What to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
What to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park? Bwindi is known as the park for the mountain gorillas because of the presence of mountain gorillas within the park which forms the major tourist attraction. Besides the Endangered Mountain gorillas, the park also harbors different species which have enabled a lot of tourist’s activities to take place and these include;
Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities that is carried out in the dense forest of Bwindi Forest National park Forest. Visitors engage in this particular activity after obtaining a gorilla trekking permit from a trusted tour operator or Uganda wildlife Authority. Tracking gorillas in Bwindi can take a few or long hours depending on the distance the trekked gorilla group is in and the physical fitness of you the trekker. There are about 18 habituated gorilla families that are trekked from the four sectors of the park that include Buhoma in Northwest Bwindi; Ruhija in the east; and trailheads at Nkuringo and Rushaga. Only 8 visitors are allowed to track each family gorilla’s eight permits. You should book in advance the gorilla trekking permits since theory tends to be in high demand. You can also decide to extend your hours of interaction with mountain gorillas by engaging in chimpanzee habituation safaris still in Bwindi forest. Visitors coming to Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari will have a high chance of spotting mountain gorillas since the park has half of the total population of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking will commence with a briefing about the rules are aimed at protecting the gorillas and conserving them. These gorillas must be strictly followed.
What is the best time to go for mountain gorillas trekking in Uganda/Bwindi National Park?
Mountain gorillas in Uganda or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can best trek during the dry season that runs from mid-June to July, October then to September, or from December to February. This is the peak season of all Uganda wildfire safari. The peak season comes during the dry months of the year when rainfalls are low to make it easy for safari vehicles and natural walk safaris. However, gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda can be carried out throughout the whole year and permits are always available but you should book in advance.
Gorilla Habituation safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Gorilla habituation trekking experience involves the activity whereby visitors spend longer on mountain gorillas usually 4 hours compared to 1 hour spend on normal gorilla trekking safaris. Gorilla habituation involves the process when a group of researchers, guides are training the gorillas to be used or accustomed to human beings. Therefore you can get a chance to be part and partial of this amazing adventure activity. You will learn more about the gorillas as they are being trained to change their behaviors. These safaris are only done in the Rushaga sector found in the South of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National. Normally these kinds of Safaris are mostly done from June to September and from December to March when rainfall levels are low.
Bird watching safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Named as the top birding destination in Africa the Africa Bird Club, Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park offers the best destination for your birding trips especially if don’t have enough time to carry out gorilla trekking safaris. The birding trails in Bwindi are well made and you will be able to encounter different bird species which are equivalent to 350 species of birds. Fourteen of the bird species can only be found in Bwindi other than elsewhere in Uganda. Some of the bird species include western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Fine-banded Woodpecker African green broadbill, Dusky crimson honeyguide Handsome Francolin, African Wood Owl, Flycatcher, Archer’s Robin-Chat, brown necked parrot, Purple-breasted, Mountain masked Apalis, Chestnut –throated Apalises, McKinnon’s grey shrike, Kivu Ground Thrush, honey guide, Handsome Francolin, Gruel’s Rush Warbler, Grauer’s broadbill, Fine-banded Woodpecker, crimson wing, Collared Apalis, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters and Chapin’s Flycatcher among others.
Batwa cultural visit tours in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Batwa cultural trail in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park is one of the exciting activities that the tourists can engage in while visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Batwa were the premier people to inhabit Bwindi forests before it was gazetted as a national park. They have lived for over five thousand years ago. Due to the need to protect mountain gorillas in Bwindi forests, the Batwa people were evicted from the forests and settled in the areas around the park. Visiting these people offers a unique experience as you will be able to know how best they lived as food gathers in the forests. They have organized themselves into groups that entertain visitors with their cultures and traditional ways of life including dance and dram songs, storytelling among others.
Hiking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nang5tional Park
Different trails have been established in the park to ensure that visitors explore the park’s biodiversity species such as forests, butterflies, bird species as well as primates. One of the trails start from Buhoma to Nkuringo, Lake Mutanda, and then to Kisoro. By following this trail you see amazing sceneries as you encounter people of the local areas. Another cultural trail that is rich following is Buhoma village trail walks where you will explore the ancient local people and their life is. Then there comes the waterfall trail for the beautiful scenery of the waterfalls in addition to spotting wild birds and other plant species. The river Mayaga river trail will offer you an opportunity to watch and see the primates such as colobus monkeys, L’-Hosts monkeys among others. You need to have the services of a tour guide and a porter where possible to be able to do this activity successfully.
Mountain biking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National
Visitors to wind Impenetrable forest National park can lose engage in mountain bicycle safaris which are arranged for travelers who enjoy them and think that they are far better than nature walk safaris. You can ride along with your lodge of stay and go-ahead to explore the other places of interest. Mountain bikes are hired by “for a woman” to the tourists in Buhoma sectors. You are also provided guides escorts to local villages and the forests for example when going to view waterfalls. Major mountain biking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are done in the Buhoma sector through other sectors have picked interest and have started organizing biking safaris on a small scale.