Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Where the mountains wear a forest

Best time to visit June – September & December – February
Size 331 km²
Entry fee USD 40 per adult per 24 hours
Established 1991
Getting there 8 – 10 hours by road from Kampala, or a 1 hour flight to Kisoro / Kihihi followed by a short transfer.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects 331 square kilometres of ancient rainforest on the edge of the Albertine Rift. Steep, tangled and dripping with moss, it is the single best place on earth to sit quietly a few metres from a wild mountain gorilla family.

Four trailheads — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo — each hold habituated gorilla families, and the trek can last anywhere from one hour to eight. Besides gorillas, Bwindi shelters 120 mammal species including forest elephants and chimpanzees, and more than 350 bird species, many endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Highlights

  • One hour with a habituated gorilla family
  • The Batwa Experience with the forest’s original inhabitants
  • Exceptional Albertine Rift endemics for birders
  • Cool, misty mountain scenery and waterfalls

Highlights

  • Gorilla trekking in four sectors
  • Batwa cultural trail
  • Munyaga river walk
  • Birding with an Albertine Rift specialist

Wildlife you may see

  • Mountain gorillas
  • Chimpanzees
  • Forest elephants
  • Blue monkeys
  • L’Hoest’s monkeys
  • African green broadbill (birders' favourite)

Where it is

Where to stay

Luxury Lodge
★★★★

Mihingo Lodge

Lake Mburo National Park

  • Swimming pool and sun deck
  • Horse riding stables
  • Guided walking and cycling
  • Restaurant and bar
Budget & Camping
★★

Red Chilli Hideaway

Bujagali, Jinja

  • Camping ground
  • Self-catering kitchen
  • Bar and restaurant
  • Rafting and bungee booking
Mid-range
★★★

Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale District

  • Restaurant and bar
  • Dugout canoes and kayaks
  • Swimming (bilharzia-free water)
  • Guided village and hill walks
Luxury Lodge
★★★★

Apoka Safari Lodge

Narus Valley, Kidepo Valley National Park

  • Infinity pool over the waterhole
  • Bush dinners and sundowners
  • Library and lounge
  • Guided walks with rangers

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