BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

This park is situated in south western Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley (albertine rift). The park is shared by three districts, that is kabale, kisoro, and kanungu. The park is 331 square kilometers in size and on an altitude of range of 1,160 meters (ishasha gorge) to 2,607 meters (rwamanyonyi peak).
The coldest period is June and July.

The local people neighboring the park are bakiga and bafumbira occupying the densely populated areas in Uganda that is 350 people per square kilometer. A few batwa are also found within the area.

Species diversity
Bwindi accommodates 326 gorillas which is almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla’s population.
The park also harbors 346 bird species and over 200 butterfly species. This afromontane forest has dense under storey of fern, vines and shrubs.
The forest boasts of about 324 tree species, 10 of which don’t occur anywhere else in the Uganda.

Tourist activities in bwindi

Gorilla tracking

One should ensure physical fitness before going for gorilla tracking in bwindi because it can be challenging.

The following requirements should be carried

• A tourist should wear jungle shoes suitable for muddy slopes and carry rain jacket as the park is wet most of the time.
• Earplugs are advisable for those who feel uncomfortable with jungle sounds.
• Rain gear sunscreen lotion, a hat (since the weather is unpredictable) and insect repellant should be carried.
• One should carry packed lunch since there are no restaurants within the gorilla tracking areas.

Nature walks

This is yet another tourist activity conducted in bwindi impenetrable national park. The park has good hiking trails, which give tourists an opportunity to see and learn about many things like bird species, primates, butterflies, trees and many other organisms. Provision of guides that help tourists learn and understand what they view in the park is a guarantee. Nature walks begin at 9:00 in the morning, and 12:15 in the afternoon local time.

 The park has four hiking trails;
The munyaga river trail which is ideal for visitors with limited time. Tourists that take this trail view birds and primates of the forest edge.
The popular waterfall trail exposes visitors to attractive features of the forest with a profusion of tree ferns, epiphytic ferns, orchids and bwindi’s colorful array of butterflies. This trail leads to 3 delightful crystal clear waterfalls that typifies the visitor’s impression of a tropical rain forest.  
The Rushura trail commands expansive views across the western rift floor. To the west, Congo’s park nationale des virunga’s provides a spectacular backdrop and on clear days Lake Edward and the Rwenzori mountains are visible.
The 5.2 km muzabajiro loop trail. This trail offers breath taking views of bwindi forest, western rift valley, and virungas. On this trail visitors view a big number of pre-historic tree ferns. On top of this trail is a great place for picnics.
The river Ivi trail which is so far considered the longest in the park, can take one a full day. This trail is highly recommended for birders.

Buhoma village tourist walk

This village walk which takes up to three hours is conducted by community leaders and any financial earning is used to develop the standards of living of the community members.
This walk introduces tourists to a number of interesting sites such as typical rural homesteads, a banana beer brewing site; tourists also use this chance to visit the local traditional healer, and many other interesting experiences.
Hitting the trail in one’s car is yet another tourist activity carried on in Bwindi.tourists with 4-wheel drive vehicles should consider crossing the rugged centre of the park to Ruhija. This trail helps visitors view Uganda’s deep undistributed forests. The visitor is able to view primates, duikers, and both forest and grassland bird species. At Ruhija, visitors especially the birders are able to take three hour scenery packed hike to the Mubwindi swamp. Visitors are also able to view the bamboo zone which is only found here in the park. This bamboo trail offers 14 vegetation types and is one of the areas of highest diversity in the park. On the top of the trail, the visitor can be exposed to to other tourist attractions; lake bunyonyi and mafuga forest.

Bird watching

Bird watching is also one of the main tourist activities conducted in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi holds 346 bird species and contains 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, which are difficult or evn impossible to be seen anywhere else in east Africa. An experienced bird watcher can be able to identify 100 species of birds in one day. To experience this, one has to visit ruhija and Buhoma
Early morning departures can be arranged if the visitor indicates his or her interests to the park management.

Accommodation and meals
Buhoma has a number of choices to provide accommodation for both the up-market and the budget tourists.

• There is a rest camp operated by the local community. Buhoma community has a camp ground that has clean and simple bandas. There is a restaurant that serves all meals, that is, traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Bwindi view canteen in Buhoma is also suitable for low income earners.
• Buhoma homestead is yet another average accommodation that visitors in Bwindi can use.
• Gorilla forest camp is also advisable to be used by the up-market visitors as it seems to be somehow expensive. Buhoma provides other accommodation places;
• Mantana luxury camp
• Lake Kitandara Bwindi camp
• Volcanoes Bwindi camp
• Ruhiija has got a self catering guest house which must be booked in advance through wildlife authority in advance. This guest house accommodates both the up- market and budget tourists. This guest house provides food on order.
• Kihihi has savannah resort hotel which is 43 km to Buhoma and is adjacent to Ishasha sector, of Queen Elizabeth National park. This provides both accommodation and meals.
   Access
  Tourists cover a distance of 414 km to reach Kabale, which takes them 6-7 hours. Additional 120km from Kabale to Buhoma park headquarters via Kanungu and kanyantorogo which takes 3-4 hours and a 4 wheel drive is advisable. Kabale-Ruhiija-Buhoma is 95 km and takes about 3-4 hours. On this road a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Public means are can also be used. One may use a bus or a tax from Kampala to Kabale. In Kabale, a car can be hired at about us $50 or one may use a tax or pick up to butogota.However this public transport in Butogota is unpredictable, but most common on Thursdays. Visitors can arrange to be picked from Buhoma if they don’t have private means of transport.

For conservation reasons, visits to Bwindi impenetrable national park are limited. Due to that, the following rules and regulations have been and they should be strictly adhered to.

• People with communicable diseases like flue and diarrhea are not allowed in the park.
• No one is allowed to enter the park with any domestic animal like cats, dogs, among others.
• Littering is also not allowed since some animals may eat the stuff thrown in the park and get affected.
• Making noise in the park is prohibited.
• Visitors are advised to stay together in the group especially during the gorilla tracking process.
• Visitors are not allowed to eat while they are with gorillas.
• No persons less than 15 years of age are allowed to go for gorilla tracking.
•  Visitors are supposed to turn away from gorillas when they are going to sneeze or to cough. And they should cover their nose and mouth in the process.
• Visitors are not supposed to move suddenly as it may cause some noise.
• Visitors are not surpassed to eat or smoke in the presence of gorillas.
• No one is allowed beyond one hour with the gorillas. There is no spiting on the vegetation or soil while in the park.
• All human feaces should be buried deep and one should ensure that a whole is covered properly.
• Flashes should not be used while photographing the gorillas.
• Viewers are not supposed to get closer than 7 meters (21 feet) to the gorillas.
• The group should not be more than tourists and must all be over 15 years of age.