Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located on the edge of the Rift Valley in southwestern Uganda. Its mist-shrouded hillsides are engulfed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, dating back over 25,000 years and home to nearly 400 plant species. This “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population – as well as several habituated groups that can be tracked.
A total of 120 mammals live in this biologically diverse region, including several primate species such as baboons and chimps, as well as elephants and antelopes. This forest is home to around 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Luxury lodges, rustic bandas, and budget campsites, as well as restaurants, craft stalls, and guiding services, can all be found in the neighboring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo. Through performances, workshops, and village walks, visitors can learn about the Bakiga and Batwa Pygmy cultures.
PARK AT A GLANCE
- Size: 321km2
- Altitude: 1,160m – 2,607m above sea level.
- Bwindi was gazetted as a National Park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994.
- The Mubare gorilla group was the first to become available for tourism in Uganda in April 1993. Nine groups are now habituated for tourism, and one for research.
- Spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys, Bwindi is the source of five major rivers, which flow into Lake Edward.
