Safaris in Uganda in the Impenetrable Forest National Park in Bwindi
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is renowned for its mountain gorilla, gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, and birding safaris. Uganda Safaris is part of this park. Uganda is home to two mountain gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The parks are home to more than 880 mountain gorillas and include half of the remaining greatest population of mountain gorillas. One of the oldest national parks in the nation, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was first established as a wildlife reserve in 1932 and then became a national park in 1991. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is situated in the southwest region of Uganda, adjacent to the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, and Rubanda. It takes only four to five hours to travel from Kigali, Rwanda, to the park. The park boasts one of the highest species diversity in Africa, with over 120 mammal species, 346 bird species, 202 butterfly species, 163 tree species, 100 fern species, 27 frog, chameleon, and gecko species, as well as numerous endangered species, providing safari visitors with a wide range of sights to see. One of the main activities carried out at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is gorilla tracking.
The following is a guide to the incredible Uganda safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
trekking with gorillas
The main attraction of the safari trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is gorilla trekking, which is an activity that entails walking or hiking through the forest to search for mountain gorillas. You will cross rivers, hike, and create new trails as you meander through the forest until you come across these fascinating mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will also come across other forest animals during the hike, including chimpanzees and other primates, mammal species like forest elephants and buffaloes, bird species, and those captivated by the breathtaking vegetation cover. Once you locate them, you will only be permitted to spend an hour interacting with them and watching them go about their daily lives, including feeding, playing, and nursing. When planning to participate in this exciting activity in the Bwindi forest, you must purchase a gorilla permit, which will allow you to enter the jungles of the Bwindi forest and trek in a specific sector. This will depend on the gorilla permit location you purchase, which can be obtained directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through Explore Rwanda Tours. Gorilla tracking in Bwindi is conducted at four major sectors, including Buhoma and Ruhija in the park’s northern section and Nkuringo and Rushaga in the park’s southern section. In Uganda, a gorilla permit costs 800 USD per person. We recommend that guests who intend to engage in this adventure activity in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park reserve their permits at least three to four months in advance.
Observing birds in Bwindi Forest
One of Africa’s top places to go birdwatching is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The Bwindi wetland, which is located in the north between the sectors of Ruhija and Buhoma, is the best place to observe birds in the Bwindi Forest. More than 350 bird species, including Albertine endemic species, can be found in the park. Among these are the African Green Broadbill, Forest Ground Thrush, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, the Great Blue Turaco, Red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, the Re-Throated Alethe, the Paradise Flycatcher, the Gigantic Forest Hornbill, the Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Collared Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, and the Regal Sunbird, among others.
Experience of gorilla habituation
Another fascinating activity to do while on a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, is gorilla habituation. A procedure known as “gorilla habituation” occurs when gorillas are forced to become accustomed to seeing people before they are released and allowed to go on treks, which entails spending more time with the primates. Walking and hiking through dense rainforests in search of these semi-habituated mountain gorillas, which leave together in a particular gorilla family, is known as the “Gorilla Habituation Experience.” Once you locate them, you will take part in activities designed to help the mountain gorillas become accustomed to human presence. The Gorilla Habituation Experience allows you to spend almost four hours interacting with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. A party of four visitors tracks a particular semi-habituated gorilla family during the unique Gorilla Habituation Experience, which gives you an amazing opportunity to learn more about mountain gorillas.
Experience with Batwa culture
The Batwa people, commonly referred to as the “Keepers of the Forest,” are native hunter-gatherers who have spent thousands of years living in the forests of Africa’s Great Lakes region, particularly the territory surrounding Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Batwa people will lead you on a trip in the forest with Batwa guides as part of the Batwa cultural experience. The Batwa people offer visitors to Bwindi National Park the chance to participate in cultural events that teach them about their customs, survival techniques, and way of life. These encounters frequently involve Batwa guides leading visitors on guided forest excursions where they can learn about traditional hunting and gathering methods, medicinal plants, and the Batwa people’s spiritual ties to the forest.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Uganda Safaris Batwa people escorted nature walks and tours
One of the best hiking and nature walks can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The most popular hiking trails are the Buhoma to Nkuringo walking safari and the Nkuringo to Buhoma trail, which allow you to get up close and personal with the park’s diversity, including butterflies, different waterfalls, mammals, and primates, depending on your luck.
