Uganda's foremost tourist attraction, and indeed one of the world's most remarkable wildlife encounters, is tracking mountain gorillas through the remote Bwindi Impenetrable forest of south-western Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) is located 512km from the capital Kampala and can be accessed by road (8 hours) and by air (1.5hours). Gorilla trekking starts at 8:00am and may last for 1-6 hours depending on how deep the gorillas have moved into the forest. Some parts of the forest are quite steep and slippery and therefore require trekkers to be physically fit. Upon meeting the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour (as recommended by scientists) to observe them, take photos and video recordings. Participants must be 16 and over. Advance booking is essential.
There
is however much more to Bwindi than gorilla tracking. Forest trails lead to scenic waterfalls
and rift valley viewpoints while community walks through local villages
provide insights into the lives of the Batwa (Pygmy) and Bakiga people living
beside the forest. The Bakiga, are a farming people who are responsible for the
striking terraced hillsides that extend up to the edge of the forest to the south
of Bwindi. Traditionally the interior of Bwindi was home to Batwa (Pygmy)
hunter-gatherers who now live on the edge of the forest.
Bwindi is also one of Uganda's top bird watching destinations with many Albertine Rift endemics including the localized green broadbill. Among other bird species are brown-necked parrot and the white-bellied robin chat which occur nowhere else in Uganda.