Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park | Prime Uganda Gorilla Trekking Park

 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is situated in the south western Uganda and it is largely forested park as the forest covers about 330kmsq. It is a hilly national park and walking around this park means that you will have to take a hike and it can be quite fun especially since it is the oldest and most diverse rain-forests existing in Uganda. Bwindi forest is as old as more than 2500 years and within this jungle are more than 400 different species of plants.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is blessed with diverse vegetation which has always supported the growth and survival of 120 different mammals including primate species such as baboons and a few chimpanzees. There are also mammals like elephants and a number of antelopes as well as various bird species for the birders.

Most importantly, it is a home to a huge number of the famous mountain gorillas and many of them are habituated mountain gorillas that live in different families.

Attractions and Tour Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Bwindi Impentrable forest is a home to the highest population of mountain gorillas across the continent. There are a number of habituated gorilla families which the tourists and researchers get to access. Gorilla permits are booked and bought from Uganda wildlife authority office in Kampala prior since there is a limit to the number of people that get meet certain gorilla family per day.

Bird Watching and Village Walk

A nature walk in Bwindi involves hiking through this densely populated forest thus the name impenetrable. A nature walk in Bwindi is such an interesting adventure as you get to see the different flora and fauna which include various small animals and primates species for example the vervet monkeys,  there are red tailed monkeys and many more. Those that love birds, birding is an excellent activity to engage in while in Bwindi because this forest is a home to over 315 different species of birds.

There are birds like the dusky long tailed Cuckoo, the white bellied Kingfisher, there are Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, the Cassin’s Spine tail and the White-spotted Fluff tail as well as the Sabine’s Spine tail bird. You will also find the Afep Pigeon, there are speckled Tinker birds, the Black-shouldered Nightjar, the Grey Parrot, the Blue-throated Roller and the African Pied Hornbill as well as the African Dwarf-kingfisher, among so many others. Keen birders will also be able to spot those that tend to hide high above in the tree branches.

Cultural Expeditions

Community visits includes visiting places like the local schools, hospitals and other social centers to interact with the local people. You can also visit people in their homes especially the Batwa(pygmies) who are the indigenous people of that region. They are very welcoming and will be willing to walk you through their cultures and evolution.

Safari Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is surrounded by accommodation facilities in all directions which means there is a variety to choose from depending on which side of the park you will be tracking when it comes to gorilla tracking. There are several high end accommodation facilities for the big spenders and these include hotels like Mountain Gorilla Heights, Clouds lodge, Gorilla forest camp, Bwindi lodge, Buhoma lodge, Trackers safaris lodge, among others.

The mid-range accommodations include hotels like gorilla safari lodge, Mahogany springs, Nkuringo campsite, Gorilla mist lodge, Nshongi gorilla lodge and so many more.

The budget accommodations are the small spenders and these can sleep at Buhoma bandas, gorilla valley lodge, Ichumbi lodge, Bwindi view bandas, Nkuringo campsite bandas and in many other beautiful lodges around the area.  Meals are provided at all lodge unless otherwise and you can pay on full board basis or choose to pay per meal you take in the case of the budget option.

Best Time to visit Bwindi – Best Time to go Gorilla Trekking

Any time is a good time to visit because while it might be slippery therefore hectic to hike during the rainy season, it will it will not be as tiresome as it is during the dry season because then the gorillas move deep into the jungle at a higher altitude where they can find some fresh food. That means, during the dry season you have to hike further before you can find the family you are looking for which is tiring though the ground won’t be that slippery.  The rainy seasons come in between February to May and returns from September to December so the other months are dry