One of the few areas in Africa to have flourished during the last Ice Age is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a spectacular emerald expanse of forest over the steep slopes of the Albertine Rift Valley that is home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The park is 331 km2.
As of December 16, 2019, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration and Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities revealed that Uganda alone is home to half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas, with 459 individuals as opposed to an estimated 400 in 2011.
The number of mountain gorillas worldwide has increased to over 1,063, including the parks from the Virunga Massif, which are home to 603 mountain gorillas in total: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
The Afromontane forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is covered in a thick undergrowth of fern, vines, and bushes. There are over 324 tree species known to exist here, 10 of which are unique to Uganda.
More about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
With the inclusion of the Virunga Massif’s three national parks; Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, the total number of mountain gorillas in the world has surpassed 1,063.
The deep undergrowth of ferns, vines, and bushes characterises the Afromontane forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Approximately 324 tree species have been identified in this area, 10 of which are unique to Uganda.
Situated on the edge of the western rift valley, which is shared by the districts of Rukungiri, Kabale, and Kisoro in Uganda, it faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the southwest of the country. The park is adjacent to the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named the park a world heritage site due to its ecological and national significance.
The park’s name comes from the term “Mubwindi bwa Nyinamuraki” used locally. The name originates from the time a family moved from Kisoro to the park’s southern region. As a result, they were unable to cross Mubwindi Swamp to get to the other side when they arrived since it was impenetrable. When the family members approached the swamp spirits for advice, they were instructed to pick and offer up their most attractive daughter as a sacrifice in order to be granted permission to cross the impassable Mubwindi swamp. After two days of waiting, they offered a sacrifice and cast Nyinamuraki, their most lovely and cherished daughter, into the marsh, whereupon they were granted permission to cross.
Following word of the news, the locals began to avoid the swamp, referring to it as Mubwindi bwa Nyinamuraki, which translates to “the dark place of Nyinamuraki.” For this reason, the park was given the name Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The park was first established in 1932 and given the designation of Crown Forest Reserve. It was divided into two sections, with the southern portion known as Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve and the northern portion as Kayonza Crown Forest Reserves.
To safeguard the endangered Mountain Gorillas, the Crown Forest Reserve was converted into an animal sanctuary in 1964. In 1991, it was elevated to the status of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, joining Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. It was presently under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and encompassed 330.8 square kilometres.
There are four distinct areas inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that are accessible for gorilla trekking: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. There are several different gorilla groups to choose from for your journey, however the sector you will be assigned to at the time of confirmation will depend on the availability of gorilla permits.
Top Activities to do/see at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Tracking
The most amazing wildlife experience in Africa may be had by going gorilla trekking in Uganda, which offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Only the inaccessible forests of the Virunga Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the southwest of Uganda, are home to the rarest mountain gorillas. Finding a habituated group of mountain gorillas for tourists in the wild with the assistance of ranger guides is known as gorilla trekking. To reduce interruptions and preserve the gorillas’ normal habits, each gorilla family is assigned to a group of eight hikers per day. The gorilla trekking experience begins at precisely 8:00 am.
It takes between two to six hours, and after customers locate these unique apes, they will only connect with them for an hour, or sixty minutes, keeping in mind that these are the closest animals to humans. Travelling to your African safari and being driven by a nice safari vehicle with an expert safari guide are worth it if you want to participate in this unique and fascinating activity. The silverback, a male gorilla weighing more than 200 kg, is in charge of the group of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
The gorilla habituation experience differs slightly from gorilla trekking, but it’s generally more flavorful. In order to assure sustainability, it only occurs in the Rushaga sector, where a single gorilla family has been designated for this ongoing project. Unlike gorilla trekking, where you will just be supervised by ranger guides, you will be led by researchers and ranger guides very early in the morning following your briefing at the UWA headquarters. It permits visitors to spend a further four hours (or more) with gorillas after their initial encounter. Researchers and rangers will accompany the visitors and provide guidance during the entire experience.
Batwa Trail Experience
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was home to the Batwa people from the time of their origin until 1992, when they were forced to leave. They are thought to have lived in the Bwindi Forest and the Virunga Mountains for more than 500,000 years. The Batwa people, also called pygmies, were heavily reliant on the forest for their hunting, fruit harvesting, and gathering medicinal plants for their treatment. Since then, the Batwa have only been allowed access to their ancestral forest as guides after being forced out of the forest to protect the mountain gorillas. On June 7, 2011, the Batwa Trail was inaugurated with the goal of conserving their traditional culture.
Bird Watching at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
With 350 different bird species, Bwindi is a bird watcher’s paradise. Ninety percent of the endemic species found in the Albertine Rift Valley are unique to this region and cannot be found anywhere in East Africa. Notable species include the Blue-headed Sunbird and Short-tailed Warbler, as well as seven species that are categorised as red-listed by the IUCN.
The Common Bulbul, African Blue and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, African Emerald Cuckoo, and Red-headed Bluebill are easily observable. In addition to offering breath-taking views, a longer stay in the Ruhija region of Bwindi is home to the African Green Broad bill, which a lucky few get to witness in the Ruhija marsh.