Top 8 Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Top 8 activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are those activities that any traveler should do when in and around the park for a tour. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that travelers on a safari to Uganda or anywhere in Africa ought to include it as no safari is complete without a visit to this impenetrable forest. The 331 square kilometers of the park has both montane and lowland vegetation with a variety of activities to do while in the park that one needs at least 5 days to explore fully.

The best 8 activities in Bwindi

Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Habituation
Bird watching
The Batwa cultural experience
Forest walks/hiking
Mountain biking
Buhoma community walks
Lake Mutanda visit

The top 8 activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are;

Gorilla Trekking

This is the number 1 of the top 8 activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking has attracted travelers from the world over and it is without a doubt that almost every traveler who has had a safari to Uganda has had gorilla trekking on their travel itinerary. Buying a gorilla permit at $700 effective July 2020 is what will enable one to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park an activity that will have you hiking through the impenetrable forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas with the guidance of the rangers, guides and trackers. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 19 habituated gorilla families that travelers can track 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 while Rushaga gorilla sector in the south as well has 8 habituated gorilla families. Gorilla permits are in high demand, prior booking of at the very least 3 months is required to secure yours.

Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla habituation is the number 2 of the top 8 activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla habituation takes place in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. Gorilla habituation will have travelers walking through the impenetrable forest with researchers collecting data and learning about the mountain gorillas and the gorilla family in particular. Travelers spend 4 hours with the gorillas once encountered and they get to learn of the behaviors of the family and interact with them. There are 2 gorilla families being habituated in Rushaga so only 8 permits per day are available for gorilla habituation only allows 4 persons per gorilla family. Booking in advance is also required to secure one’s permit. Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents and ugx750,000 for East African citizens.

Bird watching

Bird watching is one of the top 8 activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for this impenetrable forest is a birder’s haven that birders shouldn’t miss. There are about 350 bird species in Bwindi with 23 bird species being endemic to the Albertine Rift and 14 being recorded nowhere else in the country! The African Green Broadbill which is only found in the Ruhija sector and the Congo, the short-tailed warbler, blue-headed sunbird, Rwenzori night jar among so many others are some of the birds that travelers should look out for while in the park on a bird-watching spree. Remember to carry your binoculars.

The Batwa cultural experience

The Batwa cultural experience will have travelers 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. The Batwa people, during the cultural experience, will share and demonstrate how they lived, hunted, cooked, made use of the lest expected materials say sticks to make fire, how they collected wild honey and share on their knowledge of the plants that they used for both food and medicine. These people highly depended on the forest and had for a long time co-existed with the animals and plant life. The sad songs and exotic dances will also be shared during the experience.

Forest walks/hiking

There are guided nature walks through carefully developed trails in the park that travelers can take part in as they are a great way to explore and learn of the forest with the help of a guide. The Munyaga River trail takes travelers to the beautiful waterfalls in the park. The abundant and amazing flora and fauna in the park will make the trek even the more amazing. This trail can start from the Buhoma gate or the Rushaga gate, depending on where one is staying. This trail takes about 3-4 hours.

The Buhoma-Nkuringo and vice versa trail is also great as travelers get to peacefully explore the surroundings of the forest and lots of birds to see and hear. This trail can take up to 6 hours.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is the best doe from the Buhoma sector as it gives the best biking experience which is provided for by the Ride 4 a Woman community group who offer them on rent and organize the best-guided biking experience. The guides will share their knowledge of the area and the community plus the culture and numerous birdlife you will come across. Other sectors of Bwindi have lodges that provide biking as an activity, prior booking in all cases is required.

Buhoma community walks

This is possible for those travelers who track or stay in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. The Buhoma community walk will have travelers along with the help of guides, walk through the village visiting a local school, hospital, traditional healer and also get to see and take part in the traditional winemaking process. This walk is organized by the Buhoma community itself and by taking part in it, you are directly supporting them.

Lake Mutanda visit

Located in the southern part of the park, Lake Mutanda is a beautiful and refreshing place that travelers should go and unwind from after the gorilla trekking experience. The lake has many islands that can be explored on a dugout canoe with the help of a guide. Sunsets while at Lake Mutanda are exceptional.

With the top activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park listed above, you are surely guaranteed of an adventurous and yet relaxing stay. Take time to plan with a trusted tour operator the best safari to Bwindi and you will surely live to remember it.