Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda : With things being easy on your holiday, you may be thinking of having an unforgettable journey in Africa. Uganda has recently been on the bucket list of many travelers whether first-timers or experienced ones. This fabulous country is a spectacular destination when it comes to nature and cultural exploration. It is best-known for being home to some magical attractions. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one among the enchanting destinations in Uganda.
It has an area of 331 square kilometers and it is a World Heritage Site coined by UNESCO in 1994 to conserve its rich vegetation and wildlife.
The name Bwindi originates from Runyakitara language, a language that is spoken by some ethnic groups in Uganda. Bwindi comes from the word ‘bwindi” which means “a place of darkness”. This is because of its dense vegetation cover comprised of trees, bamboo and thick ground cover of ferns. Such dense vegetation cover makes it to be called “impenetrable”, because it is very hard to penetrate by walking through this fascinating forest.
What to see in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda
Stunning vegetation: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for its evergreen impenetrable vegetation which comprises of over 160 species of trees and more than 100 species of ferns.
Mountain gorillas: As compared to other National parks in Uganda, Bwindi is home to the largest concentration of mountain gorillas. Currently, there are over 600 mountain gorillas in this park.
Fauna species: The dense impenetrable forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are home to various species of fauna including primates, mammals, birds, amphibians and insects. About 120 mammal species are encountered in this astonishing park. They include African elephants, vervet monkeys, yellow-backed duikers, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also a home of small animals and insects. Over 220 species of butterflies reside this green park, all of which are colorful and eye-catching. Due to its swampy nature, Bwindi is home to more than 27 frog species.
The birdlife is amazing as Bwindi hosts more than 348 bird species including the Albertine Rift endemic birds. Some commonly encountered birds include great blue turaco, francolin, black bee-eaters, African green hornbills, black-billed turacos, Cassin’s grey flycatcher, African bush ducks and many others.
What to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda
With a lot of attractions in various locations, Bwindi is an incredibly stunning paradise for every traveler. You can do many things while you are on Uganda Gorilla safari on this thick-forested park, which is overwhelmed by the concentration of gorillas. Here are some lifetime things you can while on a trip in Bwindi:
Gorilla tracking and habituation: More than 600 mountain gorillas are recorded in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If you are keen at being familiar with such highly endangered species in the world, you are in the right place. The thing is; you wake up early in the morning and prepare for the trek. An armed ranger will accompany you to guide you and protect from aggressive wild animals. As you hike through the dense forest of Bwindi, you will witness some outstanding views of flora species, insects and small animals. Gorilla trekking requires a gorilla trekking permit which costs about $700 and is non-negotiable.
Over 11 groups of gorillas have been habituated in Bwindi. This lifetime experience allows you to get to know the gorilla families and groups. All you need to enjoy all these is book a gorilla tracking and habituation permits.
Wildlife viewing: With a lot of wild animals found inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you have many options of rotating your eyeballs from side to side to spot some iconic animals such as elephants, monkeys and duikers.
Bird-watching: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a birders’ paradise, which is home to over 351 bird species. Some of birds can’t be spotted elsewhere in the world except in the Albertine rift. There are about 23 bird species that are endemic to the Albertine rift only.
Cultural tour: It will be hard for you to leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park without visiting the neighboring locals. These are the Bakiga and Batwa, whose traditional life is full of amazing things such as dances, crafts and rituals.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda
There are two ways of getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, by road and by air. If you are in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is just 2-3-hour drive to the south, but from Kampala it will take you about 6 to 8 hours.
You can also fly from Kajansi airstrip in Kampala or Entebbe to any of its three airfields; Kihiihi, Kanyonza and Nyakabonde.
If you looking forward to having an unforgettable experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you should plan the trip from June to August and from December through February.
If I put all the magical views of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in a single article, you will bored of reading it because it will be a lengthy article. If you are interested in putting your record of having an adventurous Uganda Gorilla safari through Bwindi, you should plan a trip with Explore African Safaris
