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Uganda & Rwanda Safaris | Gorillas | Chimpanzees | Carhire
  • GORILLA SAFARIS
    • 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla trekking safari
    • 3 Days Chimpanzee tracking safari to Kibale Forest
    • 3 Days Gorilla tour to Mgahinga National park
    • 3 Days Gorilla Habituation Safari tour to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
    • 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Safari Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
    • 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
    • 4 Days Gorilla Trekking and Lake Bunyonyi
    • 4 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari and Lake Mburo Mini Tour
    • 5 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tracking
    • 5 Days Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable
  • UGANDA SAFARIS
    • 3 DAYS QUEEN ELIZABETH UGANDA SAFARI – WILDLIFE SAFARI
    • 3 DAYS MURCHISON FALLS SAFARI WITH RHINO TRACKING
    • 3 DAYS CHIMPANZEE TRACKING SAFARI KIBALE
    • 4 DAYS KIDEPO VALLEY UGANDA WILDLIFE SAFARI
    • 2 DAYS LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK AND HORSEBACK RIDING SAFARI
    • 3 Days Uganda Birding Safari Mabamba swamp and Lake Mburo mini wildlife tour
    • 3 DAYS GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING SAFARI
    • 5 Days Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable
  • UGANDA LONG SAFARIS
    • 14 Days Uganda Birding Safari Tour
    • 16 Days Uganda Adventure
    • 9 Days Wildlife and Gorilla Safari
    • 11 Days Best of Uganda
    • 8 Days Best of Chimpanzee
    • 7 Days Big Five Safari
  • ONE DAY UGANDA SAFARIS
  • RWANDA SAFARIS
    • 3 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING TOUR RWANDA
    • 3 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING TOUR-FLY IN KIGALI RWANDA
    • 3 DAYS CHIMPANZEE TRACKING NYUNGWE FOREST RWANDA
    • 2 DAYS NYUNGWE SAFARI TRIP RWANDA
    • 2 DAYS AKAGERA WILDLIFE SAFARI RWANDA
    • AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK RWANDA SAFARI
    • NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK RWANDA SAFARI
    • VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK RWANDA
  • National Parks
    • QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
    • KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
    • MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
    • BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
    • KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
    • LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
    • SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK
    • RWENZORI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
    • MOUNTAIN ELGON NATIONAL PARK
    • MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
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Uganda & Rwanda Safaris | Gorillas | Chimpanzees | Carhire

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

gorilla

Location

Bwindi Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda at the edge of the rift valley bordering DRC to the west in the districts of Kibale and Kanungu is one of Uganda’s top tourist attractions. It covers an area of 321 sq km and was gazzetted as a national park in 1991 and later named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994 because Bwindi was/is home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla population.

Bio Diversity

Bwindi protects an estimated 340 gorilla groups which is roughly half of the world’s population. Mubare group was the first available for tourism in 1993 and more than nine groups are available now.
It consists of about 120 mammals species, primate species such as baboons, chimps etc., around 350 bird species including 23 Albrtine rift endemics, 45 small mammal species, species of butterflies, frogs, chameleons, geckos and others.

It has a rugged topography with narrow valleys intersected by rivers and steep mist hills covered by one of Uganda’s oldest and biological rainforests with about 400 plant species.
It’s also a source of five rivers that feed Lake Edward with an altitude that ranges from 1160m-2607m above sea level with the highest peak being Rwamunyonyi in the East and the lowwer peak in the north.

 Brief History

In 1932 two blocks of Bwindi impenetrable forests were designed as crown forest reserves, the northern block being kayonza and the south block kasatora crown forest reseves which covered an area of 207km.

Furthermore in 1942 the two crown reserves were combined, enlarged and renamed impenetrable central crown forest with an area of 289km .This was under the control of Uganda government and forest department.

Then in 1964, it was made an animal sanctuary to protect mountain gorillas and i n 1996 two forests where added to the reserve increasing its area to 321km and was both managed as a game reserve and animal sanctuary.

And finally in 1991, impenetrable crown forest reserve, Mgahinga gorilla reserve and Rwenzori Mountain reserve where made a national park which is Bwindi Impenetrable NP today.

Gorilla tracking started in 1993.

What activities to do?

  • Gorrilla tracking is the major activity and the park shelters 340 gorrillas commonly known as Bwindi population. The rest are in the Virunga mountains shared by Rwanda. Major threats are poaching, habitat loss and diseases.
  • Birding to see various birds which includes blue headed sunbird, short tailed warbler,bee eaters, turaco etc.
  • Cycling through the mountains, hiking and nature walks to explore the forest, visit waterfalls etc.
  • Cultural heritage trails to the Bakiga and Batwa people.

Getting there?

Bwindi Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi National Park which is about 530km from Kampala can be accessed through the kampala Mbarara road (6-8hrs), from Kibale town about 1-2hrs or via Queen Elizabeth 2-3hrs drive.
You can also access the park from Rwanda which is a shorter drive.
Flights can be arranged from Entebbe to kisoro.

Accomodation can be found in the neighbouring towns of Buhoma , Nkuringo, rushaga, ruhiga and much more ranging from lodges, campsites etc.

OTHER NATIONAL PARKS

  • QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
  • SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK
  • RWENZORI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
  • MOUNTAIN ELGON NATIONAL PARK
  • MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK
  • LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
  • KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
  • MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

14 DAYS UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI

14 Days Uganda Birding safari tour ushers you to Uganda’s birdlife species of over 1000 birds and remarkable birding sites all over the Pearl of Africa. Visit Mabamba swamp with 260 bird species, lake Mburo National park with around 350 bird species, Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Kibale national park etc.

8 DAYS BEST OF CHIMPANZEE UGANDA SAFARI

chimpanzee uganda

8 Days Chimpanzee Uganda safari gets you a chance to track our closest relatives the chimpanzees across various destinations across the Uganda including the Primates Capital Kibale National park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Uganda’s largest conservation area Murchison falls.

16 DAYS UGANDA ADVENTURE

The 16 days Uganda adventure tour and safari opens you up to wonderful adventures like an experience on the Nile River in the Adrenaline capital of East Africa, standing face to face with a 500 pound mountain gorilla, scaling up mountain peaks in the Rwenzoris  and Virunga mountain ranges and many other unforgettable adventures.

9 DAYS WILDLIFE AND GORILLA UGANDA SAFARI

One this 9 days wildlife and gorilla safari, you will trek deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable National park and stand eye to eye with a 250kg critically endangered mountain gorilla, see wild elephants in Queen Elizabeth National park, see the famous zebra population in lake Mburo and track our closest relatives the chimps in Kibale National park.

TOP RATED SAFARI PACKAGES

3 DAYS GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING SAFARI

2 DAYS LAKE MBURO |HORSEBACK RIDING SAFARI

4 DAYS DOUBLE GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI BWINDI

3 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI FLY in KIGALI

4 DAYS GORILLA TREKKING AND LAKE BUNYONYI

3 DAYS BIRDING MABAMBA SWAMP | LAKE MBURO SAFARI

ABOUT BOWI AFRICA!!

Bowi Africa Tours and Travel is a native safari company that offers a vast array of tour services specializing in gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. We have a range of adventures that may suit your style and budget. So no matter how you want to see the Pearl we will make sure  you see it in comfort.
At Bowi Africa Tours and Travel, we offer quality services at the best prices and this makes our adventures of great value for money coupled with our commitment to responsible and sustainable travel experiences.

MEET OUR TEAM | TRAVEL TIPS AND ADVICE | THE PEARL AT A GLANCE | ONE DAY TOURS

WHY CHOOSE BOWI

  • Unique, professional and quality service delivery
  • We offer a wide range of add on activities on all our safari packages.
  • We offer a chance to tailor make your safari tour package
  • A pool of services available to you on all our safari packages
  • 24 hr support for telepone calls, Airport pickups etc.
  • Excellent client reviews on trip advisor and other forums

Popular Tours

  • BIRDING |LAKE MBURO SAFARI
  • KIDEPO VALLEY SAFARI
  • TREE CLIMBING LIONS SAFARI
  • RHINO TRACKING SAFARI
  • CHIMPANZEE TRACKING SAFARI
  • HORSEBACK RIDING SAFARI
  • 3 DAYS MURCHISON FALLS SAFARI
  • GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING SAFARI

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • GORILLA TRACKING RULES
  • HOW TO SECURE A GORILLA PERMIT
  • WHY VISIT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
  • WHY VISIT MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
  • Bowi Africa Tours and Travel TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

OUR REVIEWS

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AFFILIATIONS

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