Bwindi impenetrable National Park is located in western Uganda. It is one of the great parks in the country. The park has one of the major attractions in the country the mountain gorillas. This attracts many visitors to the country to do Uganda safaris.
- The park is composed of both low land and montane forests having many other diversity of species besides mountain gorillas. Some of them include, other primates like different types of monkeys, butterflies, birds, mammals, geckos, frogs and many. All these make this park unique compared to other Uganda national parks.
Bwindi is sometimes called impenetrable National Park because of the thick forest with natural trees and plants. The forest can be accessed on foot and all activities are done on foot with the park guide and ranger guidance.
The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in the world to track and observe these incredible primates in their natural habitat. The park offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich biodiversity and culture of this beautiful region.
Activities in Bwindi National park
Gorilla Tracking: This is very interesting and emotional, imagine to stand before a primate which understand most of the things like man 98%. Bwindi National Park is one of the best countries to see these great creatures on this planet earth.
Bwindi National Park has 4 sections and each of them has gorilla families and open to visitors for tracking. The sections include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Visitors and tour consultants are free to choose a section for tracking depending on availability and the flow of the Itinerary.
To be able to do gorilla tracking in this forest, one need to have a gorilla permit secured from Uganda gorilla Authority, registered tour companies secure permits for their visitors. Gorilla Families are allocated at the park headquarter and visitors are supposed to go with their permits at the headquarter for verification.
Nature walks. Bwindi National Park has many good trails full of attractions of different kinds. The activity offers visitors the opportunity to explore the park’s diverse ecosystem, encounter different wildlife species, and appreciate the natural beauty of the area.
The activity is conducted under the guidance of the park guides and rangers to provide information, guidance and also protection for visitors.
Nature walks can vary in length, with options for short walks lasting a couple of hours to longer hikes that can take a full day. Some of the attractions which can be seen during Nature Walk in this park include wildlife such as monkeys, birds, butterflies, and various plant species.
It’s essential to wear comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes, carry water, insect repellent, and a camera to capture the beauty of the surroundings.
Birding: This is another exciting activity in this forest. Bwindi is a birding destination in Uganda with variety of forest birds. The park is home to over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics such as the African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler and many more.
The diverse habitats within Bwindi, including montane forest, bamboo forest, and swamp areas, offer different birding opportunities. Birders should bring along binoculars, a field guide, a notebook for recording sightings, and appropriate clothing for varying weather conditions in Bwindi National Park.
Cultural encounter. Bwindi has many tribes around and some of them like the Batwa, were the indigenous people who used to stay in the Bwindi National Park before becoming a national park.
Visitors to Bwindi can decide to spare some time with these people to learn more about their life. Learning about their lives can be through listening to their songs, dance, stories and many others.
What to know about Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi National park
– A gorilla permit is needed to be able to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. Permits can be secured from Uganda wildlife Authority.
– The duration spent while tracking mountain gorillas is unpredictable. It will depend on the territory of the group, their movement and many other issues. But after encountering the family. It is 1 hour granted to enjoy the group.
– Visitors are supposed to leave 7 meters between the mountain gorillas and themselves, this is for the safety of the visitors and the primates.
_Always follow the guides rules and regulations of the park and the primates.
– Visitors with communicable diseases are not allowed in the forest.
-visitors are not allowed to pick anything from forest.
– If you must cough while in the forest, you have to turn away from the gorillas and your fellow visitors. because mountain gorillas can easily catch the disease.
– visitors are given certificates after gorilla tracking.
– Gorilla families are allocated from the park headquarters.
Finest time to track mountain Gorillas in Bwindi
The best time to visit Bwindi National Park is in dry season months ie June, July, August, September, October, December, January, and February. They are regarded as high season months where most of the visitors tend to visit around that period.
If you are to do the gorilla safari during that period, it is paramount to book in advance like a year before. This is because, gorilla permits are always on high demand and served on first come first serve.
Although the best time to visit Bwindi is during dry season months, even other months it is possible and tours to Bwindi are conducted any time of the year. There are some activities in Bwindi which are better to be done in rainy season like birding expecting many sightings and specific types of birds.
A 4×4 safari jeep is always recommended for Bwindi for smooth running of the safari.
How to Access Bwindi National park
Bwindi National Park can be accessed in two ways, by road and by air transport.
By road, the safaris are conducted using a 4×4 safari jeeps from pick up to the end of the trip.
This is the mostly used means to the park and preferred by budget safaris clients and those who prefer to minimize costs on their trips.
Another way to access Bwindi is by air transport. This is where visitors use domestic flights to the nearby airstrips. It is the fastest way to the park and mostly used by luxury safaris visitors.
Mahogany springs Lodge Bwindi
This is one of the best lodges in Buhoma, it provides luxury services to the visitors. The staff are well trained and experienced on how to make your stay memorable
The lodge has been in service for 11years and it’s just 2 minutes drive to the starting point of Bwindi National Park. The beautiful views from the lodges are expected.
The lodge has beautiful restaurants offering international meals, the bar is well stocked, there is also a private dining.
When tracking in Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, mahogany springs is the appropriate lodge around.
4 Gorillas Lodge Bwindi
This is another good place to stay in Bwindi. The lodge is located in Rushaga region of Bwindi National Park. The lodge offers that personal touch of services that will leave a visitors content and enjoy the stay.
The lodge is just 10 minutes away the park headquarters of Rushaga and offers a luxury service to visitors. Their restaurant serves both local and international meals. Their cottages are surrounded by the forest which brings cool environment around.
