Attractions in Bwindi National Park : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the smallest national parks in the country, which covers a total surface area of 321 square kilometers and is elevated at a height of 1,160 meters and 2,607 meters above the sea level.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district. It was established as a national park in 1991 and later in 1994, it was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the major purpose of protecting its endangered mountain gorilla, plant species and other wildlife in the park. This Park is a home of over 120 mammal species, 400 plant species, primate species and 350 bird species. It is famous for the gorilla trekking activities, which always attracts large sums of people in Uganda to track the endangered mountain gorilla species that live within the dense forests of Bwindi.
In 2018, a population census was carried out, found out that there are about 1004-mountain gorilla in the whole world, and recorded that there are 604 mountain gorillas in Virunga Massif, which covers Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National park in Rwanda and Mgahinga National park in Uganda. However, during this population census, it was surprisingly to find out that there are 400 mountain gorilla animals, which leave in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and this clearly shows that this park harbours almost half of the population of the whole number of mountain gorillas in the world.
Attractions in Bwindi National Park.
Apart from the gorilla trekking activity that attracts many tourists to come to visit the park, there are several other attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and these include the following;
The Bwatwa pygmy people.
Tourists visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National park will have a chance to visit the Batwa communities, which are found in the outskirts of the park. Visitors will get to see these people’s way of lifestyle, how they still and do their stuff in the ancient way for example building houses while using local material and get to watch their local dance performances and drama, listen to their music and many more activities that will capture their full attention. The Bwata Pygmy people are mainly referred to as the forest keepers and they only depend on hunting wild animals and gathering the fruits in the forest.
There the best trails for bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National parks that bird lovers should never leave the park without checking them out and these include; mubwindi swamp trail, Bamboo Zone and Buhoma waterfall trail.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known to be a perfect destination for montane- forest bird watching in Africa and it harbours over 350 bird species that tourists who are bird lovers will get to see many different kinds of birds and these include; Handsome francolin, Tit Hylia, Dusky twin spot, Strange weaver, Chapin’s fly catcher, Rwenzori Batis, Montane Oriole, Regal sun bird, African wood owl, Bar-tailed trogon, western green tinker bird, Dwarf honey guide, Black bee-eater, Western green tinker bird, Grey gecko-shrike, Yellow-sreaked greenbul, Red-throated alethe, Kivu griund-thrush, Collared apalis and many others. More so, 23 of these birds are found in the Albertine rift and 14 of them are mainly staged in Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National park is surrounded by a unique vegetation known as afro Montane forests which has 220 tree species and 100 fern species and plant species which include the following; Nwetonia, Symphonia globulifera, red stinkwood, strombosia, and East African yellow wood. Bwindi Impenetrable national parks most part is covered by a tropical forest where the lowland and montane vegetation zones meet. More so, this national park is crossed by many rivers which include; Ihihizo, Ishasha, Ivi, Munyaga Ntengyere which flow into Lake Edward.
Mammals and Primates.
Bwindi Impenetrable National park is not only a home to mountain gorillas but it also harbours a number of amazing mammals which stay in the deep forests within the park and these mammal species include; antelopes, African civet , giant forest hog, and forest elephants.
Bwindi National park is also a home to primates such as black and white colobus, vervet, De Brazza monkeys, red tailed monkey, colobus monkeys, L’hoests , Nocturnal potto and galago species and many more.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are several hiking trails that help to lead tourists to different parts of the park and they help tourists to get to explore through all the mysterious places in the park. These hiking trails include; waterfall trail, Kashasha river trail, Muzabajito tail, Bamboo trail, River Ivi tail, and Habinyanja trail.
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are seen as the main attraction. This park is known to be home of over 400 gorillas which stay in different sectors and these sectors include; Buhoma sector which is in the northern region of the park and it as gorilla families like; Mubare,Habinyanja, and Rushegura.
Nkuringo sector is located in the southern region of the park and it has there gorilla families which include; Nkuringo, Bushaho, and Bikingi.
Rushaga sector is situated in the southern region of the park and it is known to be the most visited and it as Nshongi, Busingye, Kahugye, Bweza, and Mishaya gorilla families.
Lastly, there is Ruhija sector which is located in the eastern region of the park and it consists 3 families where visitors go for gorilla trekking activities and these include; Oruzogo, Bitukura, and Kyaguliro gorilla families.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is among the most visited National parks on the African continent being with the best attractions that pull the attention and more urge of individuals to visit Uganda. Book with us a Uganda Safari Tour and get to a chance to explore all the beautiful nature in Bwindi National Park.