Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – 10 – Top Things to Do and See
10-Top Tourist Activities in and near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda
Top Things to Do and See – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is a treasure trove of activities and stunning sights waiting to be discovered.
Prepare yourself for an incredible adventure as you embark on gorilla trekking, immerse yourself in guided nature walks, delve into the vibrant Batwa culture, witness breathtaking waterfalls, indulge in bird watching, engage with local communities, traverse the Forest from elevated vantage points on canopy walks, and revel in captivating cultural performances.
Brace yourself for the Top Things to Do and See – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will find that the things to do will be part of an unforgettable journey of discovery in Bwindi Impenetrable forest in the Gorilla Highlands of Uganda.
Top Things to Do and See – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
What draws Tourists to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
The Primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the oldest Afro-Montane Forests in East Africa. It survived the earth’s shift that created the Albertine Rift around it. It is thought that Bwindi Impenetrable Forest may have been inhabited 370,000 – 400,000 years ago by the Batwa People, the original people of the Rainforest indigenous to Uganda.
Due to its age, one can see plants and trees not found elsewhere. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a hidden pearl in Uganda awaiting your discovery. However, many come here.
There are several compelling reasons to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Mountain Gorilla Trekking: Bwindi is one of the few places where yWorldn closely encounters endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has more Mountain Gorillas than any other Gorilla Park, such as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
- Biodiversity: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to a wide array of plant and animal species. Apart from gorillas, you can spot other primates like chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and baboons. The Forest is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 350 bird species recorded.
- Scenic Beauty: The Forest is nestled in a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills and mist-covered valleys. The lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams create a picturesque setting that is a treat for the eyes and soul. UNESCO World Heritage Site CNN picked Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Cultural Interaction: Bwindi is inhabited by the Batwa pygmies, an indigenous community that
has coexisted with the Forest for centuries. Visiting Bwindi allows you to learn about their unique culture, traditions, and sustainable way of life.
By visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you directly support conservation efforts to protect the gorillas and their habitat. Your visit contributes to the local economy, incentivizing communities to conserve wildlife and sustainably manage the Forest.
Visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is not only a chance to witness incredible wildlife but also an opportunity to contribute to the preservation of a fragile ecosystem. So, grab your camera, put on your hiking boots, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure!
10 Top Things to Do and See in-near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
The activities offer visitors various options to experience the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest beyond gorilla trekking. It’s important to note that all activities in the Park are regulated and require permits or the assistance of a licensed guide.
1. Gorilla Tracking – the number 1 activity in the Park:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is best known for Gorilla Tracking, which is why most visitors come to this Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest provides an incredible backdrop for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. There are four trailheads from which one tracks one of the gorilla families for which we have obtained permits for you.
More Gorilla Families have been habituated to visitors. That means over 100 daily gorilla permits are available in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Wear suitable clothing for the trek and bring the things needed.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the best, Safe, Secure African Park for Gorilla Trekking, plus lower permit prices.
2. Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga- More Time with Gorillas:
Only in Uganda can you be with a Mountain Gorilla Family for 4 hours on a Gorilla Habituation Experience. Researchers in Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest accompany you – this fantastic experience – to be with a Mountain Gorilla Family as it is being habituated is a one-of-a-kind experience in Africa.
One family group is habituated, meaning they are becoming used to human contact and will not run away from visitors trekking them.
You can fly into Kigali, Rwanda, and 4 hours later, be in the Rushaga Region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You can choose quality moderate and upmarket lodging and stay either in Rushaga or the scenic Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The Gorilla Habituation means fewer Participants and more Time with the Gentle Giants of the Forest. Read more here.
3. Other Primates you see in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Most often, you see other primates during Gorilla Trekking in the Park. Chimpanzees are here, their shrieks might be heard occasionally, but they are rarely seen around Cuckooland Lodge in the Ruhija area of the Park. You will most likely see Black and White Colobus Monkeys while trekking Gorillas o hiking in the Forest.
There are no scheduled nocturnal Walks in Bwindi Forest, meaning you will miss the Nocturnal primates, such as the Potto and the various Galago Species, unless you see them near your lodge.
You might see L’Hoest’s Monkeys, De Brazza Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, and Blue Monkeys as you trek through the ForestForest. All such sightings enhance your time with the Gentle Giants of the Forest.
4. Cultural Encounters with the First People of the Forest – the Batwa:
The Batwa People – are pygmies and were the first inhabitants of years. They were hunter-gatherers and lived in the forests of Southwest Uganda and beyond. They left a small ecological footprint on the Forest and lived in harmony with nature. Conservationists insisted that they were evicted from their traditional home, the Forest. In those days, they had no voice, no representation – they existed as squatters, beggars, accused of being drunkards, marijuana smoking, lazy people.
Today various organizations have given them a voice, defended their rights as first people, and improved their living conditions, medical care, education, and more.
The Batwa Experience in the Buhoma area and the Buniga Forest Walk near Southern Bwindi give you a glimpse into the lives and traditions of the Batwa Pygmies. It also restores their dignity and keeps their cultural practices alive to be passed on to future generations.
5. Hiking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
The Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes one day, or The Hike takes you from the north of Bwindi to the South of Nkuringo. You can stay overnight and continue the next day down to scenic Lake Mutanda, where you paddle across in a wooden dugout and proceed to the town of Kisoro.
It is the most popular Hike along two trails of Bwindi – there are. However, there are other trails and nature walks. Most are accessible to moderate endurance-wise. They are located in and near the Forest, meaning they can be explored on foot and require an hour to a day.
Hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is always with a guide. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Hikes have become more popular over the last few years, especially among those who trek gorillas twice, once in Buhoma and once in the South of the Park.
6. Hikes and Trails in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Park:
Not only can you hike through the Forest, but there are also many hikes and nature walk in and outside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that match various fitness levels.
Trails can be found in Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Some are birding hikes, while others focus on the scenery of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The Hikes and Nature Walks can be added to your Gorilla Trek or gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Let us know when you plan your safari with us about your hiking plans.
Note: Hiking within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest incurs a daily Park Entrance Fee plus Ranger Guide Fee per person. Hiking Trails outside of the Park have only Guide Fees for the day. Read more here.
7. Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is one of the prime birding destinations in Africa. Over 347 species of forest birds are recorded in the Park; at least 70 out of 78 montane bird species in the Albertine Rift region are found in the Forest and 22 of the 36 endemic species in the area.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has been picked as Africa’s Number One Birding Site, where many species are endemic to the ForestForest.
Now visitors come from far and wide to spot some of Africa’s rarest birds, and at the same time, they can track the Mountain Gorillas and enjoy other nearby prime birding spots.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a top Birding Destination in Africa.
8. Mountain Bike Rides – Buhoma and other areas of the Park:
Ride 4 a Woman, a community support group, offers mountain bike rentals and guided bike rides in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Buhoma area of the Park.
You can do the Village Walk on a bike with a guide. There are Birding Bike Rides, or merely a ride into the Forest, such as the Ivy River Trail. The average Bike Ride is 3 hours or longer, with much to see along the trail or road.
The guides are all well-trained. Some specialize in birding, others in culture, but all know Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which they all love and want to conserve.
Please Note: The Buhoma area provides the best Biking Experience. Unfortunately, there are no organized biking experiences in the other areas of the Park. A few lodges have added biking as available activity in the different regions of the Park. Read more here.
9. Village Walks such as the Buhoma Village Walk:
Here you have a 3-hour cultural walk through the village – you learn the ways and culture of the people that live in the Buhoma area on the edge of Bwindi Forest. The Village Walk is with a local guide who is friendly and knowledgeable about local culture and customs.
You will see how people make local crafts, such as baskets with the most intricate designs – beer made from Bananas, and a distillery that makes the local Waragi Gin from Bananas, meet a traditional healer, and learn about what is gathered in the ancient ForestForest and how it is taken and applied to ailments – you will be amazed –
See how local produce grows and is harvested, food preparation over charcoal or open fire, visit a school, and meet the Batwa Pygmy community as they dance for you, to name a few. It is undoubtedly a cultural learning experience, and the cost of the walk supports the local community – a win-win for everyone. (3 hours in length and the difficulty level is easy – Location – Buhoma Area) gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Please Note: Each of the 4 Areas of the Park has a Village Walk; the Buhoma one is the oldest. The Nkuringo area is a close second, and you can also do a Village Walk in the Rushaga and Ruhija Areas of the Park. Read more here.
10. Bwindi Community Hospital – one of Uganda’s Best Rural Hospitals:
The Bwindi Community Hospital is located in the Buhoma Area. One reason this hospital is on the cutting edge of Medical Care is that donations partly support it that Gorilla Trekkers have made.
The hospital gives excellent care, including Dental and Sight care. The infant mortality rate in the area has been dramatically reduced, and life expectancy significantly increased. The hospital has a great children’s ward and offers dental and sight care to the community. It is supported mainly by present and past Gorilla Trekkers to the Park.
Visitors are welcome to come and see them most anytime – the hospital gives a glimpse of what healthcare can be like for rural Ugandans.
Helpful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Information – Tips – Advice
Is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Safe & Secure?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the safest National Parks in East Africa. There are 4 Parks where you can track Mountain Gorillas, three of them without incident for the past 20 years. Virunga National Park, the oldest in Africa, is located in Eastern Congo, where Rebel Groups such as the Mai-Mai, Criminal Gangs such as the Charcoal Gangs have created havoc.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is safe and secured where. You cannot even enter the Park without an armed Ranger Escort. Rangers and the Ugandan Military 24/7 monitor the Park and its activities. You do not go on a Gorilla Trek without an armed escort.
Bwindi Impenetrable earns more income for Uganda Wildlife Authority than any other park. The permit and the entrance money are used for conservation and local communities providing infrastructure near the Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the Crown Jewel of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and everything is done to protect the Park, the mountain Gorillas, and visitors from around the World. Read mWorldere.
Where To Stay in or near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Where to stay while visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and gorilla tracking, hiking, biking, cultural walks, and birding in the ancient Rainforest?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Lodging ranges from budget to exclusive luxury lodging. The range of lodges is extensive, especially in the Buhoma Area of the Park.
In recent years added lodges have sprung up in the other areas of the Park, giving visitors a range of options and selections.
Lodge Rates tend to be higher around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest than in other parks in Uganda. On the positive side, lodge rates are lower than in neighboring Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking.
We use Quality Lodges based o feedback from our Clients and our Observations. Read more here.
Our Gorilla Trekking Safaris include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with 480 plus Gorillas, remains the best place in East Africa for Gorilla Trekking. Besides, it has more Habituated Gorilla Groups than anywhere else.
Not only can you trek Gorillas on safari here, but Bwindi is the only place you can go on an all-day Gorilla Habituation Experience – spending 4 hours with a gorilla group being habituated.
Gorilla Trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Luxury Gorilla Safaris Fly-in Gorilla Safaris Fly into Rwanda – Trek Gorillas in Uganda Safaris
Gorilla Habituation Experience Safaris
Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Drive to Bwindi Forest from Entebbe:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a 9-hour plus drive from Entebbe International Airport. We break that long drive into smaller movements by incorporating different parks and activities.
Fly into Kigali and drive to Bwindi Forest:
Fly into Kigali – Rwanda and Trek Gorillas in Uganda – Kigali International Airport is the gateway to Southwest Uganda. A mere 4-hour drive and you are in Rushaga or Nkuringo in the Southern End of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with some of the best Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
Fly to Bwindi Forest:
Fly-In Gorilla Safaris: You can also fly from Entebbe with AeroLink Safari Airline to Kihihi and stay in the Buhoma area of the Forest or fly to Kisoro and stay in the southern region of the Forest. This option is gaining popularity each year.
Best time to visit Bwindi Forest:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a rainforest that can rain any time of the year. Most rainfall is at night or early in the morning, and the sun does come out most days.
The best time of the year to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest includes the months of January through March, June through October and the last two weeks of December.
Gorilla Trekking takes place rain or shine. There are never cancellations due to inclement weather in the area.
Bwindi Forest is more excellent than most other parks in Uganda due to its elevation. You might want to wear a sweater in the evening or early morning. Read more here.
Current Weather for Bwindi Forest Kisoro Area
Contact us about the 10 – Top Things to Do and See – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
