily basis into different sections of the forest so that trekkers can see the mountain gorillas and, in so doing, generate the necessary funds for the protection of these endangered giants and their habitat. All visitors on gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi will need a gorilla permit. Read more about gorilla trekking rules.

2. Gorilla habituation

Gorilla habituation experience is the process of gradually and gently introducing wild gorillas to the presence of humans. The habituation experience involves following a family of wild gorillas that is in the process of getting used to tourist visits.

Habituation is important and allows visitors to track the gorillas without any interruptions in the wild. It ensures that the gorilla families get relatively used to tourist visits, which reduces their shyness and increases their safety as well.

During the habituation experience, a maximum of four tourists are allowed to spend more time with a family of gorillas (a total of 4 hours is allowed) as a team of ranger guides and researchers perform their daily tasks of grooming the family. This contrasts with the usual gorilla trekking, where visitors spend only one hour with the gorillas.

All tourists visiting Bwindi for the gorilla habituation experience will need a gorilla habituation permit, which costs $1500.

3. Forest/nature walk

Guided nature walks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offer visitors the opportunity to reach some of the park’s still streams and breathtaking waterfalls, and along the way, they can bask in the richness of the biodiversity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Butterfly species and other invertebrates, primates, birds, and vegetation can also be sighted during the walks.

4. Birding

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a favorite birder’s paradise, with over 351 bird species recorded, including at least 23 Albertine rift endemics. Birding in Bwindi is rewarding because of the variety of species that can be seen on a single day’s escapade. Birding trips are led by one of the park’s expert ranger guides along the trails through this ancient forest. Tourists may be lucky to spot some of the park’s resident wildlife, and this is what makes Bwindi and Uganda birding safaris even more interesting.

5. Community visits

Community visits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will have you visiting two fascinating ethnic groups with distinctive customs, the Bakiga and Batwa people, who are also neighbours of the forest. You will visit the local blacksmith, a crafts village, a traditional healer who has been prescribing remedies to the locals for centuries, a local women’s group to find out how gorilla tourism impacts their lives, and take part in the traditional dances or skits.

Community tours can be held either the day before your gorilla trekking excursion or after, which can be the much-needed cherry on the cake to crown off your once-in-a lifetime encounter with the gentle giants.

When is the best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

The best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry seasons of December to February and June to August, when there is less or no rainfall. During this time, the sky is sunny, and the trails are less slippery, making the park very accessible and perfect for gorilla trekking.

However, gorilla trekking in Bwindi is an all-year-round activity. Visitors are reminded to book their trip in advance to have the best chances of trekking gorillas in Bwindi. This is the peak season, which is associated with rates going up in most facilities and permits becoming unavailable. The wet season of March to September is the best time for bird watching in Bwindi Forest, while November to April is the best time to spot migratory birds.

How do I get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi is the favourite destination for travelers looking to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. The park is accessible from Kampala, Uganda, and Kigali, Rwanda.

By road

Bwindi can be accessed through several routes. Below are some of the most common routes to take.

Kampala, Ntungamo Town, Rukungiri Town, Kihihi Town, and Buhoma Town. This is perhaps the quickest and most direct route for tourists traveling from Kampala. The route follows a tarmacked journey of about 390 kilometers to Rukungiri, followed by 82 kilometers on winding murram roads to the park’s headquarters at Buhoma.

Kampala, Kabale, Kanungu, and Buhoma HQ. The route is tarmacked for about 414 kilometers between Kampala and Kabale. It takes approximately 6 hours, after which tourists follow a winding murram road for 120 kilometers through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo for another 5 hours until they reach the park’s headquarters at Buhoma. A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya)—Kihihi Town—Buhoma. This route leads through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s southern sector, called Ishasha, providing the chance of a stopover in search of the iconic tree-climbing lions. Bwindi is approximately 160 kilometers from Mweya and about 64 kilometers from Ishasha along a dirt road. A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.

Kampala, Kabale Town, Ruhija Sector, and Buhoma HQ. The distance from Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma is about 95 kilometers over a winding murram road, lasting about 4 hours. A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.

Kampala, Kabale, and Nkuringo sector. Kabale and Nkuringo are separated by about 105 kilometers or approximately 4 hours along a mountainous dirt road. Most tourists often stay overnight in Kisoro, about 80 kilometers from Kabale town, before proceeding to Nkuringo or the Rushaga sector the following morning for the gorilla trek. The road from Kisoro is a winding 35-kilometer journey that takes at least one hour or an hour and a half. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for both approaches to Nkuringo.

From Rwanda, it’s about a 5-hour drive from Kigali, the capital, to Bwindi Forest National Park. This is a closer and shorter distance than that from Uganda’s capital, and that’s why we recommend the 3-Day Gorilla Safari from Rwanda, which saves the drive time.

By Air

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is served by a series of flights, including a daily scheduled flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip for tourists visiting the park’s southern sectors of Nkuringo and Rushaga. From Kisoro, tourists will need a 4WD vehicle to transfer them along a winding dirt road to their lodge in time for the next day’s trek.

The park’s northern frontier is served by a schedule of daily flights from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip, from which tourists will need a 4WD vehicle to transfer them along a winding murram road to their lodge.Scheduled and chartered flights last only about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

From the airport, your safari guide will ensure your transfer to a previously booked accommodation, depending on which sector you will go to. The transfer is by 4×4 safari vehicle. The 3-Day Bwindi Luxury Gorilla Safari by Flight is a recommended option for short gorilla safaris by flight in Uganda.

Where can I stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Please refer to Where to Stay When Gorilla Trekking In Uganda for detailed accommodation options.

Note: Booking accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can best be done by a local tour operator, who normally combines and makes all arrangements, including logistics in a tour. Stingers Africa Safaris will therefore help you book your preferred accommodation, subject to availability.

Combining Bwindi with other destinations.

Stingers Africa Safaris usually combine a visit to Bwindi with other destinations like Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth National Park or Murchison Falls National Park for wildlife viewing including the ‘big five‘ on a 16-Day Best of Uganda Safari, a 12-Day Uganda Safari, and a 10-Day Uganda Safari. Safaris can also be combined with neighbouring destinations like Rwanda, Kenya, or Tanzania on the 15-Day Best of East Africa Fly-in Safari, which you can choose from as shown below.

Best Gorilla Safaris in Bwindi

These safaris are meant to give you a clue as to how different destinations and experiences work together. Stingers Africa Safaris will help you plan a trip that suits your style of travel, including processing a gorilla permit, accommodation, meals, transportation, and all other aspects of the tour.