Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park : We are glad to welcome you to the beautiful Bwindi forest jungle strategically situated on the DR-Cong border close to the Virunga national park. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is Uganda’s most popular tourist destination hosting many travelers across the global that come to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Forest is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park is located in the south western region of Uganda and it occupies an area of about 331 sq km which harbors montane & lowland rain forest vegetation. The park has been ranked as the best gorilla trekking destination Africa due to the fact it is home to almost half the population of surviving mountain gorillas in the world with about 500 individuals recorded during the 2019 gorilla census.

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initially, Bwindi forest was designated as an animal sanctuary in 1964 and named Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve, later declared a national park in 1991 leading to the eviction of the Batwa pygmies with a major aim to protect the life of the endangered mountain gorillas, the Batwa people were the original inhabitants of the forest living together in harmony with wildlife in the forest.

Fortunately, Gorilla trekking became very popular in the early part of 1993 attracting thousands of tourists who wanted an up-close view of the world’s most endangered species. Bwindi forest is currently home to 19 habituated Mountain gorilla groups or families but the first one to become available for tourism as the Mubare group way back in 1993 found in Buhoma section of the park.

Wildlife in Bwindi forest

Bwindi forest national park is features to 120 mammal species, 348 bird species, 27 frog species, 220 butterfly species and more than 1000 flowering plant species making it one of the most diverse forests in Africa.  The park may be popularly known as home of the incredible endangered mountain gorillas but it also hosts other species that include chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, forest elephants and antelope species.

Attractions in Bwindi Forest national park

Mountain Gorilla Families

It is paramount to note that Bwindi forest has 19 habituated gorilla families and these are surviving in the four different sectors of the park, such as; Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija & Nkuringo sector, Each sector features its own accommodation facilities and services that favor your gorilla trip on a Uganda safari. Here are some of the best gorilla families open for gorilla trekking adventures.

• Mubare –  ( 8 individuals & 1 silverback),
• Nkuringo – (19 individuals & 2 silverbacks)
• Bitukura – (14 individuals & 2 silverbacks)
• Oruzogo – (25 individuals & 2 silverbacks)
• Nshongi –  (26 individuals & 4 silverbacks)
• Habinyanja (17 individuals & 2 silverbacks)
• Nyakagezi –  Mgahinga national park ( 10 individuals & 3 silverbacks)
• Kahungye  – (13 individuals & 3 silverback)
• Mishaya – (12 individuals & 1 silverback)
• Bweza – (9 individuals & 1 silverback)
• Busingye- (9 individuals & 1 silverback)
• Rushegura (19 individuals & 1 silverback)
• Kyaguriro; the research group. (15 individuals & 2 silverbacks)

Activities in Bwindi Forest national park

Apart from gorilla trekking, tourists can also enjoy a wide range of fascinating activities to supplement on their safari experience. They include;

• Bird watching
• Batwa cultural encounters
• Nature walks
• Hiking, canoe tours
• Cycling / mountain biking.

Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi impenetrable forest is divided into four sectors which host the habituated Mountain gorilla families ready for gorilla tourism, all these sectors comprises of its own accommodation facilities options, it ranges from budget, mid range and luxury lodges / camps. They include;

• Trekkers Tavern
• Chameleon lodge
• Rushaga gorilla haven
• Buhoma community rest Camp
• Ruhija gorilla lodge
• Buhoma lodge
• Buhoma Haven Lodge
• Ruhija gorilla haven Lodge

How to get to Bwindi forest national park

Bwindi is situated 486 km from Kampala city and a road trip will last between 8 to 9 hours using the Mbarara-Masaka road & Kabale-Mbarara road. It will only take you 2 hours to get there, if you are travelling from Kabale using the Kisoro road. And when you choose to fly to the park, you can book a charter flight and get there in 1 hour.

Are you looking forward to visit Bwindi Forest national park this season, feel free to contact our travel consults here at Jeisking to assist you on how to arrange a dream life adventure road trip to park. For bookings and inquiries, simply send us an email on info@gorillasafaribookings.com or call us directly on +256-775630809 or +256-701343598 to speak directly to our reservations team.