Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in south western Uganda. Bwindi, as popularly referred by many is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, covering an area of 32,000 hectares and known for its exceptional diversity.  Here, you will find over 160 species of trees and more than 100 species of ferns. Bwindi Forest lies at the junction of the plains and mountain forests bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo just next to Congo’s Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift.

Covering an area of 321 square kilometers and lying at an altitude of between 1,160 and 2,607 meters above sea level, The Bwindi Forest National Park by itself was gazetted as a national park in 1994, before being listed as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994. The Bwindi forest which is a source of 5 major Rivers that flow into Lake Edward is a bird watcher’s paradise, a habitat for many species of butterflies and home to the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas. Over 120 species of mammals that include primates like chimpanzee and baboons as well as Elephants and Antelopes live here. More than 350 bird species have been recorded in Bwindi, including 23 rare species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Despite its vastness and diversity, it is however Mountain Gorillas that have made Bwindi National Park one of the most famous parks in Africa. Over 450 Mountain Gorillas were recorded to exist in Bwindi National Park as of year 2018, living in 50 families and with 15 others being solitary individuals. The global population of mountain gorillas stands at around 1,063, with Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda being home to about 50% of this population, and the rest residing in the neighboring Virunga mountains range in Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. It is at Bwindi, a jungle that spreads over a series of steep ridges and valleys where Mubare, the first Gorilla family was habituated in 1993, opening it up for tourism.

Presently, there are three areas of Bwindi where habituated Gorilla families are available for Gorilla tracking / tourist activities. The Buhoma sector, which is home to FOUR habituated Gorilla families is the most popular, having being the first place where Gorilla tracking took place. Here, the Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe families attract hundreds of tourists for Gorilla tracking safaris each year. The area also has a good number of mid-range and high-end accommodation facilities, including the first ones to have been built in Bwindi National Park.

On the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will find the Ruhija Sector. Located near the town of Kanungu, The Ruhija sector is home to FOUR habituated Gorilla families. These are Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro and Mukiza Gorilla families, with Mukiza being latest addition to the list of habituated Gorilla families in Ruhija.

The Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors, located on the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the last part of Bwindi where successfully habituated Gorilla families are located. Here (Nkuringo sector) you will find the Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas Gorilla families while in Rushaga, you will find the Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza and Busingye Gorilla families. In addition, you will find the less known Kutu, Mucunguzi, Rwigi and Bikyingi Habituated Gorilla families. Some of them like Bikyingi which is one of the newest habituated Gorilla groups are available for Gorilla habituation experience.

Considering the long driving hours (approximately 10) from Kampala in Uganda to Bwindi National Park, it is worth noting that the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi and closer to Kigali in Rwanda with drives taking about 5 hours. You can therefore arrive in Kigali, Rwanda and trek Gorillas in Uganda where permits cost USD 700 per permit, compared to USD 1,500 per permit in Rwanda. We will offer you all the available options and prices when you contact us on email.