How To Get To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
From Kampala, the easiest means to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla safaris is by road via different routes. The on average, the distance to cover to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe or Kampala is about 530 kilometers at about 8 hours to 9 hours.
Some of the routes to take from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include:
- Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma
- Entebbe or Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma
- Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo
- Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma
- Kigali to Kabale or Kisoro to Rushaga or Nkuringo via Cyanika or Gatuna border. Drive time from Kigali in Rwanda to Bwindi forest is about 5 to 6 hours for a distance of approximately 223 kilometers.
By Air
Daily domestic flights are open from Kajjansi or Entebbe but you need to make advance reservations. For more private travel charter flight arrangements can be made on request.
Flying To Bwindi Forest National Park In Uganda
Flying to Bwindi national Park in Uganda is another option for those who do not wish to travel for long hours. We book ticket for our clients on scheduled flights and charter flights for those who wish to take exclusive travel. But you may miss out on enroute activities like a stopover at the equator, viewing the rolling hills of Kigezi, meeting the locals in their community and so much more.
Schedules flights
In Uganda, scheduled flights depart Entebbe airportor Kajjansi every day or Kajjansi to arrive either between 1 hour and forty five minutes and 2 hours to Kihihi or Kisoro Air strips.
Two flight schedules are available to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that is early morning flights and afternoon flights so you may disembark from your early morning international flight and embark on a domestic flight to Bwindi Forest National Park
Sometimes due to weather changes, flight time may be altered although not often.
Chartered Flights
For more private travel arrangements from while on gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National park, If you wish to travel exclusively, at Arch safaris and Tours we can make charter flights arrangments for our clients.
You however must present some personal details as requested by the charter flight companies for your safety. Charter flights travel at any time of the day as long as there are no threatening weather conditions.
Transfer Vehicle
Since the Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips are not close to Bwindi Forest National Park you need to hire a transfer vehicle to the lodge where you will be spending the nights. The drive from Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip is about 2 hours.
Transfer arrangements from Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip must be done in advance so that you are not left stranded at the Airstrip. Whether you are taking a scheduled flight or chartered flight, you need to book the transfer vehicle.
How to save On Transport costs during Gorilla Trekking
Sharing costs with another traveller that make up the gorilla tracking safari package like car hire, fuel, driver guide can save you some money during your trip. Travelling as a group for gorilla trekking in Bwindi is more interesting as the more the merrier.
Secure a booking on scheduled gorilla trekking safaris packages as this gives you the opportunity of reducing on the costs of almost all components of a gorilla trekking package. However, this may not be favourable for tourists travelling with children since people from various backgrounds are free to secure space on this safari. Timing is also another factor since most of the scheduled safaris are open for a certain period and commence on specific dates.
Book Accommodation in the area of your gorilla tracking permit as this gives you the opportunity to walk to the ranger station and not wake up so early to drive to the gorilla trekking briefing area.
Brief Details about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve in southwestern Uganda that is home for the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. The forest is believed to be about 25000 years and over having survived the ice age period
Several inhabitants are recorded as residents of Bwindi forest including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and more.
Over 350 bird species are recorded as residents of Bwindi forest including 7 species on the red list of IUCN plus Albertine rift endemics.
More the 200 tree species are recorded, over 310 butterfly species, 20 mammal types and more.
For gorilla safaris, gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience are open to the public however you must book a gorilla permit first. When booked to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest, take note of the area where your gorilla permit is secured that is Buhoma area, Rushaga area, Nkuringo area or Ruhija area.
Activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation Experience in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking is the prime safari activity for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit a fully habituated gorilla family per day for only one hour. At the moment Bwindi has approximately 23 gorilla trekking families open to the public.
Gorilla habituation Experience is open to the public too as maximum 4 tourists are allowed to visit a semi habituated gorilla family for four hours. Four hours with a gorilla family is allowed. At the moment 4 gorilla families are open to the public
Birding Safari in Bwindi
A variety of birds are residents of Bwindi forest with more that 350 bird species recorded as residents of this dense rain forest. While on Uganda birding safari and Bwindi forest is part of the destinations to visit, you may get the chance to come across birds like Shelley’s Crimsonwing, African Green Broadbill, Cinnamon Chested Bee Eater, African Hill Babblers, Western Green Tinkerbird and more
The Ruhija sector is the prime birding destination of vast Bwindi forest especially when you take the Mubwindi swamp trail. There are more chances of spotting over 100 bird species when on a birding safari in Ruhija area of Bwindi.
Local Community Tour in Bwindi Forest
A guided local tour in areas around Bwindi forest where you get to interact with the locals to get a glimpse into their daily life. The Bakiga and Bafumbira are the main local tribes known to live around Bwindi forest.
While on a guided local community tour, you may get to visit the local medicine man, homestead, banana beer brewery and more.
The Batwa community visit is also worth attempting where you get close with the people who co-existed with the mountain gorillas util eviction time to give way for mountain gorilla conservation in the early 1990s.
While with the Batwa community, they may take you through demos of their hunting skills, how they collected honey, administered local medical treatments, dance and drama performances and more. This is one of the direct ways to give back to the local community while on a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a Safari
Guided Nature walks in Bwindi
Bwindi forest has a dense network of trails where you get to enjoy the natural beauties in this pristine rain forest. While moving on the trails of Bwindi forest, you may enjoy sparkling water falls, dense river and streams network, different tree species, unique features and more. Look out for the different resident primate species in the forest like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed, monkeys and more.
Do not forget to wear the right hiking gears while on a guided nature walk in pristine Bwindi forest.
From some spots while on a guided nature walk in Bwindi forest you enjoy surrounding scenery like Lake Bunyonyi , stunning view od Mafuga forest when in Ruhija area and more.
Other Close By Safari Activities To Do From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
From Bwindi impenetrable national Park, you can connect for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From Bwindi, the drive time between the two national Parks is about 160 kilometers to Mweya peninsular.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to herd of elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, bushbucks and more.
Launch cruise on Kazinga channel which is the primary game viewing spot in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Guided forest walk in Maramagambo forest where you may get the opportunity to spot various primates, birds, tree species, amazing features and more.
Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park where you need to obtain a chimpanzee permit to join the morning or afternoon session. More than 13 primate species are confirmed as residents if Kibale forest National Park.
Game Drive in Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy a game drive in lake Mburo National Park where you may get the opportunity to spot animals including zebras, elands, bushbucks, herds of elephants, reed bucks and more. When using the tracks labelled according to the animals commonly seen around that area of Lake Mburo National Park is amazing.
