Bwindi Forest National Park- Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Bwindi Forest National Park protects and inhabits more than half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas, that is, over 350 Mountain Gorillas. The Park is prominently known to offer remarkable gorilla trekking tours to all kinds of travelers from around the world.

The Park also inhabits 346 bird species, above 200 butterfly species, and 324 species of trees although the mountain gorillas are the prime safari attraction in the park bringing numerous travelers from all over the world. Other than the gorillas the park inhabits baboons as well as forest elephants.

Bwindi Forest National Park is found along the edge of the rift valley bordering the stunning Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the West, Kabale town in the South East. The Park occupies an area of 331 square kilometers in the Kigezi highlands at an altitude of 1,190 to 2,607 meters.

How to Get to Bwindi Forest National Park

Bwindi Forest National Park can be accessed by use of Both Road and Air Transport.

• By Road

Bwindi Forest National Park can be accessed as you take on the 8 hours to 9 hours drive from Entebbe along the Kampala – Mbarara to Kisoro then to Bwindi Forest National Park in the South West of Uganda. Traveling by Road is quite strenuous although very rewarding as you enjoy scenic views of the green terrain vegetation, birds, long-horned cattle, and people.

• By Air

Bwindi Forest National Park can also be accessed using Air Transport as you board a domestic flight from the Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi and Kisoro Airstrips where you are picked up and transferred to Bwindi Forest National park at any sector f your choice.

When to Visit Bwindi Forest National Park for Gorilla Treks

Bwindi Forest National park can be visited anytime around the year however the Best time to visit the Park to trek the Mountain Gorillas of Buhoma Sector, Rushaga Sector, Ruhija Sector and Nkuringo Sector is during the dry season/months of June and August, December through to February.

During this season the trails are navigable, photography is clear and the Gorillas are mostly on the ground searching for food, fruits, and ants/insects hence easier to watch in the thick forest habitat while taking photos to keep.

Safari Activities to do in Bwindi Forest National Park

• Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking is the most popular safari activity to do at Bwindi Forest National Park and requires you to transfer to the park headquarters for short briefing on the conduct around the Mountain Gorillas.

After briefing from the UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) guide, you are distributed into groups of 8 per Gorilla Groups then later you are transferred to enter the forest to trek the Gorillas. You enter the impenetrable Forest of Bwindi following different trails searching for the Mountain Gorilla Group allocated to you by the guide.

Follow the trails for 3-5 hours looking the Mountain Gorillas then after a while with guidance from the park ranger with trackers, you meet the Gorillas then take numerous photos to keep but you MUST be at a distance of 7 meters from the Gorillas.

Use a camera with no flash as flashes scare off the Gorillas then later after the trekking experience, you return back to the headquarters to receive your Gorilla Trekking Certificate to take with you back home.

• Bird Watching

Bwindi Forest National Park is also perfect for all bird lovers from all over the world as the forest inhabits more than 348 different species of birds and some include; the African green broadbill, Chapin’s flycatcher, and Shelley’s crimson-wing. Many of the Bird watching Tours are done around the Buhoma Area along Village Trails, Ruhija Area.

• Gorilla Habituation Experience

Other than Gorilla Trekking, Gorilla Habituation Experience at Bwindi Forest National Park is very incredible to do as this offers you opportunity to stay in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas longer as they take you through their daily activities. This amazing safari activity takes place at the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Forest National Park where some Gorilla Families have been habituated to get used to the presence of the human beings.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience starts at the Park headquarters after presenting your Gorilla habituation Experience permits; you are briefed on the conduct around the Mountain Gorillas. Then later you transfer very early in the morning in groups of 4 before the Gorillas wake up in the forest then later you watch them remove their nests to embark on daily activities.

After you follow them as they take you through their way of life as they breastfeed, patrol, feed, forage, communicate, play, socialize etc. You stay in groups of 4 and are allowed 4 hours in the presence of the Gorillas with researchers who inform you about the uniqueness of each of the Mountain Gorilla Groups.

After 4 hours in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas taking unique clear photographs, you return back to the Park headquarters for your Gorilla Habituation Experience Certificate. After you return to the lodge.

• Batwa Cultural Encounters

Bwindi Forest National Park also offers unique remarkable Batwa Cultural Encounters as you transfer with a park ranger guide to visit the nearby local indigenous Batwa people in their homes and villages. On meeting them, they expose you to their traditional Culture through Music, Dance and Drama.

You engage in traditional Dances, Songs, Basket weaving, hunting etc. Take various photos to keep for memories about your unique adventure in the presence of the Batwa local people.

• Hiking Nature Walks

Hiking and Nature Walks are exceptional to do at Bwindi Forest National Park. The Hiking and Nature Walks are taken through the green lush forest following different trails in the South West. 6 Trails in Bwindi Forest are available to take on while on a hiking Tour taking you via the Muyanga Waterfall, Habinyanja Swamp, and the African Corner.

• Hiking trails

Hiking trails in Bwindi impenetrable national park are also a prominent attraction in the park, these trails lead to numerous parts of the park and attractions and while using them you get to encounter many mysteries of the park. While on hiking and nature walk expeditions in the park, these trails are used and they include

The Hiking Trails at Bwindi Forest National park include;

• River Ivi trail; the Best Bird watching Trail at Bwindi Forest National Park takes you to the Nkuringo Escarpment for 7 hours covering about 14 kilometers.
• Waterfall trail; the waterfall trail takes you 4 hours leading to the waterfalls in the park
• Habinyanja trail; the Habinyanja Trail takes you 4-6 hours to finish taking you past the Munyanga River and is fond of having the Habinyanja gorilla family.
• Kashasha river trail; the Kashasha River Trail takes you 5-7hours to hike taking you between the Nkuringo and Buhoma sectors of the Bwindi
• Bamboo trail; the Bamboo Trail takes you 6 hours leading towards Rwamunyonyi peak and is perfect for bird watching too
• Muzabajiro trail; the Muzanajiro Trail offers scenic views of the western rift valley and Virunga in 6 kilometers. En route you view the beautiful ferns, a variety of bird species and peaks of Virunga volcanoes

Biking/Cycling

Bwindi Forest National Park offers remarkable Biking/Cycling Adventures along various trails in the thick forest. The Biking/ Cycling Adventures take place around the Buhoma Area of Bwindi Forest and these include; the 13km trail around the forest to the Ivi River shores, another takes 6-7 hours to watch wildlife along the way.

The Biking/Cycling Experience is done by the Buhoma Community Rest Cam hence a community initiative to help the local community people to have a better life.

With the funds attained from the biking/Cycling adventure, the community has engaged in sewing and weaving for women something that has affected the local people positively.

Gorilla Trekking Families in Bwindi Forest National Park

Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi is the most prominent safari activity and the Park has various Gorilla Trekking Families which are allocated in four different Sectors and the Include Buhoma Sector, Nkuringo Sector, Rushaga Sector, and Ruhija Sector.

Buhoma Sector

• Habinyanja Gorilla Group
• Mubare Gorilla Group
• Rushegura Gorilla Group

Rushaga Sector

• Nshongi gorilla family
• Kahungye gorilla family
• Busingye gorilla family
• Mishaya gorilla family
• Bweza gorilla family

Ruhija Sector

• Bitukura gorilla family
• Oruzogo gorilla family
• Kyaguliro gorilla family

Nkuringo Sector

• Nkuringo gorilla family
• Bikingi gorilla family
• Bushaho gorilla family