How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park: Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda in that it harbors the endangered mountain gorillas which are the most popular attractions in Africa. The national park is located in south western Uganda in Kanungu district covering a total area of 331 square kilometers. Bwindi impenetrable national park was gazetted in 1991 to protect and conserve the endangered mountain gorillas. the part is a home of various wildlife including primates such as the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees though not habituated, black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, animals like elephants, golden cats, bush pigs, bird species like handsome francolin, Rwenzori Batis among others.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means
Road transport
There are various means of road transport for example using public means, self-drive in your personal car or use of a safari vehicle. When using road transport means you will drive rom Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, and then connect to any sector in Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will be trekking from. The journey from Kampala to the park headquarters takes about 8 to 9 hours’ drive therefore you will have en-route lunch on the way as you continue to the park.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda. when travelling from Queen Elizabeth national park you will drive from Mweya peninsular which is situated in the heart of the park through Ishasha sector where you will get an opportunity of viewing the tree climbing lions which will be lying up in the acacia, fig tree branches and then continue to the park headquarters in one of the sectors. The journey from Queen Elizabeth national park takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be reached by public means of transport where you will board a bus from Kampala via Mbarara to Kabale and then hire a private taxi to the park headquarters. When using public means you can also board a bus from Kampala via Rukungiri to Butogota and then hire a taxi to Nkuringo park headquarters.
Air transport
There are domestic companies in Uganda such as Aerolink Uganda limited which operate scheduled and chartered flights daily from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. The flights depart from Entebbe airport at 7:00am, 10:15 am, 12:00pm and arrive Kihihi airstrip at 8:45am, 11:25am and 14:40pm respectively. Visitors departing from Kihihi airstrip will set off at 9:45am, 11:40am, 14:45pm and arrive at Entebbe airport at 11:25am, 13:30pm and 16:15pm respectively. Upon arrival at the airport you will connect to the park headquarters by road in a safari vehicle.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda where you will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters by road via Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro. When connecting from Kigali there are two sectors in the park which can easily be accessed such as Rushaga and Nkuringo sector. The distance from Kigali to the part headquarters takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Air transport is the fastest way of getting to Bwindi impenetrable national park and the best option for visitors who don’t like travelling long distance journeys.
What to go in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking
Bwindi impenetrable forest is best known for gorilla trekking in that it harbors half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is an exciting activity where visitors move into the dense tropical rainforests in search of the habituated gorilla families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors about 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector with 4 gorilla families including Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe, Ruhija sector in the eastern part with 4 gorilla families including Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Oruzogo and Mukiza, Nkuringo sector in the southern part with 3 gorilla families including Bushaho, Christmas and Nkuringo, Rushaga sector with 8 habituated gorilla families including Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Nshongi, Bweza, Rwigi, Mucunguzi and Bikyingi gorilla family.
Bwindi impenetrable national park also offers other activities such as bird watching in that it harbors over 350 bird species with 23 species endemic to the Albertine rift and 14 species not seen anywhere else in Uganda. Bird species in the park include blue headed sunbird, Neumanns warbler, Handsome francolin, African wood owl, black bee-eater, Rwenzori batis, western green tinker bird, Kivu ground thrush among others.
Batwa trail experience, this is an adventurous activity in bwindi impenetrable national park in that it goves you an opportunity to interact with the Batwa/pygmies in the communities around the park. During the Batwa trail experience you will interact with the Batwa as you learn about how they used to live in the forest, their hunting and gathering skills among others.
Visitors in Bwindi impenetrable national park can also engage in nature walk where you will move around the park on foot as you experience the cool breeze, breath fresh air, view primates like the chimpanzees, black and white monkeys, tree species among others.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is the best place to visit for gorilla trekking safaris therefore visitors interested in gorilla trekking should contact Achieve Global Safaris for more information about how to access the park and have incredible and lifetime gorilla trekking experiences.
