BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST
GORILLA TREKKING
Bwindi National park is located in the south western region of Uganda stretching on 327 square kilometres of land which makes it one of the forests on large expanse in East Africa with an eco-system so rich in variety of mammals, birds, trees, vegetation shrubs among others.
In the early 90s, Bwindi Forest was awarded a world Heritage site status after being converted to a national park from a forest reserve due to its broad diversity in nature with different animal life like Gorillas, monkeys, elephants, baboons among others, and the dense population of tree species, shrubs, vines, flowers on the forest terrain plus a group of 300 bird species not excluding the diverging insect species like butterflies that are over 200 species.
The fact that it is located at the edge of the Great Rift Valley induces the all year rain formation, we therefore advise our guests to come along with warm clothes as the forest and the surrounding areas give off cold currents
What our experts love about Uganda
Uganda is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, including the Rwenzori Mountains, the Nile River, and numerous national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, It's a prime destination for wildlife lovers
Lovy - Travel Expert
The beautiful forest is a home to half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorillas habituated in both the north and the southern sectors of the park namely Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The different sectors are homes to different Gorilla families namely:
- Rushegura, Mubare, Habinyanja found in the north west of Bwindi in the Buhoma sector.
- Oruzoojo, Kyaguriro and Bitukura found in the east side of Bwindi in the Ruhija sector.
- Nkuringo found in the southern side of Bwindi in the Nkuringo sector.
- Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Mishaya, Nshongi found in the south east of Bwindi in the Rushaga sector.
Only a total of eight pax are allowed to trek one family per day and an advance purchase of a permit is very crucial to avoid disappointments due to limited number of permits.
Activities Around Bwindi National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Finally the long awaited day has come for you to face the gentle giants. The day begins with an early morning breakfast before you set off to UWA headquarters which is the starting and briefing point for the trek, don’t forget to carry your packed lunch as we are not sure of the time you will be coming out of the forest.
After your registration and briefing by the ranger guides, you will be assigned a family to trek and a guide to accompany you to the dense forest. Following the different trails, search for the gorillas and them being wild animals, they keep moving from place to another in the forest to look for food and construct nests therefore it is hard to predict their exact location in the greenery which makes the trekked distance a little longer and a bit of straining with the hikes up and down lasting for about 9 hours.
The pain and the strain is long forgotten once you have traced the gorillas, as they vigorously welcome you with the gigantic humming sound, as the babies try to hide in their parents and swing from one tree to the other and the mothers nurse the babies, the males are visible in the trees building nests for rest and an overnight and the sightings, the experience have a left never to forget memories, what a redeemable experience that is
After your one hour of enjoyment with the gorillas, return to the park headquarters for your certificate, return to the lodge for an overnight and dinner.
Tips for Gorilla trekking
- Wear fully covering clothes like long trousers and a full sleeved shirt
- Wear hiking boots and gaiters are important.
- Carry along your cooler box with enough water like 3 litres of water or more and packed lunch.
- Hand gloves to protect you from pricking of the thorns.
- Hire a porter to carry your bag and act as your support when the terrain gets tough.
- No flash light is allowed when taking photos of the gorillas.
Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Gorilla habituation is the process the gorillas are undertaken to get familiar with the human surroundings, this event is only done in the Rushaga sector and it takes two years before clients are allowed to meet the gorillas families and only 8 persons are allowed to spend the day with gorillas and they are divided into 2 groups of four a factor that has made permit availability very limited hence an advance booking is very recommendable.
The four hour excursion involves clients assisting the researchers to collect data and information related to the gorilla’s lives like the way they feed, play, and nurse their young ones, the mating periods, the reproduction system, the physical gestures and different sounds made among others that you will get to know of during your habituation trip
Forest walk in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Forest being a very dense forest with no vehicle track roads, tourists need to fully explore the mindfulness of the forests on foot in an accompaniment of the guide who will take you through the forest canopy and the guides know the best spots where you can find the different mammals, birds , monkeys, insects, prehistoric tree species.
Carry along a walking stick to create a path off the shrubs for better and clear sightings.
Village Community walk in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
At the edge of Bwindi forest, you will find different tribes of people that have used the land for human settlement and depend so much on the tourists who visit Bwindi for their financial assistance.
You can support the local community by taking a visit around Bwindi with very interesting and pleasing activities put in place that you can participate in like visiting the locals homes for a diurnal experience of an African, orphanages and schools, banana brewing demonstrations, visiting hospitals and even meeting traditional medicinal healers. The cultural visit is designed based on your interests and experience.
Batwa Cultural eperience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Among the different tribes that have settled on the outskirts of the forest include the Batwa people who initially stayed in the middle of the forest but in order to conserve the forest they were forced to exit the forest. The Batwa people lost their original homes and became squatters around the park and in order to earn some money they started up an experience to promote their culture and daily living.
You are welcomed by the Batwa elders who take you through their daily life experience like hunting, gathering food and fruits, collecting insects, they will entertain you through dancing, singing, storytelling among others.
Other activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Walking Safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Uganda wildlife authority has demarcated different trails in the forest to endeavour clients experience and explore the forest to a full close satisfaction like clients walking from the north and the south through the ivy trail. The other trail has clients walking from the Nkuringo sector to the magnificent islands of Lake Mutanda, and another trail from Nkuringo to Kisoro with a beautiful green lush of vegetation on the hills plus the waterfall trail popularly known as the Munyaga river trail which ends at the beautiful cascade in the forest.
Encounter nature in the 3 - 4 hours walk as you listen to the catcalls hiding in their nests on the trees, the monkeys playing and never know you could see the gorilla’s en-route
Birding in in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You can’t list the best birding spots in Uganda and miss out the Bwindi Forest that is a home to over 345 bird species with over 14 species that can only be found in Bwindi National park in the whole world. Like the African Green broadbill that resides in Ruhija sector.
You can sight the birds during your nature walk on the different trails like the ivy trail, Munyaga trail, bamboo trail and the mubwindi swamp trail on your gorilla trek, during the Batwa experience basically so many birds are visible during your trip to Bwindi National park.
You have chances of glancing at the different birds at the lodge, just carry along your binoculars and the birding field book to tick the different species you have seen to remark your trip.
Ride for a woman in in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
As it goes, Ride for a woman, it is an organization that was founded by a very calm and humble lady called Evelyn to financially and psychologically support the women who are single mothers, widows, struggling with domestic violence and also that have been struck by poverty. The project headquarters are in the northern side of Bwindi in the Buhoma sector, just a 10 minutes’ drive from the park headquarters, which makes it very easy to visit the women and spend either a full or half day with them as they weave, sew and tailor clothes, do different crafts, prepare traditional meals among others. Feel free to enjoy all of the delicious food you have prepared yourself, in the beautiful new dining room of Ride 4 a Woman.
Lake Mutanda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
At the edge of the forest in the southern side of the park, in the valleys of hilly and dense terrains of Kisoro, you will be fully served with the beauty of a fresh water lake locally known as lake Mutanda, it is a home to several small islands that are viewed from a distance before you even reach the waters, the islands are all accessible on water once you embark on your boat cruise.
Other activities that can be done on the lake include fishing, sun bathing, and stand up kayaking, birding among others.
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