Residing in this stunning Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, This Park protects over 400 robust gentle mountain gorillas. Feeding on nutritious roots, leaves and fruits from the park’s tree and fern species, the gorillas form a sublime backdrop amidst lush emerald green foliage and a kaleidoscopic fluttering of birds and butterflies. Ranked as one of Africa’s most ancient rainforests, trekking through this lush abundant thicket is a captivating experience; made all the more spectacular when you silently come upon these majestic beauties. This is a spectacularly humbling experience that you will never forget.
Roughly half of the world’s total gorilla population live in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorillas can be tracked year-round, although they are easier to track in the dry season. The hike, which requires a reasonable amount of fitness, will be through the spectacular rainforest and bamboo covered slopes of the park, accompanied by expert guides and trackers. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of a magnificent silverback and his family, your journey will be well worth the effort. When sighted, visitors will be guided to within six meters of the gorillas. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest, knowing you are in the company of these rare creatures. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before returning to the base station.
Known as the “Keepers of the Forest” the enchanting Batwa pygmies of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are a hunter-gatherer tribe that has lived side-by-side with the wildlife of this ancient park for thousands of years. Strap on your hiking boots for this full-day adventure as it kick-starts with a 3-hour hike through the forest to a Batwa settlement. At this Batwa homestead observe how the women prepare, cook and serve a meal. Engage with medicine men and learn about the medicinal properties of the lush forest flora. Hear ancient legends and traditional songs. After a warm welcome, your 1-hour cultural immersion begins. Enjoy a lively music performance, learn about the Batwa’s fascinating way of life; from religion to their food gathering and hunting techniques, and interact with the tribesmen.
Living in harmony with the forest and surviving by hunting small game using bows and arrows, this fascinating excursion gives great insight into how this ancient tribe exist. Foraging in the lush undergrowth and gathering plants for both food and medicinal purposes, the Batwa have a symbiotic relationship with the wild. In an effort to reveal their amazing heritage and traditions with the world, this is a magnificent opportunity to experience the forest through their eyes. Once acknowledged as the owners of the high mountain forest, there are very few Batwa in existence today.
Grab your birding guide and binoculars for a fantastic birdwatching foray through the ancient rainforest of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – known for offering “some of the best montane-forest birdwatching in Africa”. The park is home to an impressive 350 species, of which many you will delight in ticking off your list on this 2-3 hour excursion that is hosted by a knowledgeable guide. Alternatively, nature enthusiasts can embark on a 3-hour journey of discovery, traversing through the unique habitats of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, along a winding trail framed by exotic, emerald vegetation, to witness the sparkling spectacle of the Munyaga Waterfall.
Rising through evergreen and montane marshes that intertwine across the lush forest floor your trail leads you to enchanting falls, booming out a thunderous roar of pristine river water crashing against enormous rocks. Set in exquisite verdant terrain this waterfall is truly a sight to behold. Prolific with birds the cacophony of chatter and the cascading falls is a magnificent sound.
Acknowledged as a birding utopia Uganda shelters over half of the bird species found in Africa making it the leading birding destinations in Africa and the globe. Ambling along the Buhoma Waterfall Trail be sure to look out for the White-tailed Ant Thrush and dapper francolin, the splendid Black Bee-eater, Yellow-eyed Black and African Sooty Flycatchers along the green bamboo zone. Venture to the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija where sightings of the endemic and localized African green broadbill are frequent. Gaze up at the tree tops and keep your binoculars handy to spot the Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing.
Bwindi is open for gorilla trekking all year long, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier.
