Bwindi impenetrable national park lies in south southwestern part of Uganda at the edge of the western rift valley surrounded by diverse rainforest. The park is embraced with over 400 mountain gorillas and 120 mammal species, primates such as baboons, and chimpanzees among others, 23 Albertine endemics and over 350 bird species. Many interesting activities are waiting for you to participate in Bwindi impenetrable forest such as gorilla trekking the bestselling activity, gorilla habituation, cultural encounters, hiking through the forest, hikes and trails in and out of Bwindi, birding, village works and mountain bike rides in Buhoma and other areas.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for its mountain Gorilla population since it possesses half a percentage of these creatures. The park is ranked as the best tracking destination in Uganda and East Africa at large. It’s a one-day activity as you embark on an amazing walk in the impenetrable tropical rain forest in search of the King of the Jungle creating a breathtaking experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park should not scare you because of the word “impenetrable”. It is clear and visible creating enough roaming space for trackers and additional encounters of other wildlife and plant species in the forest.
There are four tracking locations in Bwindi impenetrable national park such as Buhoma in the northern sector, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern region and Ruhija in the eastern location. Each sector has its own families ready for only trekkers to take action. Mind you each family has over 15 habituated members and each family is led by the silver back. Due to the introduction of newly habituated gorilla families, it’s believed to have reached 18 gorilla families in count according to December 2018 estimation.
It takes quite a lot of time to carry out Gorilla habituation and it takes over 2-3 years to make these gentle creatures get used to tourist encounters at close range without causing harm. Tracking of Gorillas is done by approximately 8 members in a day depending on the tracking sector and it starts very early in the morning at the park head quarter after a briefing and last for about 6 hours trek with a one-hour experience at the encounter of man’s closest cousin. The tracking park guides help in clearing the foliage in the forest to create a clear path for the visitors.
Any visitor ready for gorilla tracking is required to possess a tracking permit as a pass to explore the forest. Bookings of the tracking permit should be done through the reservations office at Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters or legal tour agent.
The tracking sectors in Bwindi have families such as Buhoma found in the northern sector, consisting of gorilla groups such as Rushegura, Katwe, Mubare, Habinyanja, Nkuringo area in the southern part has groups like Nkuringo, Christmas and Bushaho, Ruhija sector in the east with groups such as oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro, Mukiza and Rushaga in the southern region with groups like Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Rwizi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, kutu and Bikingi.
