Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the best places on earth to visit for an usual adventure experience. Situated in the southwestern part of Uganda within the present districts of Kabale and Kanungu Districts, the park is host to half of the total remaining population of the mountain gorillas left in the whole world. The park covers an area of 321 sq km.
It is located about 530kilometres away from Kampala. The journey along the road takes a full 8-10 hours drive from the capital city Kampala but is really rewarding with the timely stopovers at the Equator in Masaka and is characterized with beautiful sightings and scenery composed of the plantations, green environments, mist covered mountains, terraced hills, rivers and more. Most gorilla safaris that lead into this park start from Kampala, the major capital city of Uganda located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.
The national park neighbors the Democratic Republic of Congo border and the Virunga National park, another park hosting the mountain gorillas. The park lies on the edge of the Albertine Rift and it is UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. It consists of 120 species of mammals, 346 bird species, 202 butterfly species, 163 tree species, 100 fern species, 27 frog species, as well as other many endangered species including chameleon, gecko to mention a few. Many tourists whole over the world come to this forest to search the endangered mountain gorillas that are found only in three countries that’s Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo
Why Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Bwindi Forest is one of the top tourist destinations in Uganda given that it is home to half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas as well as being one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth.
- The Forest is one of the oldest forests in the world. It consists of a large ancient forest in East Africa, with altitudes spanning from 1,160 to 2,607 meters.
- The forest is at the edge of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley.
- The park is the best place where travelers can enjoy gorilla trekking, an adventure activity that involves travelers hiking through the forest and meet the mountain gorillas within the wild.
How to Travel to Bwindi Forest
There are two options to travel to Bwindi; you can travel independently or on an organized trip offered by tour operators and travel agencies. There are several tour operators who offer preplanned tour packages to the gorillas, however it is recommended to travel with a local tour operator in Uganda or a specialist gorilla trekking company given that they have more specialized knowledge and local conditions at any given time. If you are looking to traveling independently, there are several buses that commute from Kampala to Kabale or Kisoro.
How to Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Uganda is still a growing tourism destination and is still virgin to travelers. After taking the path of ecotourism, Uganda regulates the number of tourists who go gorilla trekking within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Today there are 10 habituated groups of the mountain gorillas that are open to tourists. Each group allows only 8 tourists meaning that only 80 tourists are allowed a day to visit the gorillas.
Leave Reply