About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda

About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park just like the local meaning of Bwindi is truly Impenetrable. This prehistoric forest is a haven for fauna and flora that has accumulated over a period of more than 250,000 years. Mountain gorillas are the highlights of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the biggest number of these endangered primates in the entire world are residents here. Book Now

The topography of Bwindi forest is ragged from the serous volcanic action that affected it leaving a number of highlands with slopes shaded by the dense canopy of trees.  The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area is about 327 square kilometers of tangled vegetation draped by creepers.

For better administration of vast Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it was divided into four area that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Even the gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi are booked according to these four area. Each Bwindi area has gorilla trekking families which can be allocated to tourist on the day of trekking.

Gorilla habituation experience is another major activity of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where maximum 4 tourists in company of researchers follow a semi-habituated family of gorillas for four hours. At the moment, gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi is in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

What Safari Activities To Do In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

The foremost safari activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is gorilla trekking in Uganda. With Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, only maximum 8 tourists are allowed to search for a fully habituated gorilla family and have one hour with them. At the moment, there are about 19 gorilla trekking families in Uganda including Rushegura, Mubale, Butukura, Nshongi and others.

Before booking accommodation for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, consider the area under which the gorilla trekking permit is booked. This is to prevent chances of having to wake up in the dark to drive to the briefing point in another area. On the way, you may encounter some obstacles that may cause you to miss this primate adventure

Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda

During gorilla habituation experience, tourists in the company of the ranger guides and researchers follow a semi-habituated gorilla family and around it for 4 hours. During the four hours, tourist observe, my assist with collecting sample, taking notes where necessary, photographs and much more from the mountain gorillas.

At the moment four gorilla habituation experience families are open for this activity in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Note that the mountain gorillas are not aggressive even though they are semi-habituated. Other primates are residents of Bwindi forest including grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, chimpanzees and others

Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi forest is one of the top birding destinations in Africa with over 350 bird species recorded. Amongst the birds of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are over 7 species on the IUCN red list. The park hosts more than 90% Albertine rift endemics too. On a good day, a keen birded may spot over 100 bird species.

Ruhija area in Bwindi forest is the birding hotspot especially when using the ridge top route with deep valleys composed of undisturbed rainforest. Some of the birds of Bwindi forest include Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, Masked Apalises, Red faced fly catcher, Cinnamon-chestes Bee eaters, Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin chat, Collared Apalis to mention but a few.

Community visits in Bwindi Forest

The Batwa people are some of the outstanding communities around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi forest was there ancestral home and sole provider for since time immemorial. When the mountain gorilla conservation era swept over, the Batwa lost their home and were left homeless. Currently, Batwa live on the outskirts of close by communities.

During the Batwa community tour in Bwindi, tourist may get the chance to witness the Batwa demonstrate some of the things they used to do in the forest like hunting, collecting honey, fire making and others. A Batwa traditional dance performances may be made but this is requires prior arrangement.

Guided Nature Walk In Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has untamed nature and taking a guided walk using the trails constructed by regular visitors is exciting. The Bwindi forest bears some of the few fully grown natural trees. There are a number primates that roam Bwindi that you may encounter that is grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and others.

The dense network of rivers and sparkling water falls distributed throughout various parts of Bwindi forest are amazing to look at. Carry a camera with you to capture the great spots that you pass by.

When Is The Best Time To Do A Gorilla Safari In Bwindi Forest

Gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are open all year however the dry season is most preferred. The dry season which is normally mid-May to early October and December to Mid February is characterized generally by less rains. The Bwindi area is generally known to receive untimely rains and the dense network of rivers sometimes over floods leaving the ground soggy, boggy and slippery.

Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda

During the dry season, tourists on gorilla safari trek move faster as they search for the mountain gorillas. The vegetation around Bwindi is lighter permitting deeper penetration of sunrays to the ground. Even the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers are more active and spend most of the time closer to the ground. There is less rain received in Bwindi forest during the dry season.

Tourism in Uganda is at its peak during the dry season so expect more tourists on ground. The demand for gorilla permits in Uganda is high in the peak season yet supply is still restricted to maximum 8 gorilla trekking permits and 4 gorilla habituation experience permits. In order not to be disappointed at the last minute, book the gorilla permit for the peak season in advance.

Secure logistics to support the gorilla safari in Bwindi in advance like accommodations, transport and others. These also sell out earlier during the peak season.

The Uganda wet season is not bed timing to go for a gorilla safari and be sure to find these primates. The wet season in Uganda is normally March to May and November even though Bwindi receives rain any time without warning. The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers normally spend time in a particular location during the wet season making it easier to find them.

Less tourists visit Uganda for gorilla safari experiences in the low season opening more chances for even those who book gorilla permits at the last minute. There are more options of logistics that support gorilla safaris in Uganda during the low tourism season.

How To get To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A number of routes can be used to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The distance from Entebbe or Kampala is to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 530 Kilometers

From Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma. This is considered the shortest and most direct route to Bwindi.

Entebbe or Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma

Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma

Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale to Nkuringo

From Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma with a distance of 64 kilometers from Ishasha sector and from Mweya the distance to Bwindi is about 160 kilometers

Air transport is available from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kihihi or Kisoro using the daily domestic flights or Charter flight services.

What accommodations to Book in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park accommodations are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. Before booking Bwindi accommodations for the gorilla safari adventure, find the area where your gorilla trekking permit is booked. This is because there are obstacles that separate the areas of Bwindi and making it difficult to cross from one area to another.

Accommodations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Forest camp, Clouds lodge, mahogany Springs, Silverback lodge, Gorilla Nest, Ruhija Safari lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Trekkers Tarven

What Is the Climate of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In general, the average temperature range of Bwindi is 7 degrees centigrade to 20 degrees centigrade. The average annual rain received in Bwindi forest is 2390 mm of rain. Bwindi forest receives more rains mainly during the months March to May and September to November with some days receiving rains almost the entire day.

Note that the Bwindi forest is coldest in the morning and late afternoon.

How Long Is The Gorilla Trekking Or Gorilla Habituation Experience In Bwindi Forest

For gorilla trekking, only one hour is allowed with the fully habituated mountain gorillas while during gorilla habituation experience four hours are allowed with the semi-habituated mountain gorillas.

The time to take on the way to find the mountain gorillas is quite hard to determine as this depend on factors prevailing in the forest. When it is a wet day exploring the forest to find the mountain gorillas is quite challenging but be sure to locate them. other factors that determine when to locate the mountain gorillas include pace of fellow tourists, food source for the mountain gorillas, mood in the forest and others.

Open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers instead of focusing on finding the mountain gorillas only as this will keep the excitement still over the top when you finally locate them.

How easy or difficult is Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation experience in Uganda

Gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are quite tedious because of the nature o the terrain of this Park. The ground is a fissured landscape of steep, slippery valleys and high draughty ridges that are often draped by creepers.

This makes it challenging to explore this tropical rain forest especially in the wet season when rain fall over a long time, the dense network of rivers may over flood and less sunlight is allowed to penetrate through to the ground.

At times the trails in Bwindi forest are obstructed by protruding vegetation which needs to be trimmed to create a path to get to the mountain gorillas.

Nothing prepares you for the first glance at the mountain gorillas as it is a mixture of emotions. Some tourists have described meeting the mountain gorillas as electrifying and you shiver as you sweat. Abide by the gorilla safari rules at this moment in order for you to spend more time with the mountain gorillas.

How much is a gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The cost of gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park varies with category you choose that is Up-Market, mid-rage and budget. The cost of the Uganda gorilla permit cuts across all these safari packages.

Now the cost of Uganda Gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, 300, 000shs for East Africans

The current cost of Uganda Gorilla habituation experience permit is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents and other African and 750000shs for East Africans residents.

The cost of the gorilla habituation permits for Uganda includes ranger guide fees, one hours with the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking or four hours during gorilla habituation experience, park entrance fees and other costs.

Other expected costs to experience during the gorilla safari may include cost of accommodation, transport and other personal expenses. Some of the exclusions in the cost of Gorilla permits included tips, souvenirs and others.

Is The Cost Of The Gorilla Safari To Bwindi Worth The Time And Money

The cost of the gorilla safari in Bwindi is worth the money as you get the opportunity to get closer to the few left over mountain gorillas. Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve where you have chance to encounter a variety of flora and fauna so when you take a gorilla safari, it is time to enjoy the goodies of the wilderness.

By purchasing the gorilla permit, part of the money of the gorilla permit is used to support the survival of these mountain gorillas.

Immerse yourself into the aromas of the wilderness where only the sound or the jungle are heard and calls of the forest dwellers. It is time to unwind from the usual activities of life