Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

See Mountain Gorillas in The Rainforest Jungle

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the best destination to experience gorilla trekking expeditions in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a beauty enveloped in mist contrasting with the rise of the sun rises and the silence that is only interfered with the beautiful calls of birds and other primates.

Named one of Africa’s most ancient rainforests, the trek through the Bwindi rainforest affirms its splendid beauty when you catch a glimpse of the premier wildlife that inhabit this forest.

Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, the hillsides are mist-covered are sheltered by about 400 varied plant species that are ancient and are dated back to over 25,000 years.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a habitat to more than half of the 1008 endangered population of Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi covers a total land expanse of 331 sq km and supports an assortment of jumbled vegetation, steep landscape, high slippery valleys, drought ridges and thick forest with undergrowth vegetation.

The park derives its name “Bwindi” from the dark and impenetrable forest and taking a hike through this gigantic forest will certainly unveil its realistic beauty and that of its inhabitants

Gorilla Tracking Adventures

Gorilla Tracking means following mountain gorillas as you hike through the hills following a given family of mountain gorillas. Tourists are always guided by an official guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, this trained guide that will lead the group of tourists to where the gorillas will be. The guide will always be in touch with gorilla trackers who will keep on directing him to where a given gorilla family will be at that particular moment.

Gorillas live in mountainous or hilly areas, they have to trek to find them hence the term gorilla trekking. When you finally find the gorilla family, you have an hour to marvel in their presence, it is a truly magical moment that will forever be engraved in your mind.

Accommodation in Bwindi

The park is located in the misty valleys of Southwestern Uganda offering the most unimaginable experience. There are numerous accommodation facilities around the park where you will enjoy the strenuous adventures in the jungles. The Bwindi Park is one of the most frequented parks in Uganda thus you are advised to book your accommodation in advance while space lasts.

Below is a list of accommodation facilities for you to choose while in a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and they range from Budget to Luxury.

Buhoma – Northern Sector

• Gorilla Forest Camp (Up-Market Luxury)
• Buhoma Lodge (Up-Market – Luxury)
• Gorilla Resort (Up-Market Luxury)
• Engagi Lodge (Up-Market)
• Mahogany Springs (Upmarket)
• Silverback Lodge (Up-Market)
• Lake Kitandara Tented Camp (Moderate)
• Buhoma Haven(moderate)
• Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)

Ruhija Sector – 3 hours from Buhoma

• Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge (Up-Market)
• Gorilla Safari Lodge (Up-Market)
• Cuckooland Lodge (Moderate)

Nkuringo – Southern Sector:

• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Up-Market)
• Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Budget to Moderate)

Rushaga – Southern sector

• Gorilla Safari Lodge (Up-Market)
• Rushaga Gorilla Lodge(Budget to Moderate)

Wildlife in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known to be home to half the world’s population of the critically endangered mountain gorillas alongside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo.

Mountain Gorillas

Bwindi has about 14 habituated gorilla families but currently, gorilla trekking is mainly carried out in the southern part of Bwindi in the regions of Nkuringo and Rushaga. Through gorilla trekking, tourists are only allowed to spend one hour with a gorilla family.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides habitat for about 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 of butterflies and 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, African Elephant, African Green Broadbill, the cream-banded swallowtail, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, vervets, the giant hog, and small antelope species. You may be lucky to come across a few carnivores too including the side-striped jackal and African civet.

Bwindi forest is among the best Eco-systems on the African continent that contains montane forest plus the lowland forest with over 163 tree species plus 100 different species of ferns all recorded here.

Accessing Bwindi

The park can either be accessed through road or air, the road transport is very scenic and offers wonderful views of the terrain.While traveling with air will get you to the park earlier and less exhausted compared to the long drive on the road.

By Road

It takes approximately 10hrs to get to the park at a distance of 463.7kilometers via Masaka Road from Kampala.

Bwindi National park can be accessed right from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north of the park. And if it’s a rainy season, visitors are required to use a 4WD vehicle for matters of safety.

By Air

A traveler can choose to fly right from Entebbe or Kampala at Kajjansi airfield from where you will be taken to the airstrip.

Bwindi  has three airfields in Kihiihi and Kayonza for accessing the northern areas of Buhoma and Ruhija as well as Nyakabande located in Kisoro  for accessing the southern areas of Nkuringo and Rushaga.