Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular of Uganda’s national parks. Located in South Western Uganda, Bwindi is a UNESCO world heritage site protecting almost half of the remaining population of the mountain gorillas.
The name Bwindi is derived from the local Rukiga phrase “Mubwindi bwa Nyinamukari”, which most probably originally refered to the Mubwindi Swamp in the southeast of the park. In the local language it means “impenetrable’.
The park was first gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 by the British colonial governement. Later in 1991, it was gazetted as a national park by the Ugandan government and its official name became Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Today most people refer to the park as Bwindi.
– Where is Bwindi National Park?
Bwindi impenetrable National Park is located in South Western Uganda at the edge of a rift valley, bordering DR Congo in the south. The park shares three districts of Uganda;Kisoro, Kabale and Kanungu. It is situated in the hillsides of Kigezi, renowned for its mist-covered impenetrable forest where over 120 mammal species live peacefully with over 350 bird species, reptiles and other species.
– How Far is Bwindi?
Bwindi impenetrable National park lies 370 kilometers from Kampala, Uganda’scapital which is an 8 hour drive. The park can also be accessed from Kigali, which is 4 hours drive from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Accessing Bwindi National park, you can arrive through Entebbe national park in Uganda or arrive through Kigali airport in Rwanda.
– How High is Bwindi ?
The park covers an area of 321 Square Kilometers standing at an altitude of 1160m-2607m above sea level, with the highest point at 2607m. The highest point is in Rushaga sector in the southern part of the park and the lowest point in Buhoma sector in the northern part of the park.
Things to See & Do
Bwindi offers travelers with the rare opportunity to track the endangered mountain gorillas in its natural habitat – an activity always referred to as gorilla trekking or gorilla tracking. Today gorilla tracking is arguably the most exciting wildlife encounter to be heard anywhere in Africa (Bradt Guide)
With an estimated population of about 900 mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest prides in protecting almost half of these great apes, surviving in only three countries in Africa. The remnant population lives in the Virunga region and is spread through three national parks; Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Biodiversity
Bwindi impenetrable forest is found in far south western Uganda and typically a tropical rain forest with an annual mean temperature range of a minimum of 7–15°C to a maximum of 20–27°C. The Forest receives annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 1,900 millimeters. The heavy rains climax from March to April and from September to November.
Lying at an altitude of 1160 to 2607m, Bwindi supports over 11 primates including the endangered mountain gorillas, De Brazza monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, pottos, Demidoff’s Galagos, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys. Other animals include the giant forest hogs, buffaloes, forest elephants, civets, black-fronted duikers, clawless otters, civets, side-stripped jackals, rodents, yellow-backed duikers, bush pigs, and more.
Bwindi Forest is one of the best places for birding; Bwindi is a true birder’s haven with about 360 bird species including 23 of the 24 endemic to the Albertine Rift and several endangered species, such as the African green broadbill. With a good birding guide, sighting daily totals of over 150 species is possible. Mubwindi Swamp is the best places to find many birds – it is where you can see birds anywhere.
Birds of Bwindi total up to over 350 species and include the mountain masked and collared apalis, purple breasted sunbird, grauer’s broadbills, handsome francolins, Chapin’s flycatchers, black billed turacos, regal sunbirds, white-bellied robin chat, western bronze-napped pigeon, Fraser’s eagle, and others. Birding excursions in Bwindi are excellent done in the Mubwindi swamp, Ruhija sector.
Bwindi also supports at least 200 colorful butterfly species and include 8 Albertine rift endemic species; 27 amphibian species and reptiles.
Discover Bwindi Forest
- Getting Here & Around
- Things to See (Attractions)
- Things to Do (Activities)
- Gorilla Trekking