Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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Welcome to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park guide showing you attractions, activities, gorilla trekking, gorilla permits, where to stay, what to wear and the best time to visit.

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Forest) is the oldest, most complex, and biologically rich.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s diverse species are a feature of the park. These have made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its ecological importance.

Among East African forests, Bwindi forest park has some of the richest populations of trees, small mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies, and moths.

The park’s diverse species are partly a result of the large variations of elevation and habitat types in the park, and may also be because the forest was a refuge for species during glaciations in the Pleistocene epoch.

The main attraction to this misty African safari destination is its over 600 mountain gorillas.

Visitors from all over the world pay the hefty US$700 gorilla permit to be escorted into the jungle floor of its belly to have a glimpse at the famous mountain gorilla giants.

Gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park forest is a major tourism earner for the country. This is also a conservancy for the mountain gorilla spiece from porches and keeping them healthy.

The best months to visit this rich African jungle on a gorilla safari is in the dry months of June through October and January through March.

During this time the rains are less, the forest floor is easier to hike and the gorillas are easier to track and find.

You should note that kids of the age less than 15 will not be allowed in the forest to track mountain gorillas but they can stay near the camp and visit the villages.

Also, gorilla trekking has strict rules that should adhere to or you may face punishment from the rangers.

Mountain gorillas are found only in these parts of Eastern Africa and nowhere else, they are susceptible to human diseases and are critically endangered. So you would understand why they are protected more than the president.

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Why Visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The best place to watch Gorillas is Uganda with over 40% of the population in the world with 36 chimpanzees and 19 families habituated and are tracked by the tourist.

Getting face to face with the gorilla is an amazing and memorable experience as you watch them feed and interact with their families.

Bwindi forest is divided into four sections that are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.

Some of the families are Mubare with nine members, Busingye with 9 members, Nshonga with 18 members, Oruzogo with 23 members and Nkuringo with 19 members.

The gorilla families are led by a silver buck and it’s identifiable since it’s the biggest in the family with a silver stripe.

How to get there or reach Bwindi?

The park is approximately 452.3kms from Kampala city and below are the different transportation ways.

By Road

This is the most common type of transportation to the park and it will take you approximately 8-9hrs from Kampala city.

This shall be via Masaka road with a stopover at the Equator crossing in Uganda as you get to do more sightseeing.

The roads are in good condition but as you get closer to the park, the roads are Marram and you may experience the African Massage.

Please note that the park can be accessed using four directions that get to their sections that is Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga.

You can also access Bwindi by road from Kigali city via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna Border in Kabale for a 4-hour drive to any section of the park.

We recommend you use a 4×4 Vehicle and this ranges from Us dollars $200-$350 per day minus drivers’ allowance.

By Air

The air transportation is operated by a few companies like Aero link, Bar Avaition and fly Uganda.

There is always 1 flight that takes 1hour and 45minutes to Bwindi from Entebbe international airport at 7:00 am- 08:45 am by Aero link to Kihihi Airstrip.

It takes approximately 40-45 minutes to reach the Bwindi Game Reserve.

You can also take an international flight with a stopover at Kigali International Airport then drive to Bwindi is just 4 hours.

Air transport fees depend on whether you are using a scheduled craft or chartering one for your group.

What to do or Attractions in Bwindi?

The equatorial climate in Bwindi has blessed it with quite a number of attractions from wildlife to waterfalls that are all found in one place.

Wildlife highlights

The park is the primary area to watch half of the mountain gorillas in the world and gorilla trekking is one of the activities that can’t miss out on your itinerary.

To participate in this activity, you will require a permit that costs $700 per person for any of the sectors either Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija or Nkuringo.

Please wear trekking shoes, long-sleeved blouses and trousers as well as a raincoat with packed lunch.

The activity is done once a day and starts with a briefing at 8 am in the park Headquarters then you proceed for the trek.

As you search for the gorillas and once you find them, you will be allowed to spend only 1 hour with them.

Furthermore, Bwindi has other wildlife that is not easily spotted since they aren’t habituated.

These include; chimpanzees, Monkeys (black and white Columbus, red-tailed and Vervet), Forest Elephants, duikers and bushbucks as well as over 300 butterflies.

Birdwatching

The Bwindi forest has over 350 bird species all forest montane birds with 15 species not recorded anywhere in Uganda.

This park shouldn’t miss any birder’s itinerary while on a safari in Uganda.

Its location in the Albertine rift offers Bwindi 23 other unique birds that are attracted to only that environment.

These include; Neumann’s warbler and blue-headed sunbird.

Please note that migratory birds are only present from November to April.

Waterfalls

Bwindi forests offer tourists the scenic beauty of an untouched environment with hikes to the different waterfalls.

In the park, there are different sections like Bayende in the Rushaga sector, Muyanga Waterfall in Buhoma.

The park also has rivers that form these powerful falls like River Ivi in the Buhoma and Nkuringo sector and River Kashasha which starts in Buhoma and ends in Nkuringo

Best time to Bwindi

The time of visit varies depending on the season that’s wet or dry, however, Bwindi is open for gorilla tracking all year long.

The best months for gorilla tracking are December- February and June- August with less slippery trails and great photography moments.

The best time for birdwatching is March- September and Migratory bird watching in November-April.

The wet seasons are March, April, May and November with higher rains that may interfere with your activities.

However, due to global warming, there has been a change in the rainfall patterns therefore this can change year after year.

Where to stay in Bwindi

There are a number of places to stay while on your Bwindi trip which ranges from Budget, Midrange to Luxury accommodation. Budget accommodation ranges from $30-$150, Midrange from $200- $250 and Luxury from $300-$1000.

Luxury

Mahogany Springs
Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge
Buhoma Lodge
Gorilla Forest camp
Chameleon Hill Lodge
Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

Midrange

Lake Mulehi Gorilla Lodge
Lake Mulehi Lodge
Lake Mutanda Lodge
Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Silverback Lodge

Budget

Gorilla Nest Guesthouse
Karungi Camp
Nshongi Forest Camp
Bwindi Backpackers Lodge
Bwindi Cultural centre

For your planning purposes, you can visit the park for a day or multiple days depending on your budget.

We recommend that you combine this tour with other classical places in Uganda like Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Jinja tour, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Kibale Forest N.P.

Furthermore, cross border safaris can be added in Rwanda like Akagera, Nyungwe, Kivu and Volcanoes N.P.

In Kenya don’t forget to add on the Masai Mara for the wildebeest and Amboseli for the big five. These combinations will just add a slice to your safari as you touch each of the EastAfrican countries.

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park being the first and primary area for gorilla tracking means you will never be disappointed when you add it to your safari while in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.

Forever Africa Safari offers a variety of gorilla trekking safari options at unbeatable rates. Contact us for the best rates at info@foreverafricasafari.com or call us /WhatsApp us +256 772 221 880 to start planning your safari/tour today!

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Start/End: Entebbe, Uganda

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