Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Animals : Bwindi impenetrable national park is a hallmark Uganda safari destination, located in the southwestern region of Uganda, with thick vegetation cover where gorilla trekking adventure takes place with a park ranger guides who accompanies you in this forest. This forest is truly African jungle with droplets of the sun coming through the thick forest cover while giving you a warm feeling of being in paradise with zero pollution right from various emissions common to our daily environment.
However, Bwindi Impenetrable national park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 because of its diversity in harboring different flora and fauna as well as being a home to the remaining half world’s endangered mountain gorillas. The park sits on an area covering of about 321 square kilometers of which the big part of the land is forested or covered by bamboo and shrubs. The forest is located on steep slippery valley with ridges and hilltops.
Weather and climate –Bwindi
Bwindi has a tropical cool weather because of the immerse canopy and your advised to carry some warm clothing for evenings and long sleeved shirts, trousers for trekking.
For the ultimate experience to anyone wishing to do a gorilla trekking or birding, you need to be physically fit to ascend and descend the terrain. More so, the park lies at an altitude between 1160-2607meter above the sea level.
Animals in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 120 mammal species that are rarely seen in this hide thickets of the dense forest. They include the large mammals and small animals. Animals to see in Bwindi include elephants, duikers, golden cats, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, yellow-backed duiker, black-fronted duiker, clawless otter, side striped jackal, civet, bats and rodents among others.
Since the park is one of the main stopping destination for gorilla trekking hence marking it the most adventure primates on planet earth. More then, Bwindi is a home to 11 primate’s species which are L’hoest’s monkeys, De Braze monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled Galago, Chimpanzees, Baboons and the great Bwindi mountain gorillas.
Despite, Bwindi being a location for gorilla trekking; It has over 21 habituated gorilla families splintered in four gorilla trekking sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Having different trailheads where gorillas can be search from
Birds
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park is also a paradise of birders with over 350 species of birds. Making the park to be one of the best place to do birding in Uganda owing to its rare and notable bird species, a home to 23 Albertine Rift endemics and 14 are recorded not elsewhere in Uganda. It also boosts with globally threatened species include Shelley’s crimson wing, Grauer’s broadbill, Chapin’s flycatcher, and other species include Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze napped pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue headed Mountain –masked, collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Handsome Francolin and Regal sunbirds among others. Birding in Bwindi is best done in the Mubwindi Swamp in Ruhija sector of the park where you can be able to view various species of birds on a serious note.
Butterflies and Amphibians
Bwindi is also a home to over 200 butterfly species including the endemic species. Which include the African giant swallowtail and cream-banded swallowtail. Then the amphibian’s species are identified of over 27 with endemic to the Albertine rift. Of which fourteen in number are snake species and 14 lizard species.
Others facts –Activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
To first time travelers who wish to visit Bwindi Impenetrable national park, they think of mountain gorilla trekking –tracking though it’s the main tourist’s attraction and most done activity. Not knowing that Bwindi Impenetrable forest is heavily dense rainforest a home of many species such as notable birds and animals and other numbery of activities where one can engage in after Gorilla trekking or Gorilla habituation experience. Activities like nature walk, birding, cultural encounter with Batwa pygmies among others thus Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Animals .
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi a home of world’s half remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a daily done route meaning visitors must book their gorilla permits in advance before their arrival time and no one can go for gorilla trekking without permits, Gorilla trekking permits cost USD700 per day per trek for foreign nonresident, USD600 for foreign resident and UGX250,000 East African Citizen.
Gorilla tracking starts early in the morning with a short briefing about the rules and regulation of gorillas in the forest. Then after head out to the trekking trails with a guide in the group of 8 persons and the activity can last 30 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla group your assigned in. Remember to pack enough drinking mineral water, rain jackets and putting on rubber hiking shoes with your packed lunch boxes because you never know what might activity take.
Once the gorilla group is allocated one hour is given to you to observe these rare primates in their nature habitants, take memorable photography as well as recording the video for future remembrance. After you return back to the lodge.
Birding
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is also one of Uganda’s birding site, a home of about 350 species of birds including 23 Albertine rift endemic and 14 are not recorded anywhere. On your birding day, you will be guided with knowledgeable guide who will take you through different spotting areas or trail in the forest and be able to spot various notable species.
Nature walk
In Bwindi there are many stunning trails to carryout nature walk like the one in Buhoma –Nkuringo trail which lasts 4-5 hours crossing through the park. Munyanga waterfall walk, Ivi River walk which takes about 7 hours. Muzabajirro Loop -6 kilometers walk around the hill areas nice places to view primates and birds.
Cultural Experience
On visit to Bwindi national park, you can have Buhoma community tours and get interest in storytelling and dance of the Batwa, visit handcraft shop among others.
Accessibility –Bwindi Impenetrable national park
One can access Bwindi Impenetrable national park whether by scheduled or charter flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip or connect to Kisoro Airstrip. Or you can book your domestic flight from Kajjansi Airfield which lies between Kampala and Entebbe.
Driving distance: From Kampala to access Bwindi by car is approximately 9 to 10 hour drives, recommended to use 4×4 wheel drive.
Lodges and Camps to stay in while on visit to Bwindi Impenetrable national park ranging between Luxury to Budget, accommodation fee depends on visitor’s wallet;
The park has four gorilla trekking regions where trekking can be done whereby clients are advised to book their safari accommodation in the same region they assigned in a gorilla group to trek on that particular day and such region include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushanga gorilla sector.
Lodges in Nkuringo include; Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Safari Lodge among others.
Lodges in Ruhija include; Bakinga Lodge, Broadbill camp, Agandi Lodge many more.
Lodges in Rushaga area include; Chameleon Hill, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Chameleon Hill, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge and other lodges.
Lodges in Buhoma Area include; Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Sanctuary Gorilla lodge, Silverback lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge among others.
