Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Activities; Visiting Bwindi National Park is best way one should enjoy the park’s unforgettable activities in the amidst of the jungle. However, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest sounds as a great location to watch the highest percentage of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas that are still exist in the wild. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that travelers on safari to Uganda. Take note, if you take a Uganda Safari holiday minus a gorilla trekking on your tour package meaning that safari is incomplete. You just need to tryout a visit to the jungle of the great mountain gorillas- you need at least 3 to 5 days to explore fully the beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The top done activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Habituation
Bird watching
The Batwa cultural experience
Forest walks
Mountain biking
Buhoma Community walks
Lake Mutanda visit
Gorilla Trekking; This is the main key selling activity on Uganda Safari and without a doubt most travelers who has had a safari to Uganda tend to include gorilla trekking on their travel itinerary. You only need to buy a gorilla permit at USD700 which enables you do Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The experience involves hiking through the impenetrable forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas with the guidance of the park rangers and guides. In fact, Gorilla trekking starts with a short briefing at the park meeting point about the gorilla trekking rules. After a guide will range you to your assigned gorilla family and then hike into a dense forest in search for them. Once you allocate them, one hour is allowed to you to watch them as they play, feed, behave and enjoy photography.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to over 23 habituated gorilla families divided into four different gorilla sectors of the park – Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each located in different part of the park; Buhoma Gorilla Sector lies in northern part of the park and Ruhija in the east of the park, Nkuringo gorilla sector in the south while Rushaga gorilla sector in the south of the park.
Gorilla Habituation
Gorilla Habituation is the second done activity in the park and among the four Mountain gorilla national park in the world, it is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and takes place in the Rushaga sector of the park. This activity starts early in the morning with a briefing and can be done with the researchers, doctors, park rangers who are in charge of collecting data and learning about the mountain gorillas and the gorilla group in particular. Gorilla habituation experience is a full day activity and once you find the gorilla family, you will be allowed 4 hours to spend with the gorillas -learn of their behaviors of the family and interact with them. In Bwindi there are two gorilla families being habituated in Rushaga and only 8 permits available per day. We advise to book your gorilla permits in advance in order to secure your permit.
Note; Gorilla habituation permits cost USD1500 for foreign nonresidents, USD1000 foreign residents and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens.
Bird watching
Bird watching is also one of the top done activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is because the park is a birder’s paradise that birders shouldn’t miss. Bwindi is home to more than 350 bird species with over 23 bird species are endemic to the Albertine Rift and 14 bird species are recorded nowhere else in the country. Birds to be spotted includes; Short-tailed warbler, Blue-headed sunbirds, Rwenzori night jar, African Green Broadbill, Bar-tailed trogon, Shelley’s crimson wing, Black bee -eater, Mountain Oriole, Doherty’s bush shrike, Regal sunbird, few but mentioned.
Batwa cultural experience
Visiting the Batwa people in their community, you will enjoy their amazing story how they lived, hunted, cooked and you will get to learn how they collected wild honey among others. You will enjoy their stunning traditional songs and dances during the experience
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a memorable experience done best from the Buhoma sector because it gives the best biking experience -provided by the ‘’Ride 4 a Woman Community Group’’ who offer them on rent and organize the best guided biking experience. You will experience amazing life of the locals in the community and viewing of various birdlife across the area.
Buhoma Community Walks
The Buhoma Community walk experience which takes travelers through the village visiting a local people, health centre, local school and enjoying the stunning lifestyle of the local. If you also will experience the local traditional dances, song and story and call it day in the jungle of unique primates.
Lake Mutanda Visit
Lake Mutanda is refreshing place which we commonly recommend to the visitors to take part after visiting their day long activity – Gorilla trekking experience. The lake can be explored while on dugout canoes with the help of a guide. Sunsets while at Lake Mutanda are exceptional.
These activities can be enjoyed if you take your time and plan your tour itinerary with a trusted tour operator is the best safari to Bwindi unforgettable in lifetime.
