Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) spans 321 km² and ranges in elevation from 1,160m to 2,607m. It was designated a National Park in 1991 and became a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in 1994. The Mubare gorilla group in Buhoma was the first to be habituated for tourism in April 1993. Today, fifteen groups have been habituated for tourism, and visitors can track them from four trailheads. Tracking mountain gorillas in the remote Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in south-western Uganda is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife experiences. These magnificent apes are rare and endangered, with a total population of less than 800. They live in Bwindi and the nearby Virunga volcanoes. Bwindi, with its fifteen habituated groups, is the premier destination for mountain gorilla tracking. However, Bwindi offers more than just gorilla tracking. Visitors can enjoy forest trails leading to scenic waterfalls and rift valley viewpoints. Community walks through local villages provide insights into the lives of the Batwa (Pygmy) and Bakiga people living near the forest. Bwindi is also a top birdwatching destination in Uganda, especially in the Ruhija sector, known for its many Albertine Rift endemics.

Activities and Attractions

Mountain Gorilla Tracking

The highlight of visiting Bwindi is spending a magical hour with a family of mountain gorillas. Tracking these gorillas can last from a few hours to an entire day, depending on the group’s location. Bwindi has fifteen habituated gorilla groups tracked from four trailheads: Buhoma in the northwest, Ruhija in the east, and Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south. Eight permits are available for each group daily, with a total of 120 permits issued each day. Permits must be booked in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Booking Office in Kampala. Registration starts at 07:30, followed by a briefing at 08:00, and tracking begins at 08:30. Visitors must adhere to specific rules to protect both the gorillas and themselves. Participants in gorilla tracking must be at least 15 years old.

Birding

Bwindi’s trailheads offer excellent birding opportunities, with the chance to spot forest rarities. The River Ivi Trail between Buhoma and Nkuringo is highly recommended, as is the Munyaga River Trail at Buhoma’s forest edge. The Bamboo Trail in Ruhija leads to the 2,607m Rwamunyonyi peak and the Mubwindi Swamp Trail, both known for Albertine Rift endemics, including the green broadbill.

Nature Walks

While gorilla tracking is the main draw, Bwindi also offers more relaxed nature walks through its beautiful rainforest. Walks can be arranged to start in the morning at 09:00 and in the afternoon at 14:00. The Munyanga River Trail, below the Buhoma trailhead, offers a short walk to view birds and primates along the forest edge. The Waterfall Trail passes through pristine rainforest, featuring tree ferns, epiphytic ferns, and orchids, leading to three sparkling waterfalls. The Rushura Hill Trail provides expansive views of the Albertine Rift Valley plains and, on clear days, Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains to the north.

Local People

The Bwindi area is home to the Bakiga people, known for their terraced hillsides that extend up to the forest’s edge in the south. The forest’s interior was traditionally home to the Batwa (Pygmy) hunter-gatherers, who now live on the forest’s outskirts.

Access

Roads

The main trailhead at Buhoma is about 460 km from Kampala and can be reached by road from several directions. The main safari circuit approaches from the north through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector, offering a chance to see tree-climbing lions. BINP is 160 km from Mweya in central Queen Elizabeth National Park and 62 km from Ishasha. The most direct route from Kampala is via Mbarara and Ntungamo to Rukungiri, then through Kihihi and Butogota to Buhoma. Ruhija trailhead is accessed from the Kampala-Kisoro road, turning north 18 km past Kabale town. Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads are reachable via dirt roads west from Muko on the Kabale-Kisoro road and north from Kisoro town. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended for visiting Bwindi.

Air

Visitors can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro (for Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija) and to Savanna and Ishasha airstrips (for Buhoma). Arrangements for transport to the park should be made in advance.