Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, situated in the southwestern part of the country at the edge of the rift valley, is commonly known as the impenetrable forest. It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west, with Kabale town, located 29 kilometers to the southeast by road, serving as the nearest major town to the park. The territory encompasses 331 square kilometers and is situated in the elevated regions of the Kigezi highlands, with altitudes ranging from 1,190 to 2,607 meters above sea level; 60% of this enchanting park exceeds an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea level. The park's greatest elevation is Rwamunyonyi Hill at the eastern boundary, while its lowest point is situated at the northernmost extremity. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest gained global recognition due to gorilla tracking; it serves as a refuge for over half of the world's remaining Mountain Gorilla population. These gentle monkeys are critically endangered, with the woodland housing over 360 individuals of the estimated 800 Mountain Gorillas globally. They are critically endangered due to hunting, habitat destruction, and illnesses. This national park generates one of the greatest income for the Uganda Wildlife Authority among all national parks in Uganda. Bwindi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its mountain gorilla tracking experience, serving as a prominent tourist attraction in East Africa and Uganda. Various Gorilla families are available for reservation, accommodating eight tourists per family each day. The inhabitants reside in four sectors of Buhoma in the northern region, Ruhija in the eastern region, Nkuringo in the southern region, and Rushaga, also in the southern region of Bwindi, all under the protection of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the governmental agency responsible for all national parks in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a quintessential tropical rainforest, with an annual mean temperature range from a minimum of 7–15°C to a maximum of 20–27°C. The yearly precipitation varies between 1,400 and 1,900 millimeters. The intense rainfall peaks from March to April and from September to November. It is endangered because to different features such as waterfalls, swamps, and rivers flowing north, west, and south, including the Ntegyere River and the Ishasha River. Bwindi National Park was designated as Crown Forest in 1932, at which time it had two sections: the northern and southern blocks, collectively referred to as Kasatora Crown Forest. The region encompassed 207 square kilometers and was under the jurisdiction of the Ugandan government forest reserve. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, founded in 1991, encompasses an area of 330.8 kilometers and is home to several Mountain Gorillas. The establishment of the forest reservation significantly affected the Batwa people, who were prohibited from accessing the National Park. The national park is a forest reserve that serves as a refuge for mountain gorillas. The park has the largest animal community in East Africa, and between 1960 and 1970, several mountain gorillas were caught, with no offspring surviving in captivity.

Guided  Nature Walks

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a natural forest reserve where tourists can engage in nature walks along several trails that showcase the forest's splendor, waterfalls, swamps, and rivers. This provides them with additional opportunities to observe other primates, such as black monkeys, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and others that may have been overlooked during the gorilla trekking.

Gorilla Trekking.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to around seventeen (17) Gorilla families, which can be visited daily by tourists. Each family can accommodate eight (8) tourists per group per day, making it the centerpiece of our Uganda safari packages. Gorilla trekking can last from 30 minutes to three quarters of a day, depending on their location, and once located, visitors are permitted to remain with them for only one hour. The cost of a single Gorilla Trekking permit is USD 600.00 per permit per trek. Gorilla trekking necessitates a requisite level of physical fitness due to its demanding nature.

Gorilla Habituation Encounter

Bwindi National Park provides a Gorilla habituation experience for interested tourists. This four-hour experience with researchers allows participants to learn about the habituation process and the gorillas' daily activities. The cost of the Gorilla Habituation Permit is USD 1,500.00 per person per trek. The four-hour period commences upon the discovery of their fresh traces.

Bird Watching

Bwindi is home to over 346 species of captivating birds, enabling extended observation opportunities. These avian species comprise the honey guide, dusky crimson, golden eye, black flycatcher, bar-tailed trogon, among numerous others. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park may be reached from Kampala/Entebbe or via Rwanda from Kigali International Airport, which offers a 4-5 hour trip, significantly quicker than the 8-10 hour journey from Entebbe International Airport. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is accessible throughout the entire year.