Overview

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa is located in south-western Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests, Bwindi Park covers 32,000 ha and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. Many types of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla.

An ancient rain forest, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest extends over a series of steep ridges in the Virunga Volcanoes mountain range. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site due to its ecological uniqueness and natural beauty, roughly half of the world’s total gorilla population lives in this park. covering an area of 331sq km of jungle forest and contains both montane and lowland forest in kanungu district.

Wildlife Diversity

Bwindi The impenetrable national park is home to about 27 amphibians, 120 mammals, 346 birds, 200 species of butterflies, and home to 11 primates species mainly the monkeys, chimpanzees, and the famous endangered mountain gorillas. It has over 400 habituated mountain gorillas giving it half of the total 880 mountain gorillas remaining in the world and the rest are shared by Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo, though the gorilla statistics have shown a great increase in mountain gorillas in parks, they are habituated.

Bwindi Park History

Bwindi Impenetrable national park was gazetted as a forest reserve (Crown forest reserve) with 2 sectors namely kasatora crown forest reserve in the South and kayonza crown forest reserve in the North; later in 1942, both sectors were combined as one reserve.

In 1964 it was turned into an animal sanctuary to protect the mountain gorilla and time again, two more reserves were added expanding the forest area to 331 sq km. In 1992, the forest reserve was gazetted as a national park hence Bwindi impenetrable national park, when it was also acknowledged as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Thinngs to do in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking

Is the park’s main activity. Other attractions include the Batwa trail experience and cultural tours in the communities near the park. The park is divided into 4 sectors in which trekking is done including:

  • Rushaga
  • Buhoma
  • Nkuringo
  • Ruhija

These sectors have different families of gorillas each with its own character.

Forest walking Tour

This is also an incredible activity done in the impenetrable forest. The most popular is the waterfalls hike involving moderate climbing through the forest and the fern trees which bring you to a series of 3 waterfalls.

Cultural Tourism

Bwindi Impenetrable national park offers the chance to visit the two major communities which are the Buhoma community tour and the Batwa community.

The Buhoma community tour enables you to explore the local customs and traditions, visit handcrafts made by the locals, and also offers music, dance, and drama for their visitors. The

Batwa community is the indigenous (pygmies) people who occupied the forest, they have a rich culture that is worth visiting especially when it comes to their way of life which includes hunting, meals, and entertainment.

Explore our trips to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Combined Safaris to East Africa