Safari activities to do in Bwindi Forest National Park 2024
Safari activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park 2024: Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, located in southwestern Uganda, is a remarkable destination renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, unique landscape, and significant conservation. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the places in the world where you can find the endangered mountain gorilla in its natural habitat. The park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Bwindi impenetrable national park offers a variety of activities for visitors, with the highlight being gorilla trekking. Here are some of the activities you can enjoy at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park:
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the main activities offered in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking is an activity that involves a foot walk through the jungles of Bwindi Forest in search of habituated gorillas in their natural habitat, with the guidance of rangers, guides, and trackers. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has over 25 habituated gorilla families that tourists can trek in the four different sectors of the park. Buhoma gorilla sector in the northern part of the sector has 4 habituated gorilla families; Ruhija gorilla sector in the east of the park has 4 habituated gorilla families; Nkuringo gorilla sector in the south has 3 gorilla families; and Rushaga gorilla sector in the south also has 8 habituated gorilla families. Gorilla permits are in high demand; prior booking of at least 3 months is required to secure yours, and a single gorilla permit in Uganda costs 800 USD per person.
Safari activities to do in Bwindi Forest National Park 2024 : Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation is another astonishing activity to be part of while on a Uganda safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla habituation experience is a process by which gorillas are made to get used to the sight of humans before they are free and open for gorilla trekking. The activity involves spending more time with the gorilla. Gorilla Habituation Experience is a gorilla activity that involves walking and hiking through the thick rainforests in hunt for these semi-habituated mountain gorillas, which leave together in a given gorilla family. Once you encounter these astonishing primates, you will engage in activities that are used to make these mountain gorillas get used to human presence. The Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you a chance to spend more time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for about four hours of interaction. The gorilla habituation experience is a unique activity that offers you an astonishing opportunity to learn more about mountain gorillas. It’s done with a group of four visitors tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla family.
Safari activities to do in Bwindi Forest National Park 2024 : Bird watching
While Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is famously known for its population of endangered mountain gorillas, it is also a fantastic destination for birdwatching. The park is home to over 350 bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics and other rare and colorful birds. Some of the bird species you might encounter during birdwatching excursions in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, including the African green broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, are also found here. Other birds include Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, the Re-Throated Alethe, the Paradise Flycatcher, the Gigantic Forest Hornbill, the purple-breasted Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Collared Apalis, white-headed wood hoopoe, and blue-headed sunbird, among others.
Safari activities to do in Bwindi Forest National Park 2024 : Lake Mutanda visit
Lake Mutanda is a stunning destination situated in southwestern Uganda, near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s renowned for its breathtaking scenery, with rolling hills, lush vegetation, and astonishing views of the Virunga mountains, including captivating views of Mount Muhabura and Mount Gahinga. Visiting Lake Mutanda offers visitors a range of exciting experiences, including the opportunity to explore the lake on a leisurely boat cruise to admire the astonishing views of the landscape and enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings. Lake Mutanda and its surrounding forest area are home to a variety of bird species, making them a paradise for birdwatchers. During your visit, you will be immersed in beautiful coloful bird species such as the African fish eagle, the malachite kingfisher, and numerous species of sunbirds. Sunsets while at Lake Mutanda are exceptional.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is one of the activities conducted at the Buhoma community rest camp, as it offers an astonishing cycling experience that is provided for by the “Ride for a Woman” community women development initiative, which organizes the best-guided cycling experience. Mountain cycling in Bwindi is typically conducted according to guided rules and regulations at the park headquarters in Buhoma, and the ride starts in the morning from the Buhoma sector. While cycling, you may also encounter astonishing wildlife species such as bushbucks, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and others.
The Batwa community visited
The Batwa cultural experience will have travellers reliving the lives and practices of the Batwa, the people that lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before they got evicted and became squatters in the communities near the park. During the cultural experience, you will get the opportunity to share and demonstrate how they lived, hunted, cooked, made use of the least expected materials, like sticks to make fire, collected wild honey, and shared their knowledge of the plants that they used for both food and medicine. These fascinating groups of indigenous people highly depended on the forest and had, for a long time, coexisted with the animals and plant life. Sad songs and exotic dances will also be shared during the experience.
Buhoma community walks
Buhoma community walks offer visitors to Bwindi impenetrable national park the opportunity to explore the local community surrounding the park and engage with its culture, traditions, and daily life. Buhoma is one of the gateways to Bwindi, and it’s located in the northern part of the park. During the community walks, you will see how people make local crafts such as baskets with the most intricate designs, beer made from bananas, and a distillery that makes the local Waragi Gin from bananas. You will also meet a traditional healer and learn about what is gathered in the ancient forest and how it is taken and applied to ailments. See how the growing of local produce is done and harvested; prepare food over charcoal or open fire; visit a school; and meet the Batwa Pygmy community as they perform a dance for you, just to name a few.
