One of the three UNESCO world heritage sites in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) is well-known for being home to 459 of the 1,603 gorillas, or about half of the total population of mountain gorillas worldwide. Uganda Wildlife Authority has habituated 23 gorilla families, and Bwindi is the only place that provides opportunities for both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation encounters. With these activities, you will get up close and personal with the gentle giants in their natural habitat. The first step for anyone planning to see gorillas is to secure a permit in advance from a reliable tour operator.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers 331 square kilometers and is an Afromontane tropical forest located in the Kigezi highlands, on the edge of the Albertine rift basin in southwest Uganda. The park has an average elevation of 1,160–2,560 meters above sea level. In addition to the afromotane, Bwindi contains a range of habitats such as Ngoto and Mubwindi marshes and bamboo vegetation, which contribute to the park’s great biodiversity, including over 1,000 plants and 100 tree ferns; 160 tree species, including brown mahogany, giant tree ferns, Guinea plum (Parinari excelsa); and the African cherry tree, African star apple tree (Chrysopyllum albidum).There are 120 mammal species, making for the highest in East Africa. There are over 347 species of birds, of which 24 are Albertine rift endemics, including the critically endangered African green broadbill, Shelly’s crimson wing, and Chapin’s flycatcher. In addition to gorillas, there are 10 primate species in Bwindi impenetrable national park, including chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and velvet monkeys, among others.
Gorillas are the main attraction for visiting Bwindi impenetrable national park, however. As a bucket list destination, Bwindi offers a wealth of activities that truly contribute to the conservation of endangered gorilla populations and support community livelihood projects in order to create a win-win situation for conservation and development. These activities include village walks, cultural tours of the Batwa pygmies’ community, birding, nature walks, mountain biking, canoeing, boat trips on Lake Bunyonyi, and volunteer and internship opportunities at the park and Buhoma hospital. Local tour guides can design an itinerary that will show you the best that Bwindi has to offer.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done at the 4 gorilla sectors, including Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringi, and Rushaga. The activity offers visitors an opportunity to spend 1 hour with a fully habituated gorilla family, making for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. Trekking gorillas is also available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is part of the Virunga Massif.
Gorilla habituation in Bwindi is done at Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors only in the south part of the park. Habituation of wild gorillas is a long-term research process of training wild gorillas to get accustomed to humans for tourism and conservation purposes. The experience offers an opportunity to spend 4 hours with gorillas. Visitors are accompanied by a team of habituators and trackers to learn about the techniques used to approach the gorillas in a non-threatening manner. For instance, they imitate gorillas by chewing on vegetation, knuckle walking, and making grunts.
Sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is divided into four sectors, which include Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga, where gorilla trekking and other activities are conducted. Each sector offers a unique experience of its own.
Buhoma
Buhoma is the main headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park and was established in 1993 with the official launch of Uganda gorilla safaris. Starting with the first three gorilla families to be habituated, which include Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura, UWA has habituated more three, making a total of six gorilla families now available for trekking in Buhoma. The sector offers well-developed infrastructure, including the most high-end accommodation facilities, and better accessibility by road and air via Kihihi airstrip. Buhoma is an 1-hour drive south of the Ishasha wilderness in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From Buhoma, one can walk across the forest on foot to the Nkuringo sector.
Buhoma offers a wide range of activities, including the Munyaga self-guided trail, waterfalls trail, and River Ivi trail for birding with some of the Albertine rift endemics such as Chapin’s flycatcher, Shelly’s crimson wing, African green broadbill, Archer’s robin chat, and the stripe-breasted tit. Buhoma is where Bwindi borders with the Sarambwe nature reserve in DR Congo. Visitors can hike via the Rutshuru trail to the top of the hill for spectacular views of the Albertine rift valley. Village walks in Buhoma offer an opportunity to visit community livelihood projects such as the Conservation Through Public Health coffee tours and the Ride 4 A Woman workshop.
Ruhija sector
Located in the remote southeast of Bwindi impenetrable national park, Ruhija is at the highest elevation at Rwamunyonyi peak (2,706 m). As such, gorilla treks as well as getting there can be challenging due to the nature of the terrain. There are four gorilla families, of which only Oruzogo and Bitukura are for trekking. The other two are under research conducted by the Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. In addition to gorilla trekking, Ruhija is also famous for harboring a relatively good number of Albertine rift endemics, making for a fantastic spot for bird watching in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Accommodations in Ruhija are somewhat fewer, but fortunately, they’re conveniently located near the gorilla center, including Agandi Uganda Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, and Gorilla Mist Camp. Ruhija is 40 km (1 hour drive) from Buhoma, and visitors can easily combine them for a double gorilla trekking safari.
Rushaga
Rushaga is located in the southern part of Bwindi, well accessible for gorilla safaris starting from Kigali, Rwanda. There are 7 gorilla families, including Bikingi, which is available for gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla permits tend to be available, and the sector is ideal for those looking for last-minute gorilla trekking permits. Rushaga also offers a wide range of accommodations, such as Four Gorillas Lodge and Gorilla Leisure Lodge, which give back to the community. There are hiking trails to visit waterfalls and explore the forest on foot. Rushaga is also located in between Bwindi and Mgahinga. You can stay in Rushaga around Lake Mulehe and make excursions to both parks.
Nkuringo
Nkuringo is located along the Nteko ridge and known for beautiful views of the Virunga Mountains. The sector hosts 4 gorilla groups, including the Nkuringo, Christmas, and Posho, which are for gorilla habituation experience. Cultural experiences with local communities include visiting the Batwa pygmies to learn about their pre-historic, ancient fire-making Batwa style.