“Home to half of the world’s endangered mountain Gorillas”.

The park is situated in southwestern Uganda part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) next to the Virunga National Park and on the borders of the Albertine Rift. It covers 321 square kilometers (124 sq mi) of both montane and lowland forest and accessible by both road and air. 

the park is home to roughly 348 species of birds ,120 species of mammals, , 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, and many endangered species. This makes it be ranked among the most varied forests in East Africa, with over 1,000 flowering plant species, such as an estimate of 163 trees species and 104 fern species. When you visit the northern low elevation sector, you will be surprised as you spot various species of Guinea-Congolian flora, which combine the two endangered species namely the brown mahogany and Brazzeia long pedicellate.

The park also has numerous primates though not open for trekking, these are the colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and many more, and there are also different bird species such as hornbills and Turaco among others.

Records show that Bwindi is home to an estimate of 400 mountain gorillas, which translates to half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas, with 14 habituated mountain gorilla groups are open to tourist in four different sectors of Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The History of this park dates back to 1932 when two blocks of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest were set aside as Crown Forest Reserves.  The northern block was named as the “Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve”, where the southern block named the “Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve”. These reserves occupied an area that totaled to 207 square kilometers (80 sq mi). Later on, the two reserves were combined and enlarged in 1942, giving calling them Impenetrable Central Crown Forest under a joint management of the Ugandan government’s game and forest departments.

The reserve was further protected in 1964 as an animal sanctuary, to offer refuge and safety for the endangered mountain Gorillas that wherein an average of being swept off by poachers and hunters. 1966 saw the reserve and two other forest reserves becoming part of the main reserve making its results to the expansion of its main reserve to approximately 321 square kilometers.

When it came to 1991, the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve, as well as Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve plus Rwenzori Mountains Reserve, were upgraded as national parks and renaming it as the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This pronunciation never went well with the Batwa pygmies since it led to their displacement from their home “Bwindi forest” and no longer allowed to enter the park or access its resources. It saw the start of trekking the Gorillas tracking from April 1993 with the Buhoma sector being the first to receive guests, making the park very popular. And managed by Uganda wildlife authority

SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES DONE IN THIS DESTINATION INCLUDE:

Gorilla tracking.

Gorilla trekking is the flagship product in this place; it is done all year round as long as you have attained the trekking permit. There are over for sectors open for tourist and they include Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija gorilla. come along with insect repellants since this is a forest with possibilities of insects beating you, gardening gloves, equip yourself with the rules and regulations of trekking the gorillas, come along with a professional camera, and above all keep a distance of 7m while with this mammals

Nature walks.

The park is recommended for supporting the greatest variety of any East African forest with the Buhoma sector having more to offer when it comes to nature than Gorilla tracking. you can engage in an estimate of five different trails, that last from 30 minutes to eight hours leading to Buhoma

Other trails include; The Munyanga River trail ideal for birding and primate viewing, the waterfall trail which offers the attractive feature of the forest tree ferns, epiphytic ferns, and colorful array of butterflies. The Ashura Trail; which offers good views across the western rift valley floor to the west, Congo’s Parc Nationale des Virunga, Ivo River Trail; which is the longest trail in the park recommended for bird watchers and finally Buhoma Village Tourist walk among others.

Cultural Performance.

This is done in the evening after tracking the Gorillas; the Batwa pygmies take you through some of the thrilling performances as well as through an exciting history of their origin. These are one of the oldest groups of people to live here; they preserved and love their primitive culture of hunting trend that is fading off.

Access to the park.

You can access Bwindi impenetrable forest from Kampala using road or air, on-road will take you roughly 7-8 hours to reach Kabale, and more 1 hour to reach Ruhija in the east or Buhoma in the far North. 

Having said all this, be part of those who have written their names in the visitor book of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.