| BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK |
Nile Abenteuer Safaris welcomes you to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, For “The Ultimate Gorilla Experience.”
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest located in south-western Uganda in the Kanungu District. The Bwindi Forest is on the edge of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, at elevations ranging from 1,160 to 2,607 metres (3,806 to 8,553 ft). The forest contains around 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. The name Bwindi is derived from the Runyakitara word Mubwindi and means “a place full of darkness”.
ATTRACTIONS
The forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth. Half of the world’s population of the highly endangered mountain gorillas live within its borders.
Primates. At present the forest is believed to contain 120 mammal species, 348 bird species, 220 butterfly species and 27 frog species. Included among the mammals are forest elephants and yellow-backed duikers. While mountain gorillas are the most notable of the forest’s primates, other residents include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, l’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (“The Ultimate Gorilla Experience”)
Bird Species. The forest’s birds include great blue turacos, black-billed turacos, black bee-eaters, African green broadbills, handsome francolins, African black ducks and Cassin’s grey flycatchers.
ACCESSIBILITY
By air
Travelling by air is the fastest way to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and there are several flights each day. Most visitors arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), which is roughly 29 miles from the capital city of Kampala. From here, and from Kampala’s Kajjansi Airfield, there are many domestic flights connecting to Bwindi. It is also possible to book chartered flights to Bwindi.
For visitors travelling to the Buhoma or Ruhija trailheads in the north of the park, the closest airport is Kihihi. There is also the option of chartering a flight to the Kayonza airstrip.
Kihihi Airstrip for tourists who opt to travel by air to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Alternatively, if travelling to the southern trailheads of Rushaga and Nkuringo then Kisoro is the best place to fly to. The total flight times are generally around 2 hours, which are then followed by a short drive of around 1.5-2 hours.
By road
Whilst the journey by road is much longer than flying, the route passes through fantastic scenery, and driving through a country often gives you a much better impression and understanding of the country than flying ever could. Driving is the most popular way for visitors to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
There are several routes to take by road, depending on how much time you have and what you want to see. All the routes converge at the town of Butogota, which is then just 10 miles from the entrance gate at Buhoma.
If coming straight from Entebbe or Kampala, the drive time to the park will take roughly 9-10 hours. For visitors who are already in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi is very easy to reach by a 2 to 3-hour drive south. You can drive through Ishasha on this route to see the famous tree-climbing lions before arriving in Buhoma.
If you’re coming up from Lake Mburo National Park, the drive is 5-6 hours.
ACTIVITIES
Hiking and trekking mountain Gorillas: Gorilla tracking is the park’s main tourist attraction, and it generates much revenue for Uganda Wildlife Authority. Gorilla tracking first became available in April 1993, when tourists tracked the Mubare gorilla group. Selected gorilla’s families have been habituated to human presence, and the number of visitors is tightly controlled to prevent risks to the gorillas and degradation of the habitat. Several tour companies can reserve gorilla tracking permits for prospective visitors to Bwindi. The gorillas seldom react to tourists. There are strict rules for tourists to minimize the risk of disease transmission to the gorillas.
Mountain Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda.
Nature Walks: Bwindi has more to offer than just gorilla tracking. Besides the popular adventures such as mountain gorilla trekking, birding and trekking or hiking, you can enjoy fascinating nature walks when you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Batwa Cultural Experience: This activity requires a free day in Bwindi Forest. You will trek into the forest to Batwa village and meet the community. Here you will learn about their lifestyle, past and present. They will invite you into their homes and show you their traditional hunting techniques and craft making skills.
Cultural Walk: A chance to have a taste of the Ugandan lifestyle. You will meet with locals of many different generations and see the way of life in this developing country. One of the highlights of this cultural visit is a visit to a traditional healer or medicine man from the DRC. He will show how bananas are used for a children’s drink, to make beer and the local spirit. You will also get the chance to interact with the local Batwa community; they will show you how they incorporate everyday activities into dance.
ACCOMMODATION
Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge,
Mid-Range: Volcanoes Bwindi lodge
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
