Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Tourist Attractions
There are many tourist attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of the largest untraversable rainforests in southwestern Uganda along the edge of the Great Western Rift Valley. Bwindi presents a botanically diverse terrain of very old mist-covered rainforests on highly elevated hillsides. These forests host some of the world’s rare and endangered plant and animal species.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, Bwindi offers outstanding tourist attractions. The park features the famous yet unique endangered mountain gorillas that live in higher altitude areas.
Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi National Park’s main attraction is the mountain gorilla, one of the largest living primates and a subspecies of the eastern gorilla. The park shelters an estimated 459 endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi hosts half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. The park divides into four rainforest sections, each home to habituated gorilla groups that tourists can visit for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Animals
Bwindi also hosts diverse plant species, mammals such as elephants and antelopes, and primates including chimpanzees and baboons, among many other wildlife species.
Birds in Bwindi National Park
Bwindi also hosts more than 350 bird species, including 23 rare species endemic to the Albertine region. Birds include the black-billed turaco, bar-tailed trogon, Shelley’s crimsonwing, crowned hornbill, African harrier-hawk, black-crowned waxbill, brown-capped weaver, giant kingfisher, and others. You may also spot the regal sunbird, Neumann’s warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, and dusky crimsonwing. The montane rainforests provide habitat for bird species found only in Uganda as well as migratory birds, making Bwindi one of the best destinations for montane birdwatching. This is one of the more famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park tourist attractions.
What animals live in Bwindi?
Other attractions in Bwindi include reptiles and more than 200 butterfly species, eight of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. The park also features major rivers, diverse tree species, and ferns.
What is Bwindi Famous for?
Bwindi is famous for its endangered mountain gorillas. It hosts many habituated gorilla groups in Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. Tourists can see these gorillas on Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Unhabituated gorillas allow for a unique Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi while they undergo habituation. These remain the park’s two main activities. However, there are still a very wide range of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park tourist attractions.
Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Besides mountain gorilla trekking, tourists can enjoy guided nature walks, Batwa cultural experiences, and birdwatching.
How do I Get to Bwindi National Park?
Bwindi lies about 512 kilometers from Kampala to Bwindi National Park. Flights provide a faster option. Scheduled helicopter flights to Bwindi National Park from Entebbe International Airport operate via Aero Link. Flights land in the south at Kisoro airstrip or in the north at Kihihi airstrip, taking roughly 1–2 hours.
You can also travel by road using private vehicles or public buses. Driving from Kampala takes 9–20 hours. The journey offers views of undulating hills, modern cities, busy towns, and diverse cultures and languages. Travelers pass through village settings, verdant hillocks, and countryside landscapes as they approach Bwindi.
Bwindi National Park Accommodations
Visitors will find a wide range of accommodations in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, from high-end luxury, midrange, standard, to budget facilities. Most properties operate as lodges, letting you choose based on your interests and budget. Across the park’s four sectors, accommodations include Buhoma Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Sanctuary Retreat Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ichumbi Gorillas Lodge, Four Seasons Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Gorilla Close-Up Camp.
Bwindi attractions draw many visitors, while Uganda offers millions of other adventure treasures. For example, chimpanzees feature as major tourist activities in Kibale National Park, where you can enjoy chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation.
Other outstanding tourist attractions exist in the Savannah National Parks, such as Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. These parks offer wildlife viewing experiences.
Contact us at info@rwandaecocompany.com to arrange a well-planned, tailor-made safari in Uganda for the most memorable experience.
