Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in southwestern Uganda near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, next to Virunga National Park. Bwindi was established in 1991 and declared a UNESCO natural heritage site in 1994, which covers 321 square kilometers. The park hosts 120 mammal and 350 bird species and is mostly famous for mountain gorillas, which are over 400 species.
There is a 512km distance from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it takes 8-9 hours through Masaka Highway to Mbarara to Kabale by road, and by air transport from Entebbe to the park, it takes one hour.
WHAT TO FOLLOW WHILE IN THE PARK.
While habituating the gorillas, the tourists have to be in groups of not more than 4 people with permits provided by UWA, are supposed to be 7m away from the gorillas, and can spend 4 hours standard time.
Gorilla trekking can be done for one hour, depending on the sector chosen, and only 8 visitors are allowed.
NOTE: Trekkers must be over 15 years of age.
SECTORS IN THE PARK.
Buhoma sector. This is found in the northern part of the park in Kanungu district, where the first gorilla family was habituated in 1992, the Mubare family. The sector can be accessed using the Kihihi and Kabala airstrips. This is where you find the Batwa and Bakiga communities with hiking trails like Waterfall Trail, River Ivi Trail, Munyaga Trail, Rushura Trail, and Muzabairo Loop Trail.
Nkuringo sector. This is a home of the Nkuringo family, although there are other families in the sector, such as the Bushaho family with 11 members and the Christmas gorilla family. This sector is at a high altitude; therefore, it is recommended for the young travelers who can manage the hikes.
Ruhija sector. This is in the eastern part of the park, which is home to the Bitukura, Kyaguriro, and Oruzogo families and is the coldest area in Bwindi. The sector has a hiking trail that leads to the Rwamyounyi peak; however, you can meet other animals like elephants and monkeys.
Rushaga sector. This is in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a home to 5 gorilla families, which include Bweza, Nshongi, Busingye, Kahungye, and Mishaya. Adding on to this, the sector has two other families that are going through habituation training, which are the Bikyingi and Bushalo. They offer a cultural visit to Batwa communities.
ANIMALS IN THE PARK
Chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, gorillas, elephants, buffaloes, bushbuck, civet cats, bush pigs, duikers, golden cats, side-striped jackals, blue monkeys, baboons, spectacled galagos, forest hogs, and red-tailed monkeys
Birds.
Hornbills, turacos, yellow-eyed black flycatchers, black bee-eaters, bar-tailed trogons, black-breasted barbets, green-breasted fine-banded woodpeckers, red-throated alethes, Kivu ground-thrushes, handsome spurfowls, black-billed turacos, western tinkerbirds, and many others.
ACTIVITIES
Gorilla habituation. These gorillas are being trained to live among the human beings. This gives the tourist more time (2 to 6 hours) to learn about the mountain gorillas and visit them more than the usual time.
Gorilla trekking. This is where a group of tourists gets to hike through the thick forests in order to see the gorillas and know how they look and their environment. There are different sectors in which the gorillas can be trekked, which include Buhoma, found in the northern part of the park in Kanungu district; Nkuringo, located in Kosoro district; Ruhija, found in Kabala district; Rushaga,rushsga located in Kisoro district and which has the biggest number of habituated gorillas; Rubugira; and Nyundo.
Birdwatching. The park is home to over 350 species, which include the following: African wood owl, regal sunbird, fine-banded woodpecker, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground-thrush, great blue turaco, Shelley’s black-breasted barbet, and green-breasted pitta, among others.
Nature walks. There are different nature walk routes in Buhoma, which include waterfall walks, forest walks, mountain views, impressive birdlife, and primate encounters.
Cultural encounters: Visit the different cultures in the area, like the Batwa and Bakiga communities, and see cultural dances, craft shops, and village walks.
ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN AND AROUND THE PARK.
Buhoma community rest camp. This is a budget safari lodge offering safari tents, self-contained cottages, a dormitory, a restaurant, free breakfast, and a bar.
Buhoma Lodge. This is within the park and gives a nice view of the forest, which was founded in 2005. This is a luxury standard lodge that has double beds and 8 cottages with prices ranging from $250 to $730 per person per night.
Gorilla resort camp. It is 13km from the park in the Buhoma Kanungu district and a luxury facility that provides tents for camping, a restaurant, and a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge. This is a luxury lodge located near the Ruhija gorilla safari trekking point. They have self-contained rooms; ten cottages provide DSTV, WIFI, double rooms, twin rooms, family suites, 4 superior cabins, 4 deluxe cabins, 6 standard rooms, and a bar (mini-bars in the rooms).
Lake kitandara camp; This is found within the park in the north in the Buhoma area. This is a mid-range lodge that provides full-board accommodation, has 20 tents that are self-contained, a bar, and a restaurant.
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. This is a luxury lodge located in the south trailhead, 25 minutes’ drive to another trailhead (Rushaga) and a starting point for gorilla trekking. You can pay from US$200 per person per night.
Rushanga Gorilla Lodge. This is a mid-range accommodation facility located in Bugambira near Rushaga gorilla tracking. They provide free wifi for the guests, full English breakfast, both bicycles and car hire service, luxury tents and suites, cabins, family cottages, and lastly, camping grounds.
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge. This is a luxury facility found in the northern park boundaries that takes 8 hours of driving 540km from Kampala by road and 75 minutes to drive to the lodge using air transport from Kihihi Airstrip, which is one and a half hours from Entebbe Airport to the Kihihi Airstrip. Their rates range between $795 per night, providing a full English and a continental breakfast. They have a garden, spa, restaurant, lounge, hiking trails, and queen-size beds.