Bwindi impenetrable national park is found in the southwestern region on the boundary of the rift valley. The national park is popular because of the gorilla trekking activity because it’s a home to half of the worlds remaining gorilla population. The mountain gorillas are endangered species and the park has over 800 and above mountain gorillas. These are highly endangered because of poaching, habitat loss and diseases.
Besides the endangered mountain gorillas, the national park is a home to over 120 mammals that are rarely seen within the thick forest. These include elephants, duikers, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted duiker, yellow-backed duiker among others. Its as well a home to 11 primate species such as black and white colobus monkeys, De brazza monkeys, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, potto, chimpanzees, spectacled galago and baboons and so many more.
ATTRACTIONS IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla trekking majorly takes place in the four sectors of the national park which include buhoma, ruhija, rushaga and nkuringo. The tourists choose which sector they prefer most. Only 8 people are allowed to trek each gorilla family within the national park. This Uganda Gorilla trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are.
HIKING/ NATURE WALK
Hiking within Bwindi national park is done in six nature trails of buhoma and these include waterfall walks, forest walks, primates, mountain views and the birding life. The nature trails include munyanga waterfall, Ivi River walk, muzabajirro loop, buhoma-nkuringo trail and habinyanja trail which all have amazing sceneries.
BIRD WATCHING
The national park is a home to over 350 bird species where 23 are natives. These include cinnamon-chested bee eater, African harrier hawk, fly catchers, African blue , African emerald cuckoo, giant kingfisher and crowned hornbill among others. Birding within Bwindi impenetrable national park is majorly done on the main trail that is Buhoma waterfall trail, bamboo zone and mubwindi swamp trail in ruhija.
CYCLING/ MOUNTAIN BIKING
The mountain biking is carried out from the mountain trail along Buhoma to Ivi River. The trail makes up a 13 kilometer that gives amazing looks with wildlife such as bushbucks, black and white colobus as well as red-tailed monkeys among others.
ACTIVITIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
GORILLA TREKKING
Gorilla trekking is the most attractive activity within Bwindi national park. Tourist hike throughout the forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas with the help of the park rangers as well as trackers. The national park has 19 habituated gorilla families in the four different sectors of the park. The Buhoma gorilla sector in the north sector has 4 habituated gorilla families, Nkuringo gorilla sector has 3 gorilla family, Ruhija gorilla sector has 4 habituated gorilla families and Rushaga gorilla sector in the south has 8 habituated gorilla families.
GORILLA HABITUATION
The gorilla habituation takes place in rushaga sector within Bwindi national park. The tourists walk within the national park along with researchers to collect data as well as learning more about the endangered mountain gorillas and their families. The tourists spend wit the gorillas 4 hours as they get to learn more about the behaviors of each family as they interact with them. In rushaga their only 2 habituated families making only 8 permits to be available every day. Only 4 individuals are allocated per gorilla family.
BIRD WATCHING
The national park is known to be a home for the birds. The park has over 350 bird species where 23 are natives to the Albertine rift and 14 are only found in the park such as the African green broadbill is found in the ruhija sector and Congo. The short-tailed warbler, blue-headed sunbird, Rwenzori night jar and so many others. Tourists are encouraged to carry their binoculars.
FOREST WALKS
The national park has trails in which the tourists can take part as they explore and learn more about the forest with a guides help. The munyaga river trail takes the tourists to the beautiful waterfalls within the park. The presence of the astonished flora and fauna within the national park makes the walk or trek amazing. The trail takes about 3-4hours.
VISIT LAKE MUTANDA
Lake mutanda is located in the south part of the national park and has amazing and relaxing places where tourists can go and relax after the gorilla trekking activity. The lake has got a number of islands that can be explored on a canoe with the help of a guide.
BUHOMA COMMUNITY WALKS
Tourist who track or stay in the Buhoma sector tend to enjoy the community walk within the sector with the help of a guide. As they walk through the village they tend to visit schools, hospitals, traditional healer as well as taking part in the traditional wine making process. The community walk is organized by the Buhoma community and by taking part tourists tend to support them directly.
BATWA CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
The Batwa culture experience makes tourists to explore and learn more about the lives and practices of the Batwa people who once lived in the national park. The Batwa share with the tourists how they lived, hunted, cooked, how they used the less expected materials such as sticks to make fire, how they collected wild honey as well as plants they used for food and medicine. This is because they depended on the forest for a living and for a very long time.
