How To Get To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Uganda For Gorilla Trekking
By air
By Flight Visitors can opt to fly from Entebbe or from Kampala at Kajansi airport to the up-to-current tarmac airstrip situated in Kisoro. Aircraft can also be rented to fly to the Savannah or grass Kayonza airstrips.
Bwindi is well serviced by three airfields: Kihiihi and Kayonza in the north, and Nyakabande in Kisoro in the south for those looking to follow mountain gorillas (Mishaya, Nshongi plus Nkuringo).
Bwindi is located in southern Uganda, about 7 hours 35 minutes (463.7 km) from Kampala via Masaka Road.
The most convenient way to go to Bwindi is via car.
By road,
Bwindi Forest may be reached in 2 to 3 hours from Queen Elizabeth National Park in the north, in 6 to 8 hours from Kampala through Mbarara in the south, and in 1 to 2 hours from Kabale in the north. These roads then come together at Butogota, which is only 17 kilometers from the Buhoma entrance gate. A 4×4 vehicle is essential through the wet months. A daily bus service runs from Kampala to Butogota, passing through Rukungiri and Kihiihi. We recommend that you arrange your gorilla trekking safari through a reputable travel operator.
Kihihi-Buhoma-Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya)
You will travel through Ishasha on your route to the park, where you will observe climbing lions and monkeys on the road.
Bwindi is roughly 160 kilometers from Mweya and 64 kilometers from Ishasha.
Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma.
The road to Kabala is a tarmac highway that stretches 414 kilometers and takes 5-6 hours to travel. The next route is around 120 kilometers long and contains a murram road. The trek takes approximately 4-5 hours and passes via Kanungu and Kanyantorogo. A4WD is the most practical car.
Kampala – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi – Buhoma.
The shortest and most direct route is from Kampala to the tarmac road Rukungiri, which is approximately 390 kilometers long in addition to the murram road to Buhoma.
Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma.
This journey on Murram Road spans around 95 km2 and takes approximately 3-4 hours.
A 4WD is the only vehicle that can cross through Ruhija.
Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo.
It is approximately 105 kilometers from Kabale town and takes around 4 hours to reach the hilly Murram route. Many visitors spend the night at Kisoro town, and the remaining route from Kabale to Nkuringo is around 80 kilometers. Kisoro road is 35 kilometers long and takes roughly 1-1.5 hours to complete. The 4WD is the best vehicle for this location.
A bus runs every day from Kampala to Butogota through public transportation.
Following that, a tax for the final 17 kilometers to Buhoma may be obtained.
Nkuringo has no public transportation, thus the best option is to lease a vehicle from Kisoro.
Flying travel is another option; tourists can fly from Kajjansi airport or Entebbe and arrive at Kisoro airstrip. People who wish to visit Buhoma may board charter flights and land at Kayonza airport.
Bwindi National Park is a haven for incredible biodiversity due to two things. To begin with, its slopes span a vast altitudinal range of 1447 meters, resulting in ecosystems ranging from lowland forest at 1160m to distinctive Afromontane flora above 2600m. This explains why Uganda gorilla safaris need considerable physical condition.
Second, it is quite ancient. As much of Africa’s woods were destroyed during the latest ice age (12,000-18,000 years ago), Bwindi was one of the few refugia that persisted.
As a result, whereas most modern forests are little more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s flora has been weaving itself into tangles for over 25,000 years, acquiring a large species list in the process. These comprise of 310 kinds of butterfly, 200 trees, 88 months,51 reptiles, and a staggering 120 sorts of mammals including 10 primates. The latter include red-tailed, chimps, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, and Bwindi’s most renowned inhabitant, the mountain gorilla.
Bwindi is a popular destination for birdwatchers. It has 350 bird species, seven of which are IUCN red data listed, and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, which are difficult or impossible to view in other parts of East Africa, particularly on Tanzania safari tours. A highly expert birder may easily identify up to 100 different species in a single day.
Local Residents
Mos’ and Bafumbira are two locals that live near the park. Small Batwa (Pygmy!) communities are also found. With 350 people, the Bwindi region has one of Uganda’s highest rural population densities.
How to Get Around
Bwindi’s several trailheads may be reached by automobile. Nevertheless, there are no roads within the park that can be traversed on foot. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is properly called; the pathways wind through dense undergrowth and can be steep. Use the walking sticks given at the start of the trek.
Bwindi is frigid in the mornings and evenings, with temperatures ranging between 70 and 200 degrees Celsius. Actually, the coldest months in Bwindi are June and July, while the wet seasons begin in March and May, as well as September and November, with a total annual rainfall of 2390mm. Rainfall from March to May is very scarce. Heavy rain falls from September through November, although only for lengthy periods of time.
Accommodation
There is a range of lodging options depending on the gorilla troop you choose to monitor.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve was established in 1942 and renamed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1992.
It was designated a World Heritage site in 1994. Rukiga is a language spoken in this area, and the word Bwindi literally means “impenetrable”. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest comprises an area of about 327km2 of scrambling vegetation draped over an intense environment of steep, haughty mountains as well as slippery lowlands and heights. The terrain may be difficult for you to navigate, but remember that that is what makes Africa such an intriguing continent.
The park has a large gorilla population. Bwindi is notorious for being extremely chilly in the morning and at night. The coldest months are generally June and July, with average temperatures ranging from 70°C to 200°C. Pack warm clothes for gorilla safaris because Bwindi is quite chilly and receives around 2390mm of rain. It has two rain seasons: light rains from March to May and heavy rains from September to November. It takes hours for the rain to cease in Bwindi.
