The Ultimate Hike in the Ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Hiking in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
A hike through Bwindi is an experience in one of the oldest Forests in Africa
Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest – offers much more more than going gorilla tracking – there is birding, waterfall hikes, mountain biking all in the ancient primeval forest – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reasons that are beyond Gorilla Tracking. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is not only home to over half of the remaining Mountain Gorillas – it is home to an incredible and yes penetrable Rainforest the length of which you can hike, encounter birds, primates, plants and trees that you have never seen before and in some cases people on the way to or from Market. This hike through Bwindi, this walk is an experience that relatively few are aware of and even fewer take.
You can start at either end of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (actually you can begin or end in the town of Kisoro and it becomes a two day venture which includes a canoe trip on Lake Mutanda) Nkuringo or Buhoma – and take your guided and escorted hike through the penetrable Impenetrable Forest. You will need to have a backpack-2liters of water-packed lunch – good hiking shoes such as lightweight boots, long trousers such as jeans, long-sleeved shirt, rain-jacket, hat, sunglasses, binoculars and camera with extra batteries.
When you take the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through the forest hike keep in mind that there are elevation differences and in the case of the Buhoma to Nkuringo hike the last section involves a steep climb…nevertheless most do not see it as a problem but as a challenge of their endurance. We have had clients who have prepared themselves physically prior to going gorilla tracking and taking the Walking Safari through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
What will you encounter along your walking Safari through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest? Bwindi Rainforest is home to over 350 species of birds many of them endemic to the region-your hike through the forest will allow you to spot many a birds, there are over 300 kinds of butterflies and you surely see some of them up close and you will have opportunity for some great photos. There are 10 species of primates in the park including chimpanzees, L Hoests Monkey, Red Tailed and Blue Monkey, Black & White Colobus Monkeys and Baboons to name a few. You will definitely encounter primates on your trek through the ancient Rainforest. You will see some primate along the way since Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is not only home to Gorillas, Primates, Birds and butterflies but to 120 mammal species including Forest Elephants, Duikers, Bush Pigs, the giant Forest Hog, cat species and much more. You might also see some colorful lizards along the way – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the key pearls in the Pearl of Africa and a walking safari through it unfolds as a tapestry of sounds, sights, smells as you have never experienced before.
The Walking Safari through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
- The Kashasha River Trail begins at the Nkuringo National Parks office before proceeding down a steep slope through community land to reach the park buffer zone. The route passes the junction of two rivers inside the forest where after a further 20 minute ascent the trail meets the alternative route the Ivy River trail inside the forest 90 minutes from Buhoma. The trek to the Buhoma Park HQ on the Kashasha River Trail is 4 to 5 hours between Nkuringo and Buhoma or 6 to 7 hours between Buhoma and Nkuringo. The Kashasha River trail involves some steep inclines not least when proceeding to Nkuringo.
The trail offers visitors a close up experience of the natural wonders within a rain forest environment. Birds are prolific in Bwindi and your guide will point these out to you during your walk.
- The Ivy River Trail also starts also from the Nkuringo Park office, where we follow a murram road downhill with views over the forest for some 7 kms to the Ivy river on our right. The Ivy River Trail within the forest is often walked by visitors that stay at Buhoma as a nature walk from the park H.Q. From the Nkuringo office to the Ivy River it takes 2 and 1/2 hours walking. From the Ivy river to Buhoma walking through the forest takes 4 hours. Total journey time 6 1/2 hours.
This Ivy river route ascends and descends gently through beautiful areas of the rain forest with several viewpoints from the murram road from/to Nkuringo over looking lush mist shrouded valleys. The trail is also an important footpath for local people travelling to and from Nkuringo particularly on market days to Nteko village on the southern boundary of the park. Monkeys, duikers, bush pigs and some of Bwindi's world renowned bird species plus many butterflies can be observed.
A walking safari through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is an activity that will only compliment your visit to a gorilla group family. Some do a gorilla trek prior to the walking Safari and then another one the day after they have completed their walking safari through Bwindi Impenetrable – A Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Walking Safari becomes one of the highlights of your time in Uganda, incredible views, incredible sights, incredible plants and trees, incredible primates, birds, mammals and butterflies – all creating lasting memories of your time in Uganda…from Kampala…jon
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” John Hemingway, African Journeys
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