Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Safaris & Tours, Location, Best time to visit, attraction, Safari accommodations and more
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
With over 331 square kilometers to itself, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most significant wildlife destinations in Africa. This dense rainforest is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district and is home to more than half of the world remaining population of mountain gorillas. Other than gorillas, it harbors other primate species, wildlife and birds alike.
This makes Bwindi the best place to go to for an enchanting gorilla trekking experience. With altitudes ranging from 1,190 to 2,607 meters above sea level, Bwindi features a cool temperature with annual temperatures ranging from 7-27 0 C.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
History of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi’s dense forest was split into two crown forest reserves, that is Kayonza in the north and Kasatora in the south in the year 1932. The two reserves were later combined and expanded to form the Impenetrable Central Crown Forest after a period of ten years.
It became an animal Sanctuary Centre to protect the critically endangered mountain gorillas in 1932 and later gained its status as a National Park in 1991.Its Recognition as a United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site took place in the year 1994.
In 1993, gorilla trekking adventures started picking up attracting visitors around the world. However, the park faced a significant challenge in 1999 when a group of Rwandan Interahamwe Guerrillas attacked tourists killing eight visitors plus their guides.
This unfortunate event impacted the tourism industry for years, however, with efforts to improve security and well-trained armed ranger guides, visitor numbers have since been recovered.
Location of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Strategically located in the southwestern part of Uganda, the pearl of Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable is found within the district of Kanungu on the edge of the Western Rift Valley.
Bwindi is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west while about 29 kilometers away on the southeastern side lies the nearest biggest town Kabale.
Bwindi is located on the highest parts of Kigezi Highlands with 60% of the park on an elevation of over 2000 meters above sea level. The highest elevation of the park is Rwamunyonyi Hill on the eastern edge while the lowest part is located at its northern tip.
The forest serves as a vital water source, feeding major rivers such as the Ivi, Munyaga, Ishasha, and Ntengyere, which flow into Lake Edward. Other rivers supply Lakes Mutanda and Bunyonyi, providing water for local agriculture.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Pictorial
Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Park is one of the most biologically diverse places in Africa. Other than mountain gorillas, Bwindi impenetrable is home to over 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 310 butterfly species, and 27 species of frogs, chameleons, and geckos.
The plant life is equally rich, with more than 1,000 flowering species, including 200 tree species and 104 types of ferns. The northern part of the park features Guineo-Congolian flora, including the endangered brown mahogany
This makes the park a nature’s hub that offers so many activities as described below.
Gorilla Trekking
Home to more than half the remaining population of mountain gorillas in the world, Bwindi impenetrable is the best place to go to for a gorilla trekking experience. This activity is the park’s main attraction offering you rare up-close encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
The hike takes a maximum of 4 hours and once you land on a gorilla family, you have an hour to see them run their daily lives, feed, play and mate in the wild.
This is a once in a life time experience you can only get to have upon a visit to the home of the mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at a relatively affordable price.
Check out our 5 days gorilla and wildlife itinerary for this mind-blowing encounter.
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Habituation Experience.
In contrast to the normal gorilla trekking that allows only one hour with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience is even better giving you more time of up to four hours to learn and observe these mighty primates.
Unlike other sectors, Buhoma and Rushaga sector are the only sectors that offer this experience however, the very best habituation experience is gotten in Rushaga.
Bird Watching.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 350 bird species. Among the species that gladly fly around the 331 square kilometers land area of Bwindi include, the African green broadbill,grauer’s rush warbler, chapin’s flycatcher and shelley’s crimson wing, short-tailed warbler, the Fraser’s eagle owl, western bronze aped pigeon, white bellied robin-chat and many others.
Wildlife viewing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In addition to mountain gorillas, Bwindi also supports the lively hood of so many other primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, rare L’hoest’s monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons among others.
You get to see them roam and jump around the dense rainy forest of Bwindi during your search for the mighty mountain gorillas.
Other wildlife species that the forest harbors are forest elephants, warthogs, giant forest hogs, black fronted duikers, yellow backed duikers, clawless otters, civets, bats, rodents, side stripped jackals and various antelope species.
While in the forest, you will see various amphibian and reptile species that the forest harbors. Some of them include the western rift leaf folding frog, Ahl’s reed frog among others.
Hiking and Nature walk.
You can choose to explore the beautiful lush green scenery of Bwindi during a guided nature walk. Your armed ranger can take you to several trails that offer the opportunities to sight see the diverse flora and fauna of this dense rainy forest.
The most popular routes taken during this hike and nature walk are the Buhoma- Nkuringo trail and water fall trail.
Nature Walk
The Batwa Cultural Encounter
The Batwa cultural encounter is another highlight activity in Bwindi. This community offers guided walks to showcase their traditional forest life. The Batwa were the original inhabitants of Bwindi before conservation efforts led to their relocation.
They have a very indigenous life style which you get to indulge yourself in during this cultural encounter. You have the chance to participate in activities like hunting, local medicine plant use, singing and dancing to local songs as well as trying out local cuisines.
Recommended Safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
There are four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi each offering its own unique trails, experiences, altitude and challenges. Although they are all located in different parts of the park, it is quite easy to connect from one sector to another.
Luckily, Nata Adventures has well trained armed rangers that can guide you through the trails with much ease. With that said, let’s take a look at the different sectors and the families they harbor.
Buhoma Sector.
Coming in strong is Buhoma sector located in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is the first sector to be opened receiving the most visitors up until now. It has a total number of three families which include the following;
Mubare Gorrilla Family.
With a total number of 5 gorillas currently, this is the first gorilla family to be habituated in 1992. This family is named after the Mubare hills where they were first seen.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family.
First trekked in 1999, this gorilla family was first sighted near swamp ponds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It derives its name from a Rukiga word, Nyanja meaning a place with water. Currently under the leadership of Makara a dominant silver back, this family consists of 13 members
Rushegura Gorilla Family.
Habituated and first trekked in 2000, this gorilla family has 19 members. It got separated from the Habinyanja gorilla family and has Mwirima as the dominant silver back and leader.
Nkuringo Sector.
Found in Kisoro district, Nkuringo sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Just like Buhoma sector, this sector has three gorilla families as described below.
Nkuringo Gorilla Family,
Initially with a total number of 17 members, this family is composed of 12 gorilla members. Nkuirngo gorilla family was the first family to be habituated in the south western part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the year 1997.
Nkuringo gorilla family has a historical record as the first family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to have twin birth.
Bikingi Gorilla Family.
Currently with 15 family individuals, this family was first habituated in 2012
Bushaho gorilla family.
This family was formed by members that split from Nkuringo gorilla family and being led by Bahati the dominant silver back.
Silver back Gorilla
Rushaga Sector
Rushaga sector is the most visited sector by trekkers from Kigali through the Cyanika border. Also found in Kisoro district, it is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With a total number of 5 families, Rushaga hosts the largest number of mountain gorilla families and it is the best place to go to for an exquisite gorilla habituation experience.
Nshongi Gorilla Family.
Under the leadership of Bweza the dominant silver back, Nshongo gorilla family consists of 7 individual members.
Kahungye Gorilla Family
Deriving its name from Kahungye hill where these gorillas were first sighted, Kahungye gorilla family consists of 17 members under the leadership of the powerful silver back Rumaz.
Busingye Gorilla Family
Busingye gorilla family derives its name from a local word Busingye meaning Peace. It consists of 9 members that broke off from Kahungye gorilla family and its now under the leadership of Busingye.
Mishaya Gorilla Family.
Mishaya gorilla family was formed in 2010 by Mishaya who broke off from Nshongi gorilla family along with 11 other members.
Bweza Gorilla Family.
Consisting of 23 members, Bweza gorilla family is under the leadership of a dominant silver back by the names of Kakono.
Dominant Silver Back
Top Sightings in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
L’Hoest’s Monkey
Black & White Colobus Monkey
Olive Baboon
African Fish Eagle
Banded mongoose
Warthogs
Klipspringer
African wild dogs
Baboon
Serval Cat
Golden Jackal
Elephant
Ruhija sector.
Home to three gorilla families, Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This sector is easily accessible from Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector.
Some of the families that live in Ruhija sector are as follows.
Bitukura Gorilla Family.
Initially consisting of 24 individual gorilla members, Bitukura gorilla family is comprised of 14 members.
It was habituated in 2007 and lost some of its members to constant conflicts within group members.
Successful gorilla trekkers
Oruzogo Gorilla Family.
Originally opened for tourism in 2007, Oruzongo gorilla family consists of 17 family members.
Kyaguliro Gorilla family
This gorilla family consists of a total number of 20 individual members. Kyaguliro gorilla family is reserved for research explaining why it is not frequently visited. Due to lightening, the group’s leader was striked dead resulting to the separation of the group into two, Kyaguliro A and Kyaguliro B, each with 10 members.
Best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Although Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited throughout the year, the best time to go for mountain gorilla trekking is during the dry season that spans from mid- June to March. During these months, the trails are dry making it easier to trek.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is approximately 8-9 hours’ drive from the capital city, Kampala. Similarly, our experienced driver guides at Nata Adventures can take you on a transfer drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
On another note, you can take a flight from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips followed by a transfer drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
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