Highlights and main attractions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Supporting nearly half of the world’s estimated 820 mountain gorilla population, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated along the Great Rift Valley. As the name suggests, it is an area of almost impassibly dense rainforest spread over a network of valleys and ridges, carving a silhouette of undulating peaks into the skyline. Dating back over 25,000 years, this is one of Africa’s oldest and most captivating parklands; its bamboo and swamp forests provide the ideal environment for the gorilla population that call it home. It is the only forest in Africa in which the gorillas and chimpanzees successfully co-exist.
Quick Facts:
- History: the park was established in 1991 and was granted a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.
- Unique for: the estimated 320 mountain gorillas which live here.
- Did you know: some parts of the rainforest is covered in 25,000 year old mist.
- Wildlife spotting opportunities: baboons, chimpanzees and elephants can be spotted here.
"It is also a place that will satisfy keen ornithologists, with a total of 350 bird species having been recorded within Bwindi, making it one of Uganda's main birding areas"
Unesco Status and Primates
Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994, the park is situated in the Kigezi highlands of southwest Uganda. Covering an area of 330 kilometres, altitude ranges from 1,106 metres to 2,607 metres and in true rainforest-style, it receives up to 1,500mm of rain annually. Gorilla trekking within Bwindi can be challenging, but the rewards are unmistakable and your first glance at the gorillas in their natural habitat will be one that stays with you for life.
There are currently four families of habituated gorillas in Bwindi that can be tracked in the Buhoma area; Habinyanja, Rushegura, Mubare and Orozugo. There are another six families, making ten in total, that are habituated in the Bwindi area, some requiring overnights in Buhoma or Nkuringo if you wish to track them. In addition to the 340 habituated gorillas in the park there are 120 other mammals that you can see, including a range of other primates such as chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and blue monkey.
Accommodation
Our expertise of the area means that we know the best lodges for you to base yourself in, with Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge being one of our most popular. This unique eco-lodge puts you in the heart of the atmospheric Impenetrable Forest, with fantastic views. Here you will be accommodated in bandas (traditional huts), under which gorilla families have been known to sleep! Located within the park’s boundaries the luxury Gorilla Forest Camp is also highly recommended. To track the gorillas you will need to obtain a permit and there is a quota of just 24 per day. We highly recommend planning your trip as early as possible, buying your permits well in advance of travelling if possible.
Contact us for a bespoke quote.