Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Conservation importance:

A UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that protects many endemic & endangered species including the mountain gorillas. During this time, Bwindi has accumulated a remarkable biodiversity. Species counts include 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 months and 120 mammals. The later include several primates, among them chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, and the star of the Impenetrable show; the mountain gorilla. The global population of this endangered ape numbers over 800, half of which live in Bwindi and the remainder on the nearby Virunga volcanoes.

Size:

The 325km2 Bwindi Impenetrable, one of Africa’s oldest forests – being one of the few that predates the arid conditions of the last ice age –has carpeted the margin of the Albertine Rift Valley for some 25000 years.

Tourism attractions:

The Gorilla tracking is the major tourist activity. With 15 family groups habituated for tourism, and 4 trailheads, the Impenetrable is the region’s primary gorilla tracking destination. 8 permits are available each day to track each of the 15 family groups giving a daily total of 120 permits. Advance booking is always advisable, 6 months in advance. With more than 340 bird species, this park is also a paradise for birders, for Albertine rift endemic birds includes the short-tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, and White-tailed Blue Monarch. Forest guided walks are available for those interested in the ecology of the park.

Other activities:

There is much more to Bwindi than gorilla tracking. Forest trails lead to scenic waterfalls and rift valley viewpoints trails while community walks through local villages provide insights into the lives of Bakiga and Batwa (Pygmy) people living besides the forest. Bwindi is one of Uganda’s top birdwatching destinations with many Albertine Rift endemics present, notably in the high, draughty Ruhijja sector.