Uganda boasts of 10 stunning National Parks but as of 2024, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park stands out as the best park to visit. Bwindi National Park, located in Kabale District, Southwestern Uganda offers the best gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experiences in Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N/Park is typically afro-montane park, a preferred gorilla safari destination worth visiting for you to enjoy up close and personal moment with the massive mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. There are 4 key areas where gorillas can be spotted while in Bwindi NP and include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.
Location
Bwindi NP is spectacularly set in Southwestern Uganda, along Western Rift Valley Area. The park lies within the districts of Rubanda, Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro. To the North, Kanungu/Kihihi is the nearest town, especially to the Northern section of Bwindi that is Buhoma region. This park spans over 331 sq.km of land area, extending up to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was officially recognized as a UNESCO Site in 1994 and today, it protects variety of fauna, flora and avifauna. The park’s biodiversity consists of 350 bird species, 120 mammal species, 310 butterfly species, 27 frog species, geckos, and over 1000 flowering plant species which include 104 ferns and 200 tree species.
Why visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 2024?
There are several reasons why Bwindi should be a must-visit in Uganda this year. First, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is Africa’s most favorite gorilla trekking park. Over 459 mountain gorillas survive within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with 20 gorilla groups all open to actual gorilla trekking adventures.
The gorilla families to consider trekking on gorilla tour in Bwindi and distributed across the 4 sectors –Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The gorilla groups to trek in Bwindi include Mubare gorilla family, Rushegura, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Mishaya, Bweza, Mucunguzi gorilla group, Kyaguriro, Mukiza, Nkuringo, Katwe, Christmas, Bushaho, Bikingi, Busingye, Mubare, Rwigi, Habinyanja, and Nshongi.
Gorilla trekking being the iconic experience in Bwindi, visitors are allocated one gorilla family to visit out of the 20 habituated gorilla family groups. All visitors intending to explore gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park must all have valid gorilla permits. One gorilla permit is obtainable at USD 700 per person and this should be obtained early enough preferably 2-4 months or you could secure your permit a year before the actual gorilla trekking tour,
Only visitors above 15 years can trek gorillas in Bwindi and one group of gorillas is visited by a maximum of 8 visitors. The tour operator on ground is best to deal with for you to book your permit or plan the whole gorilla safari tour.
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation is a unusual experience offered conducted only at Bwindi and within Rushaga area. The overall adventure involves introducing semi-habituated families in the wild to human presence. The process takes about 1-2 years depending on how fast gorillas can adapt to presence of humans and then officially, a family is opened to tourists on gorilla tour. A group of guests, especially researchers, scientists and conservations spend 4 hours face-to-face to unearth in depth the daily behaviors of mountain gorillas. The gorilla habituation permits cost USD 1500 per person and you can obtain your permit through a recognized tour operator in Uganda.
What to pack for a gorilla trip 2024?
If Bwindi is your destination to visit for gorilla trekking, then consider packing well for your holiday. Your packing list should comprise of essentials only that is first aid kit, rain jacket, a pair of socks, a camera, light long-sleeved shirt, a sweater, a pair of binoculars, long safari trousers, and water proof hiking boots, mosquito/insect repellents, daypack, and others.
Birding
Away from gorillas, Bwindi is an endowed birding destination with a total of 350 species of birds. Interesting birds to identify in Bwindi NP include red headed blue bill, common bulbul, cuckoos, Doherty’s bush shrike, African harrier hawks, African green pigeon, crowned hornbill, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, mountain oriole, regal sunbird, yellow eyed black flycatchers, strip-breasted tit, African wood owl, knob-billed duck, white-backed duck, Rwenzori apalis, purple breasted sunbird, black-billed turacos, black-faced rufous warblers, shelley’s crimson wings, Grauer’s broadbill, western green tinker birds, yellow-streaked greenbul and handsome francolins, etc.
Forest/nature walks/hikes
Spend quality time exploring the hidden treasures of Bwindi N/Park with an experienced guide. The key trails worth conquering on a hiking tour in Bwindi include Rushura Hill, Bamboo, Mubwindi swamp, Muzubijiro loop, Habinyanja, Rusizi river trail, Ivy river trail and others. These trails enrich nature lovers with birding experience and great sight of several faunal and floral species.
Accommodation
Top accommodation options in and around Bwindi include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers, Bakiga Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp and Engagi Lodge.
Getting to Bwindi
By road: Drive off from Entebbe or Kampala using a 4×4 safari car through Mbarara-Kabale route, about 8-9 hours’ drive. From Kigali, spend 4-5 hours driving via Chanika or Katuna border to Bwindi NP.
By air: Take 2 hours on a flight from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi/Kisoro airstrip. At Kisoro/Kihihi airstrip, you drive for a short distance up to Bwindi where you can check in at your safari lodge.
