Bwindi Gorilla Tracking

Bwindi Impenetrable National park is located in Uganda in the South Western Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift and it’s shared by three different districts namely Kisoro, Kanungu and Kabale districts. Bwindi covers 331 sq km an is home to roughly more than halff of the world’s population of mountain gorillas and offers some of the finest montane forest birding in Africa. It spans across the spectacular steep rifges of the Albertine Rift Valley. The altitude of Bwindi is about 1,190m to 2,607m. While the highest point occurs in Rwamunyonyi hill on its eastern edge, the lowest occurs in the northernmost tip of the park. And it’s a tropical kind of climate having 2 rainfall peaks which start from March to May and then from September to November. The range of the annual mean temperature is from 7-15°C as the minimum to 20-28°C as maximum.
BWINDI GORILLAS
There are four mountain gorilla groups open on tourism namely; Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura and Nkuringo. The forest Park is a home of 326 gorillas, which is almost a half of the world’s population of mountain Gorillas. And it’s believed to be the true African jungle and covers 33,000 hectares. Gorilla tracking in Bwindi can be laborious, therefore ensure physical fitness. Bring jungle boots and rain jackets because the park is often wet. There are two gorilla groups are now available to be visited on daily basis. Mubare group (16gorillas; 1 silverback) was opened for tourism in 1993, where as the habinyanja group (23 gorillas; 2 silverback was ready in July1998).

Tracking of the mountain gorillas is quite tiring exercise because, you will have to walk long distances through steep slopes and dense forest. Much as tourists can visit the park any time throughout the year, only eight members are allowed to visit these endangered primates. The hours spent with the primates are limited and every group must obtain a permit. Each group must be accompanied by a guide.
BWINDI BIRDS
Bwindi is equally a prime destination for birdwatchers.  It boasts over 348 species of birds including 90% of the albertine rift endemics, difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa, and 7 red data book species. An experienced bird watcher can identify up to 100 species in a day. Several rare birds are short-tailed including warbler Hemitasia neumanni, white-bellied robin chat Cossypher roberti, Fraser’s eagle owl Bubo poensis, white-bellied robin chat Cossypher roberti, Grauer’s warbler Graueria vittata, yellow-eyed black flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiaca, montane double-collared sunbird Nectarinia ludovicenis and dusky twinspot Clytospiza cinereoinacea.
LOCAL PEOPLE
The local people neighboring Bwindi are mostly Bakiga and Bafumbira. Small communities of Batwa (Pygmies) are also present. These Batwa pygmies who were hunter-gatherers are believed to be the original inhabitants of the forest. And the other neighbouring people are the Bakiga, Barwanda and the Bafumbira and their population ranges from 350 people per square kilometer.
WHERE TO STAY
A wide range of accommodation caters for both up-market and budget tourists. It is recommended to book well in advence. Accommodation includes Gorilla Forest Camp, Mantana Tented Camp, Gorilla Resort, Lake Kitandara Camp, Volcanoes Bwindi Camp, Gorilla Homestead, Buhoma Community Campground and Bwindi View Canteen.
GORILLA TRACKING RULES
- To protect the gorillas and visitors, the following rules are adhered to;
- No one is permissible with a communicable infections such as flu or diarrhea
- Do not surround the gorillas but remain in a tight group
- Leave a distance of at least 5m between yourself and the gorillas
- Flash photography is strictly forbidden
- Avoid littering the park
- When with the gorillas, desist from making loud noises or sudden movements.
- Contact time with the gorillas is strictly limited to one hour.