Distance of Bwindi From Kampala on Road : Located in the South Western region of Uganda at the edge of the western arm of the great rift Valley in Kanungu District. It’s an 8 hour journey from the Capital Kampala and if coming from the neighborhood game park of Queen Elizabeth it’s between 2-3 hours on road. While using air one can board from either Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kisoro which could be a few minutes or an hour, from which one can then take another means to the actual entrance of Buhoma sector.
Bwindi is 540km from the Entebbe International Airport and it’s recommended that if you driving one can have a 3 day safari. The park on road can be accessed through different directions in the respective sectors . Accessing the park from Kabale- Kannungu-Buhoma takes about 6 hours on a 440km.
The hillsides which are mist-covered are sheltered by one of the ancient and very biologically varied rainforests in Uganda
It comprises of about 400 varied plant species. More notably, this “impenetrable forest” in addition protects an predictable 320 population of mountain gorillas – approximately half of the population in the world, among which are a number of habituated groups, that can be tracked by visitors. Bwindi is habitat to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas. actually there are over 300 mountain gorillas living here.
In addition to the endangered impressive mountain gorillas there are also 346 bird species and more than 200 butterfly species, about 324 species of trees, ten of which are only found in this areas in the whole of Uganda. This is really a destination to explore. Because there are few habituated Gorillas living here (gorillas that have been trained to withstand human presence and not likely to attack), actually the time offered to see them is limited and so are the permits which currently are offered at a cost of $500 per individual. No person ever complains after spending some time with these very fascinating Mountain Gorillas in Uganda within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is among the most stunning rainforest anyone will ever come across
Located in the South Western region of Uganda at the edge of the western arm of the great rift Valley in Kanungu District. It’s an 8 hour journey from the Capital Kampala and if coming from the neighborhood game park of Queen Elizabeth it’s between 2-3 hours on road. While using air one can board from either Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kisoro which could be a few minutes or an hour, from which one can then take another means to the actual entrance of Buhoma sector.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well offers shelter to a additional 120 mammals, among which are various primate species like the baboons plus chimpanzees, in addition to elephants as well as antelopes. Furthermore, there are about 350 bird species supported within this forest, among which are twenty three Albertine Rift endemics thus Distance of Bwindi From Kampala on Road.
Main attractions in Bwindi
Visiting Bwindi Forest means Gorilla Trekking, but also Hiking in and through the Forest, Birding, Cultural Visits with the Batwa People, Mountain Biking, Village Visits. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a place of Discovery in the Pearl of Africa
Bwindi forest can be accessed from various parts i.e Queen Elizabeth National Park to the northern just 2 to 3 hours drive, from Kampala through Mbarara about 6 to 8 hours drive or from Kabale town to the southern just 1 to 2 hours. These roads then converge at Butogota, just 17 kilometers from the Buhoma entrance-gate.
Activities.
Gorilla Trekking
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the 1000 or so gorillas left in the world. Gorilla tracking is the biggest attraction for most visitors to these parks. However, gorilla trekking involves several hours of hiking through dense jungles and even then you may not see them as they tend to move around. But if you do get to track them down, you can get real close to them as they are accustomed to humans.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga:
It is only in Uganda that you can be with a Mountain Gorilla Family for 4 hours on a Gorilla Habituation Experience along with researchers in Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest – this amazing experience – to be with a Mountain Gorilla Family as it is being habituated is a one of a kind experience in Africa.
There are presently two family groups being habituated, meaning that they becoming used to human contact and will not run away from visitors trekking them.
Mountain Bike Rides in Buhoma Area:
You can even do the Village Walk on a bike with guide. There are Birding Bike Rides, or simply a ride into the Forest such as the Ivy River Trail. The average Bike Ride is 3 hours or longer in length with much to see along the trail or road.
The guides are all well-trained, some specialize in birding, others in culture but all know Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which they all love and want to conserve.
Ride 4 a Woman which is a community support group offers mountain bike rentals and guided bike in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Buhoma area of the park.
Bird watching
The diverse habitats in Uganda’s most ancient forest imply that is the perfect habitat for a diversity of bird species, with about 350 recorded different species, with 23 endemics.
Cycling Tours
The mountain bike ride ventures in Bwindi are managed by a woman’s group which offers trained guides, a repair -shop for these bikes and every participant that helps in this program receives direct reimbursement from visitors to Buhoma enjoying a ride on the bike.
Indeed Bwindi Impenetrable forest is more than a gorilla tracking destination. Visiting this place is recommended
Hiking through the Forest:
The Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can be one day or longer hike from the north of Bwindi to the South – called Nkuringo- there one can stay overnight and continue the next day down to scenic Lake Mutanda where you paddle across in a wooden dugout and continue to the town of Kisoro.
This is the most popular hike along two trails of Bwindi – there are however other trails and nature walks, most from easy to moderate in and near the Forest that can be explored on foot and requiring from an hour to all day long thus Distance of Bwindi From Kampala on Road.
The Buhoma Village Walk:
Here you have a 3 hour cultural walk through the village – you learn the ways and culture of the people that live in the Buhoma sector on the edge of Bwindi Forest. The Village Walk is with a guide who is friendly and knowledgeable about local culture and customs.
You will see how people make local crafts such as baskets with the most intricate designs – beer made from Bananas, and a distillery that makes the local Waragi Gin from Bananas, meet a traditional healer and learn of what is gathered in the ancient forest and how it is taken and applied to ailments .See how the growing of local produce is done and harvested, food preparation over charcoal or open fire, visit a school, and meet the Batwa Pygmy community as they perform a dance for you just to name a few. It is certainly a cultural learning experience and the cost of the walk supports the local community – so a win win for everyone thus Distance of Bwindi From Kampala on Road.
The Batwa Forest Experience:
The Batwa were the original people of the forest, they were here for thousands of years before the Bantu People, the Cultivators of the Land arrived. The Batwa People – are pygmies – were hunter-gatherers and lived in the forests of Southwest Uganda and beyond. They left a small ecological footprint on the forest and lived in harmony with nature. You can visit the forest (actually outside of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) with the Batwa People and learn of their traditional ways of hunting and gathering. The Batwa Experience takes place in the Buhoma area.
Hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is always with a guide. Visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and it’s scernenic National Park ,is another story to tell so came visit the beautiful natural endowment within Uganda,the Pearl of Africa.
