Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda on the edge of the Albertine rift valley near the boarder of Democratic republic of Congo. It is approximately 331 square kilometers and accessed only on foot. It is one of the most bio-diverse forests in Africa with one of the best ecosystems on the continent.
The park can be reached from Kampala via Mbarara (9–10 hours) by road. The park can also be accessed by air from Entebbe or Kampala (Kajjansi air field) to the tarmac airstrip at Kisoro. Bwindi is well served by three airstrips Kayonza, Kihihi and Nyakabande.
It is famously known as a home of mountain Gorillas and Gorilla tracking is the main activity in this place. The park shelters over 400 mountain Gorillas but there are also many other mammals like Black and white colombus, Bush pigs, Giant forest hogs, Vervet monkeys, Baboons and many others. There are also bird species in the park.
The park has over 400 gorillas making gorilla tracking the main activity, more Gorilla families have been habituated for visitors. Each day 2 Gorilla groups are accessible for tourists to see and 100 daily gorilla permits are available in the park.
Its only in Uganda where you can be with mountain gorillas for over 4 hours on a gorilla habituation experience along with researchers, in this experience you come to understand Gorillas deeper, know there ways of living, sex, age and names. There are 2 gorilla groups being habituated meaning they become used to human contact. This is only done in Rushaga sector.
Batwa are pygmies who were first inhabitants of the years, they lived in harmony with nature and left a small ecological footprint in the forest, they were hunter gatherers, existed as beggars, accused of being drunkards, lazy people, marijuana smoking, had no voice and no representative. So this experience gives you a lesson about their ways of living and keeps their cultural practices alive and passed on to future generations.
A hike in Bwindi is always with the guide and can be done from the north of Bwindi to south, one can stay overnight and continue the next day to lake Mutanda where you come across in a wooden dugout and continue to Kisoro town.
Mountain Biking around and in the Buhoma area is offered by “Ride 4 a Woman “a self-help group that guide you on a biking trip through the forest, handle the rentals, repair and keep up the Bikes in safe and good running condition
One can also do a village ride bike where you can see the beauty of the park in all corners. This can be done with or without a guide.
