Everything that you must know about Bwindi Impenetrable national park
What is the history of Bwindi Impenetrable national park?
Located in the south western part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift valley, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s most ancient wildlife habitats dating to over 25000 years ago. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was first in 1932 divided into two blocks and designated as north and south crown forest reserves. The northern block was designated as the "Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve", and the southern block designated as the "Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve" on an area of over 207 square kilometers. These reserves were later enlarged and combined covering an area of 298 square kilometers and in the year 1942 was gazette as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest reserve. In 1964 mountain gorillas were spotted in the forest reserve thus the area was designated as an animal sanctuary and was under the joint control of the Ugandan government's game and forest departments.
In 1992 Bwindi Impenetrable forest reserve was designated as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and It covers area of over 321 square kilometers and an altitude of over 1160 meters to 2607 meters above sea level. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was later in 1994 recognized as a World Heritage Site in Uganda by UNESCO. The park is now under the control of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
How to access Bwindi Impenetrable national Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western Uganda is over 501 kilometers from the capital Kampala and can be accessed either by road or by air. It was previously a bit difficult to get to Bwindi. It would take at least two full days of travel there. Due to the improved road networks and a developed domestic air transport, it is now relatively easier and fast.
The fastest way to get to the park is by air transport. The domestic flights take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on which part of the park are the tourists traveling to. The tourists travelling to the northern part of the park to the trails of Buhoma or Ruhija, Kihihi airstrip is the closest but Kayonza airstrip is also an alternative. Tourists travelling to the southern trails of Rushaga and Nkuringo, Kisoro is the best alternative to fly to. The total duration of the flights is generally around 2 hours, which are then followed by a short drive of around 1.5-2 hours.
Traveling by road takes approximately 9 hours to 10 hours from the capital Kampala which is much longer compared to traveling by air. Road travel routes give you an opportunity to have fantastic sceneries of the country side through driving and opportunity to stop at the equator which is 0 degrees’ latitude. Driving gives tourists, a better understanding of Uganda as a country and the different cultures and foods in different places they pass. All road routes to the park converge at the town of Butogota and thereafter a 16 kilometers drive to the entrance gate at Buhoma.
What is the major tourist attraction in Bwindi?
The major attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the mountain gorillas. Bwindi is home to over 500 individual gorillas more than half of the entire world gorilla population. The other half being in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DRC. Gorillas live in groups known as families headed by one adult male called a silverback. Uganda has over 50 gorilla families and 13 individuals live solitary. There are bout 19 families habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These can be seen by tourists in four tracking sectors and these are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Mubare Gorilla Family
This family is one of the oldest families located in Buhoma sector and it consists of 10 gorilla individuals with one silverback. Mubare gorilla family was habituated in 1998 in Mubare hills. It started with 12 individuals led by one silverback Ruhondeza but later grew to 18 individuals. This family lost many individuals due to fights with other gorilla families which also led to the death of Ruhondeza. In March 2013 the Mubare gorilla family had only 5 individuals. But it has now increased to 11 individuals. Mubare gorilla family has 6 adult gorillas, 1 teenager, 3 toddlers and 1 silverback Kanyonyi.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
This family is located in the Buhoma sector and consists of 17 individuals with one silverback. Habinyanja family had over 25 individuals with several males. This led to fights for dominancy between the males. These fights led to the splitting of this big family into two families that is Habinyanja family and the creation of Rushegura family.
Habinyanja family got its name from ‘’Nyanja’’ which means source of water in the local language Rukiga because it was first sighted near a swamp pond in Bwindi in 1997. Later in the year 1999, it was visited and trekked for the first time by tourists. This family has 17 individuals that include 1 blackback, 5 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 3 juveniles and 6 infants. This family is under the leadership of Makara the silverback.
Rushegura Gorilla Family
This family is located in the Buhoma region. It broke away from the Habinyanja family and it has 19 individuals which are led by one strong silverback Mwirima. This family came into existence after breaking off from the Habinyanja family which had over 25 gorilla individuals but split because of internal conflicts between the silverbacks.
Rushegura gorilla family came together in 2002 with 12 individuals including 5 females. This family got its name from the local language “Ebishegura” that means a tree species that was abundant in the home area of the new family. In 2010 the Rushegura family increased from 12 to 19 individuals led by the calm silverback Mwirima a brother to Rwansigazi a former silverback of the Habinyanja family. This family is considered as the calmest family in Bwindi due to interaction with the villages nearby and in the forest camps.
Bitukura Gorilla Family
Located in the Ruhija sector, Bitukura family is one of the peaceful and playful gorilla families in Bwindi which makes it easier to relate with. This family once had over 24 members but because of internal disputes some individuals chose to willingly leave. This family now has 13 individuals that is 5 silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 juveniles and 3 infants and was first habituated in July 2007. This process of habituation was shorter about 15 months compared to other families that take 2 years.
Bitukura gorilla family got its name from the river they were first spotted and it shares a close bond with the Kyaguriro family. Bitukura family has 4 silverbacks but it is led by the second youngest silverback Ndahura. Ndahura inherited power from Karumanzi who is aged and can’t defend the family.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family
This family consists of 15 individuals including 2 silverbacks and it is located in the Ruhija sector. This was habituated in 1995 and it is the most treasured family group because it is reserved for research. This family was led by Rukina a silverback but unfortunately on 7th April 2015 at the age of 31 he was struck by lightning and died. He was replaced by a younger silverback Mukiza but due to his inexperience, he was over thrown and banished from the family by an immigrating adult silverback Rukara.
Mukiza Gorilla Family
Named after its silverback, Mukiza gorilla family is located in the Ruhija region and it consists of 10 individuals that is 4 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 4 infants and led by Mukiza the silverback. This was formed after Mukiza the silverback from the Kyaguriro family was over thrown and banished by an immigrating adult silverback Rukara from the Bitukura family. Mukiza broke off from the Kyaguriro family with a sizeable number of its individuals and started the Mukiza gorilla family.
Katwe Gorilla Family
Katwe Gorilla Family is located in the Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It comprises of 9 individuals that is 1 silverback, 2 black backs, 4 adult females, and 2 infants. It is the newest habituated gorilla family having gone about 3 years of habituation. In August of 2018, Katwe gorilla family was opened for regular trekking.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
This family is located in the Ruhija region of Bwindi and it consists of 25 individuals who are led by Tibirikwata the silverback. It was recently found by Uganda Wildlife Authority in 2011 and is the second habituated gorilla family in Ruhija sector. Oruzogo gorilla family got its name from the ‘Alchornea hitela’ a vegetation they often forage and feed on and it is known locally as ‘Oruzogo’. In 2011 the eldest females in the Oruzogo family Ntumurungi and Musi gave birth and later in 2013 Kankoba also gave birth to twins hence the large number of individuals in this family.
The Oruzogo family is one of the popular visited families by tourists in Bwindi not just because of the size but also the playful character and energetic juveniles and toddlers in the group.
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Nkuringo gorilla family is located is the Nkuringo region of Bwindi and it consists of 11 individuals. It got its name from a local word ‘nkuringo’ meaning ‘round hill’. It Is a word from the Rukiga language, referring to the hill where the group was first sighted. In 1997 this family once had 17 individuals and it was the first gorilla family to be habituated in the entire south of Bwindi after the 2year habituation process. They were first habituated because they kept wandering into people’s farms and destroying their food.
The alpha silverback was also named Nkuringo but he died in April 2004. Leadership of the family was shared for a short period between two silverbacks, Rafiki and Safari but later Safari became the alpha in November of 2014. The family was later gifted with a set of twins Muhoozi and Katungi but unfortunately Katungi succumbed to illness before the age of 2 years.
A very unfortunately incident happened on June 1, 2020 when poachers killed the famous 25-year old Rafiki gorilla silverback. A month after the death of Rafiki, the family stabilized with 11 individuals under the leadership of the new silverback Rwamutwe.
Bushaho Gorilla Family
Bushaho Gorilla Family is located in the Nkuringo region of Bwindi and it consists of 9 individuals including the silverback Bahati. This family was formed after it broke off from the Nkuringo family in 2012 with the silverback Bahati leading out a sizeable number of individuals to a parallel family.
This family was later habituated and named BUshaho the topo name of the locals where the family forages most after close monitoring of the behavior of the new parallel family.
Nshongi Gorilla Family
Nshongi gorilla family comprises of 10 individuals and is headed by Nshongi the silverback and it is located in the Rushaga region of Bwindi. It was the largest group ever habituated with about 32 gorilla individuals in September 2009 and had over 4 silverbacks that lived in harmony and were led by Nshongi. This family was named after the river Nshongi, where the gorilla family was first sighted.
This massive family later in July 2010 split into two families that is Mishaya and Bweza gorilla families and it remained with only 10 individuals.
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Mishaya gorilla family was formed after the silverback Mishaya decided to leave the Nshongi Gorilla family in July 2010 with some females and started his own family. It consists of 12 individuals with Mishaya as the silverback and it is located in the Rushaga region of Bwindi impenetrable national park. This family group was able to grow because Mishaya the silverback was a typical fighter and was able to gather more females from other non-habituated groups in the region. Unfortunately, Mishaya the silverback died due to an obstruction of the intestinal gut on 3rd February, 2014. This led to the scattering of the remaining family individuals because they didn’t have any older male to lead them. Some of the individuals ended up joining Bweza family while others joined Bikingi family.
Bweza Gorilla Family
Bweza Gorilla Family is located in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi and is habituated with 12 individual gorillas with Bweza being the silverback. This family was formed as a result of a spilt from Nshongi family that used to be the largest ever habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. When Mishaya the silverback split from the large family of Nshongi, Bweza another silverback together with other females had left with him. When it was coming to the end of 2012 Bweza left with about 6 other members from the Mishaya Gorilla Group. It was later in 2013 introduced for tracking and since 2014 tourist have been trekking the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable park for this family.
Bikingi Gorilla Family
Located in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bikingi gorilla family is a family that was first habituated in 2012 as a follow up to the dispersing individuals of the Mishaya family. It has 15 individuals that is 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 sub-adults, 2 juveniles and 5 infants. Some of the individuals of Mishaya had joined this family and other non-habituated members. It was later-on declared for habituation to keep close monitoring of the formerly habituated members.
Kahungye Gorilla Family
The gorillas from the Kahungye gorilla family where first sighted at a Kahungye hill in Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hence the name ‘Kahungye’ gorilla family. This family has 17 individuals that is 3 silverbacks, 3 black backs, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adult, 3 juveniles and two infants. This family is led by Rumanzi a prestigious silverback.
In 2011 this family was opened for visitors and gorilla tracking but it then consisted of 29 individuals including 3 silverbacks. This family later split due to internal conflicts between the males over mating rights and leadership thus creating the Busingye gorilla family.
Busingye Gorilla Family
Busingye gorilla group broke away from Kahungye Family back in June 2012 after the silverback Busingye choose to be independent and create his own family. This family consists of 9 individuals that is 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 juvenile and 4 infants and it is led by Busingye the silverback. This family gets its name from the local word ‘Busingye’ which means ‘peace’. This family is rarely seen at the park edge since it is fondly known for foraging within the forest center.
Busingye the silverback is known for ruthless conquering of females from other families and he is also known as a legendary fighter.
Rwigi Gorilla Family
Rwigi gorilla family is a newly habituated gorilla family in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It has recently been announced and opened as the new gorilla family for trekking. It has 10 individuals and was a formed as a result of a break away from Kahungye gorilla family. It is led by Rwigi the silverback who formerly one of the three dominant silverbacks in Kahungye gorilla family.
This family was also formed as a result of a split up by the silverback Rwigi with some adult females and juveniles from Kahungye family who decided to start their own family.
Other attractions in Bwindi - Beyond the Gorillas
Wildlife
There are other animals in the park that also attract tourists from far and wide for leisure and reseach. Some these animals like elephants, 9 other primate species such as red tailed, chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s, blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon among others, giant hogs and the rest.
Elephants in Bwindi are estimated to be 30 to 50 and of two species that is the forest elephant and the savannah elephant. The difference between the two species is the numbers of nails on their feet, the shape of their ears and the tusks. The forest elephant has tusks that are a bit straight compared to the savannah elephant but they are all are originally from the savannah.
In the dry season they often feed on barks of mature forests in the Mubwindi swamp area but in the wet season the eat bamboo.
Birds in Bwindi
Bwindi is estimated to be harboring over 350 bird species, with 14 not recorded in any other park in Uganda. There are 23 of 24 birds are natives and only restricted to the Albertine region of the rift valley which make up over 90% of the total Albertine endemic birds in Uganda. Some of these include the neumann's warbler and blue-headed sunbird. These Albertine endemic birds are easily sighted in Bwindi than any other areas of East Africa and over 7 IUCN red data listed bird species are also here. Migratory birds are also present especially from November to April.
Some of the major bird species to see in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include; African green broadbill, grey cuckoo-shrike, shelly’s greenbul, yellow-streaked greenbul, red-throated alethe, archer’s robin-chat, white-bellied robin-chat, kivu ground-thrush, mountain yellow warbler, grauer’s rush warbler, red-faced woodland warbler, short tailed warbler, black-faced rufous warbler, grauer’s warbler, chestnut-throated apalis, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, chapin’s flycatcher, rwenzori batis, among many others.
Cultural Encounters
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was also home to the Batwa pygmies that were known as the forest keepers. They lived in grass thatched hats and survived on hunting small animals in the forest and gathering fruits. They lived peacefully together with the mountain gorillas and other animals in the forest for a long time. When Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted in 1992, the Batwa were forced out of the forest to the neighboring areas. In African, the pygmy cultural people like the Batwa have lived and survived in many African equatorial forests for over 60,000 years.
The traditional ways of the Batwa pygmies like their homesteads, weapons, medicines, unique way of cooking and dressing all offer and opportunity to the researchers and historians to study them. Their survival on the natural forests through hunting small animals and gathering fruits has attracted many tourists who love adventure and researchers like anthologists to Bwindi.
Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda is a small fresh water lake located in the south western part of Uganda and south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Its fresh waters offer an opportunity to tourists who like an adventure to have a swim. Lake Mutanda offers scenery view of Virunga mountain ranges in DRC and at an altitude of 1,800m, it is a great place to hike. It is also drained by River Rutshuru flowing north to Lake Edward.
Vegetation
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a forest park because it is situated in a dense and thick vegetation thus requiring the name impenetrable. Bwindi is an amazing 331 square kilometers of tropical rainforest and dense thick vegetation cover. The forest has existed for over 25,000 years than many forests that date 12,000 years ago which makes it one of the most treasured nature forests in the world. It has supported the existence of a diversity of flora and fauna including endangered animal and plant species that inhabit it.
The thick natural vegetation over 400 plant species of which about 200 of these are tree species makes Bwindi one of the richest tree destinations in East Africa. The vegetation distribution in Bwindi is mostly influenced by the altitude of that areas. Higher altitudes have afro montane vegetation and lower altitudes have lowland and midland vegetation cover. Bwindi generally has mixed forest vegetation.
The vegetation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gives an opportunity to researchers and botanists that come from far and wide to carry out research and study on different species of plants and trees.
Butterflies
The rain forests and the montane climate in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park makes it a favorable place for butterflies. It estimated that over 310 butterfly species live in Bwindi and of these, 8 species are native and restricted in the Albertine region of the rift valley. Some of the butterfly species that have made Bwindi Impenetrable National Park their home include; cream-banded swallowtail, African giant swallowtail, spalgis lemolea, pentila alba, graphium gudenusi, charaxes fournierae, lachanocnema vuattouxi, eresina bilinear, geritola liana, papilio luecotaenia, and cigaritus homeyeri.
Bwindi also harbors over 51 reptiles and among these there are over 14 snake speices and 14 species of lizards together with 20 species of amphibians.
What is the major tourist activities done in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation
These are the major activities in Bwindi. Gorilla trekking involves hiking through dense thick vegetation and mixed forest in search of gorillas. Uganda is home to more than half of the entire world gorilla population with over 500 gorillas that live in over 50 families which a distributed in Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone has over 18 gorilla families scattered across different regions or sectors across the park such as Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Trekking includes walking through steep hills, dense forest, rivers and water streams before finally encountering a gorilla family. Trekking offers a one-time opportunity to tourists to go deep in the forests and see how gorillas behave and their way of living and each gorilla family is trekked by 8 people a day. Gorilla trekking is mainly carried out in the southern part of Bwindi in the regions of Nkuringo and Rushaga.
Gorilla habituation is also a major activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It involves gently introducing wild mountain gorillas to the sight and presence of humans for research, care and conservation purposes. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has over 18 habituated gorilla families in over four regions in the park.
Bird watching
Bird watching or birding is another activity carried out by tourists in Bwindi. Birding in Bwindi is best done on a professionally guided forest walk with tourists for an opportunity to view different bird species. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 350 bird species and 90% of Uganda’s Albertine rift endemic birds that is 23 of 24 endemic birds are found here. Among the bird species here 14 have not been spotted anywhere else in Uganda. There are different trails in the park design to help birders while carrying out their activity. Birding mainly occurs along the major trail of the Buhoma water fall trail and along the bamboo zone and the Mubwindi swamp trail that is found in Ruhija region of the park. River Ivy trail is also recommended for bird lovers and it is the longest trail in the park.
The Batwa cultural experience
Batwa pygmies lived peacefully together with the gorillas in Bwindi before it was gazette in 1992. Undertaking an adventurous Batwa cultural experience will reveal to you a unique discovery of the secrets of the forest with the forest keepers. Hiking through the Batwa trail in the forest will expose you the traditional ways of these beautiful people. A guide of the Batwa pygmies will lead you into the jungle ways of survival by hunting using unique traditional techniques and weapons, fruit picking among others. A walk through the forest with the Batwa medicine man picking herbs will expose you to experience of a life time. A tell of the ancient legends by the Batwa elders and their traditional songs will leave you amazed.
Forest walks/hiking
Natural walks in Bwindi offer an amazing opportunity to tourists into the calm breezes of the forest. Hiking through different trails in the forest will expose to different hidden attractions in the park such as the monkeys, birds, lakes among others. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a wide range of hiking trails that are used by tourists that visit the park. These trails make it easy for the tourists to move out of the comfort of their vehicles and embark on adventures while walking on foot.
Some of the hiking trails in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include the following.
Kashasha trail
Tourist usually begin this trail form Nkuringo through the steep slope of about 600 meters high. It stretches through the community land and a function of two rivers. This trail is inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and offers an opportunity to spot different monkeys and different bird species. This trail is approximately 13 kilometers and it takes about 4-5 hours from Nkuringo to Buhoma.
The Ivy river trail
This trail can be started either from Buhoma or Nkuringo is approximately 14 kilometers and takes about 6-7 hours. The trail offers scenic view as walk, the rainforest can be spotted on the right and the river on the left. This trail gives a chances to tourists to spot different monkey species, birds, butterflies and the rest.
The Bamboo trail
This trail starts at Ruhija sector of Bwindi and takes about 6-7 hours. Trail involves ascending up a steep about 2607 meters above sea level which is the highest point of the park. This trail gives you an opportunity to spot Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga volcanic mountains while at the top.
Rusizi river trail
This is one of the best trails for birds because of the many bird species spotted while on this trail. Different primate species can as well be spotted while on this trail.
Mountain biking
This is an activity that has been recently introduced in the park. This activity of biking involves exploring the park while cycling on a mountain bike. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 13 kilometers of cycling trail around the forest on the shores of Ivy river. This is a very exciting and healthy activity that takes about 6-7 hours.
Buhoma community walks
This walk through the communities of Buhoma sector of Bwindi exposes you the daily lives of these local people. It offers an opportunity for tourists to learn about the culture and daily lives of the people that stay near the gorillas. Tourists can as well visit and also support the local markets where the locals earn a living through trade. Tourists can also support the women that weave baskets, hats, make craft for sale.
Accessing the different sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable national park from Kampala
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be easily accessed either by road or by air. Road transport is the most popular means of transport to get to Bwindi. The park is about 501 kilometers from the capital city Kampala and it about 9 to 10 hours depending on the route you use.
Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma route
This route has a tarmac highway to kabale which covers an area of about 414 kilometers for a 5 to 6 hour’s drive. There after you take next route of a murram road and has approximately 120km. This route goes through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo for about 4 to 5 hours. It is better to use high vehicles especially in the wet season that can easily navigate through the muddy and slippery road.
Kampala- Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Kihihi-Buhoma route
This is the easiest and most convenient route. It starts from Kampala on the tarmac road to Ntungamo then to Rukungiri. It has about 390 kilometers of murram road to Kihihi then finally to the entrance gate at Buhoma.
Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma route
This route covers tarmac highway of about 414 kilometers to kabale from Kampala for a period of 5 to 6 hour’s drive. It then covers an area of about 95 square kilometers on the murram road for about 3 to 4 hours from Ruhija to Buhoma.
Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo route
It covers a distance of about 414 kilometers to kabale from Kampala for a period of 5 to 6 hour’s drive. About 105 kilometers from Kabale town for about 4 hours to the mountainous murram road to Nkuringo from Kisoro.
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable national park - Accommodation in Bwindi
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park ranges from budget, midrange to luxury. They are some accommodation facilities found both inside the park and outside in the neighboring communities in different regions of the park. Some of the accommodation facilities in the park include some of the following:
This camp is located in the Buhoma sector of the park few meters from the main entrance. It is accommodation facility owned and run by the local community. This facility offers a number of lodging options such as single, double, twin and triple.
This facility is located in Buhoma about 100 meters from the main entrance of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There are various lodging options in this facility. These include 3 bandas named after birds that is sparrow, robin and eagle, 2 bandas kiwi and warbler and they also offer camping facilities and gear.
This resort is located in the Ruhija region a reasonable and walkable distance from the main gate of the park. This resort is run and owned by the local community and it is favorable for tourists tracking gorilla in the Ruhija sector. It offers different lodging options but all with a scenic view of the forest such as rooms, safari tents, and camping tents.
This lodge is located in the Buhoma sector of the park offering amazing views of the park. Buhoma haven lodge is a 6 cottage lodge that are both self-contained and non-self-contained with twin beds.
This resort is located on the peninsular of Lake Mutanda and favorable for gorilla trekkers in the southern region of the park. This resort has 13 cottages that offer scenic views of the park from the shores of Lake Mutanda.
This lodge is located in Nkuringo sector south of the park. It is favorable for gorilla trekkers of the Nkuringo gorilla families. This lodge is a luxury type of accommodation facility.
What is the best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable national Park?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is open for visiting all year long. The dry season that is June to August and December to February however offers the best time. During this season, the forest trails are dry and therefore less slippery with less thick vegetation.
The rainy season runs from March to May and then from October to November. The wet season or rainy season is not favorable for the major activity of gorilla trekking. This is because the trails are slippery and hard to navigate, mosquitoes are many and the wet rainforest has thick vegetation and tends to be misty thus clouding some of the views. However, the wet season is also the good time for birders since it is the best time to spot migratory birds.
Conclusion
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most visited wild life destinations in the world for both research and leisure. Uganda has more than half of the world gorilla population being in both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. Bwindi though has the largest number of mountain gorillas compared to Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is “the ultimate Gorilla Experience” of the world.