Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Bwindi Impenetrable National park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park covers about 331 square kilometers. It was established as a national park in 1991. It was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for its biological significance. The park has tropical rainforest vegetation type with about 424 tree species like red stinkwood, East Africa yellow wood, Newtonia buchananii among others, tropical climate and small rivers such as Ivi, Munyaga, Ihihizo, Ishasha, Ntengyrere
There are many beautiful natural treasures tourists can spot when they visit the park such as about 120 mammal species like elephants, gaint forest hog, antelopes, side stripped jackal, African civet, snakes, lizards about 10 primates like about 456 gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoests monkeys, red tailed monkeys, about 200 butterfly species, about 350 bird species like Western Green Tinker bird, African wood owl, Archer’s Robin-chat, Red throated alethe among others, local culture. These attractions in the park favour activities such as gorilla trekking, birding, culture encounters
LOCATION OF THE PARK
The park is positioned in South Western Uganda on the brim of the Great Rift valley about 440 kilometers from Kampala bordered by Democratic Republic of Congo on the west side. It spans in districts of Kabale in South East, Kisoro in the South, Lubaga and Kanungu
ATTRACTIONS BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
The park is blessed with wide range of attractions that pull tourist to visit . The attractions in the park include;
WILDLIFE ANIMALS
It is a home of wildlife animals including about 120 mammal species like elephants, gaint forest hog, antelopes, side stripped jackal, African civet, snakes, lizards, about 10 primates like about 456 gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoests monkeys, red tailed monkeys that tourists may spot
BIRDS
There are about 350 attractive bird species that birders may spot including Western Green Tinker bird, African wood owl, Archer’s Robin-chat, Red throated alethe among others that can be spotted
ANCIENT RAINFOREST
There are many trees species about 424 including red stinkwood, Newtonia buchananii, East Afrian yellow wood, xymalos, macrocalyx, monospora which provide food to wildlife in the park and attract tourists due to their formation
LOCAL CULTURE
The park is a home to batwa the original inhabitants of the forest who have traditions such as hunting, gathering. There are also bakiga who have traditions like music, dance and story among other performances
ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park favours tourist to take part in variety of exciting activities including;
GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla trekking involves tracking and observing gorillas in their natural habitants. There are about 456 Mountain Gorillas that can be trekked in diffrerent sectors like Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nyundo, Rubugiri. It is carried out about 3 to 4 times in a day
GORILLA HABITUATION
This involves training gorillas to get familiar with people in their natural habitants while observing and interacting with them. It begins with briefing of tourists about the do and don’ts while carrying out gorilla habituation very early in the morning. After the briefing the park ranger or tour guide leads the tourists to start the activity.
BIRDING
Birders and advanture seeks visit the park and spot different bird species about 350 including Western Green Tinker bird, African wood owl, Archer’s Robin-chat, Red throated alethe among others during nature walk
CULTURE ENCOUNTERS
Tourists engage in community activities such as the batwa traditions like hunting, gathering among others. There are also the bakiga traditions like music, dance, story telling among others. They cause smile on their faces and get to learn about them
ACCOMMODATION IN THE PARK
There is a variety of accommodation facilities that contain comfort rooms, delicious meals, and friendly staff. These are divided in to luxury, mid range and budget;
THE LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
These include Buhoma Lodge in Buhoma, Chameleon Hill Lodge found in kisoro, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge found in South part of the park, Gorilla Height Lodge found in Nkuringo region of the park in kisoro district
THE MID RANGE ACCOMMODATION
These include Agandi Lodge found in Ruhija, Bakiga Lodge found in Ruhija, Buhoma Community Haven Lodge found in Buhoma village, Bunyonyi Eco Resort
THE BUDGET ACCOMMODATION
These include Albertine Gorilla Campsite found in Nkuringo sector, Broadbill Forest Camp found in Ruhija sector North of the park, Buhoma Community Rest Camp at the edge of the park in South Western Uganda
TIME TO VISIT THE PARK
Tourists can visit thepark through out the year however the best time is during dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, February trails are drier and ease to navigate making gorilla trekking and forest walk easily carried out. During wet season birding can be carried out by birders in Mubwindi in the months of March, April, May and November
HOW TO GET THERE
Tourists can reach there by road or air . Air transport means are the fastest means of transport that can be used. They can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro Airstrip or Kayonza Airstrip using charted air craft however tourists can use means of road transport means like private vehicles and use Masaka road. The routes that lead to the park;
Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma about 440 km
Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungir to Kihihi to Buhoma about 390km
Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma about 490km
Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo about 500 km
