Why Include Bwindi Gorilla Park to your Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the south western part of Uganda, it is 331 square kilometers and the altitude ranges from 1160metres-2,607 meters. It is a typical thick rain forest, spreading across the valleys as well as over steep ridges forming Albertine Rift Valley eastern edge. Bwindi National Park is included on several Rwanda Safari itineraries and in this article we have tried to summarize some of the reason why this is so.

The park is one of the most biologically rich forests in Africa, due largely to its altitude which ranges from between 1,160 and 2,607m above sea level and its antiquity. With an average rainfall of 1,500mm, it’s a vital water catchment area, making it a source of five big rivers, flowing into Lake Albert.

Wildlife in Bwindi National Park

The park has a number of attractions like the rare mountain gorillas which is the main attraction, elephants, diurnal primates, 14 snake species,6 chameleons, 360 bird species like Striped breasted tit, Red faced woodland warbler, African broad bill, Red throated alethe, Handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco, Grauers warbler, Yellow footed flycatcher, Archers ground thrush, Short tailed warbler Kivu ground thrush, Dwarf honey guide, Sunbirds, Yellow eyed flycatcher, Crimson wing, Dusky twin spot, Rwenzori batis, Apalis and butterfly species. Areal bird watcher can record 100 species and this can be done mainly in Buhoma and Ruhija.

Gorilla Groups Living In Bwindi National Park

The park has many gorilla groups some are open to be visited by tourists while others are for research. The gorillas visited by tourists have been habituated and are familiar to human presence whereas the study gorillas are only accessed by scientists and there are a few places where they can be tracked and they include in Buhoma area, Ruhija area and Nkuringo area.

The Buhoma Area: This has three gorilla groups and they include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura

The Nkuringo Area: This has groups like Nkuringo, Mishaya, Nshongi and Kahungye one of the new group

The Ruhija Area: has Bitukura as well as Orozogo which is also a new group.

Each of these gorilla-groups has between 8-12 gorilla individuals so 8 (eight) trackers are allowed per day therefore a total of 24 at Buhoma side, 16 at Nkuringo side. All together, 48 trackers can track these primates in a day. Gorilla tracking takes two to seven hours and also a whole day because some groups are mysterious especially when it is muddy.

Where to Sleep in Bwindi National Park

The accommodation in the park depends mainly on the side where one is going to track the gorillas from. If one is going to track at the Buhoma side then accommodation lodges at the Buhoma include Buhoma lodge which is a standard accommodation located at the edge of the Park. There is also Buhoma Homestead and Buhoma Community Bandas and Campsite, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, which are budget accommodations. There is gorilla resort, Mantana Tented Camps, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Silverback lodge and Volcanoes Bwindi Camp as high accommodation.

On the Kisoro side, there is clouds lodge which is the luxury one, Nkuringo gorilla camp cottages, Gorilla safari lodge are mid range and Wagtail lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp Bandas are budget.

What to do in Bwindi National Park?

1. Gorilla tracking is the main activity in Bwindi Park and it takes two to eight hours to meet the gorillas or even a whole day depending on the weather and the type of gorilla group. Visitors are supposed to spend one hour with them. For one to track the gorillas a permit is required and these are bought at the offices of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
2. Guided day walk to Buhoma is another activity
3. Village walk. This activity is mainly done by the visitors tracking the Nkuringo gorilla group. They visit the Batwa village
4. Forest birding is also an activity carried out in the park.
5. Waterfalls walk: the park has a number of waterfalls both at the Buhoma side and the Kisoro side

For more information about the Bwindi National Park, please visit www.gorillas-safaris.com/bwindi-national-park/