What to see in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

What to see in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park? Bwindi impenetrable national park is renowned for the mountain gorilla trekking, allowing the visitors to observe habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat. The park’s dense forests also host other primates like chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, as well as a rich variety of the bird species, and among many others making it a haven for the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Mountain Gorillas

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda offer a unique experience to travelers and this is the main attraction of tourists in Bwindi. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the world’s biggest remaining population of mountain gorillas, an endangered species. Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Rushaga are among the 19 habituated gorilla families that can be found in Bwindi’s four sectors. Because of poaching and development on the land surrounding Bwindi, mountain gorillas were on the verge of extinction. Regulations were established to ensure the protection of mountain gorillas and round-the-clock security in the National Park as a result of conservationists and government efforts.

Through Focus East Africa Tours, visitors must first get a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in order to view the mountain gorillas in their natural environment. These are simple procedures that begin with you giving the tour operator your journey dates so they can see whether permits are available. Once it has been established that the permits are available, you will be requested to make the necessary payments for the permission and once the payment has been confirmed, the permits will be purchased on your behalf. 

The gorilla trekking activity begins early in the morning, and all visitors must attend the briefing where they will be informed of the guidelines. After that, they will be split up into groups of eight and given gorilla families to hike with. Depending on your level of physical fitness and the location of the gorilla family you have been assigned, the walk could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Once you have located the mountain gorillas, you will spend an hour with them before returning to the park headquarters to receive your certificate. Bwindi also offers a gorilla habituation experience where tourists get to spend 4 hours with the primates, and only a maximum of 4 people are allowed to participate in the exercise.

The bird species

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is residence to over 300 bird species, 24 of which are endemic to the Albertine region, and these can be seen throughout the year. However, the best time is during the rainy season, from March to May and October to November, when the migratory birds are in the country. Bwindi offers great bird sightings and experiences with various bird species some of which include the African broadbill, black-billed turaco, Archer’s robin-char, Blue-headed rufous warbler, Black-faced rufous warbler, Dwarf honeyguide, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Doherty’s bush-shrike,

Carruthers’s cisticola, Fraser’s eagle owl, Chapin’s flycatcher, Eastern Mountain greenbul, Mackinnon’s shrike, Lagden’s bush-shrike, Kivu ground thrush, blue-headed sunbird, Grauer’s broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Ruwenzori Apalis, Purple-breasted sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Neumann’s warbler, Mountain masked Apalis, Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird, Red-chested flufftail, regal sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, white-tailed blue flycatcher, stripe-breasted tit, Shelley’s crimsoning, Ruwenzori turaco, white bellied robin-chat, yellow streaked greenbul, white-tailed crested flycatcher and yellow-eyed black flycatcher among others.

When arranging a birding safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you have to pack a few basic goods, which include a recognition book, a pair of binoculars to assist you spot the numerous bird species in the forest and comfortable clothes, among others.

The waterfalls

Bwindi, being a mountainous area, is a water catchment area, and several waterfalls are found in the different parts of the national park. The best way to get to these waterfalls is by taking a guided walk through the forests. The waterfalls that can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include the following:

Muyanga River Falls: Muyanga River Falls are found in the Buhoma sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and can be reached by trekking through the Bizenga Creek, which converges with the River Muyanga. The Buhoma headquarters is the starting point for the 1.5-kilometer journey to the falls, which have 33-meter-high water drops. Among other things, visitors can take a guided nature walk, see the waterfalls up close, and see a variety of birds and primates.

Suma Falls: Visitors must hike through the rush forests to reach the Suma Falls, which are situated in the Nkuringo sector in the southern region of Bwindi. You will be able to see a variety of birds, butterflies, primates, and the falls that cascade into a deep pool below as you hike to the falls.

Bayenda Falls: The best route to the Bayenda Falls is to take the trail that passes the Nyegyere River. The falls are located in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The vistas you receive from this walk, which winds through Bwindi’s deep forests, contain rare plant, bird, and primate species. When you arrive at the falls, you will be able to witness the stunning cascade of several levels.

Ivy River Falls: Located in the Buhoma sector, the trail to the falls winds through a thick forest, allowing visitors to observe butterflies, birds, primates, and unusual plant species.

These waterfalls act as water sources for the animal life that is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; some of the waterfalls are used for spiritual purposes by the locals living in the local communities, especially the Batwa, they attract tourists and offer nutrients within the national park.

Cultural trips around Bwindi:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has many local communities of distinctive tribes that live adjacent to the National Park with the notable communities being the Bakiga and Batwa communities. Incorporating a cultural visit to the local people with a gorilla trekking safari allows you to share your cultural experiences with the world.

The Batwa people are hospitable to visitors, and you may take in their songs, dances, and musical acts while also learning about their various customs and distinctive hunting methods. You can visit the community to assist in funding various projects, such as schools, health facilities, and maize mills, in addition to shopping at the handcrafts store and taking part in everyday activities.