Safari things to try in Bwindi Forest National Park in 2025.
Safari events in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 2024 include: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda is a special place known for its rich wildlife, unique scenery, and important conservation efforts. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the places in the world where you can find the endangered mountain gorilla in its natural environment. The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has many activities for tourists, with gorilla trekking being the most popular. Here are some things you can enjoy at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park:
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla climbing is a key activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking is an action where you walk through the Bwindi Forest to find gorillas that are used to humans. This is done with the help of rangers, guides, and trackers. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has more than 25 groups of gorillas that are used to people, and guests can see them by trekking in four areas of the park. Buhoma gorilla sector in the northern part of the sector has 4 habituated gorilla families; Ruhija gorilla sector in the east of the park has 4 habituated gorilla families; Nkuringo gorilla sector in the south has 3 gorilla families; and Rushaga gorilla sector in the south also has 8 habituated gorilla families. Gorilla permits are very popular, so you need to book at least 3 months in advance to get one. A gorilla pass in Uganda costs 800 USD per person.
Gorilla habituation experience.
Gorilla habituation is an amazing experience to have while on a tour in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla habituation experience is a process that helps gorillas become accustomed to seeing humans before people can go on gorilla hiking. The practice involves spending extra time with the gorilla. The Gorilla Habituation Experience is an activity where you walk and hike through dense jungles to find groups of mountain gorillas that are becoming used to people. These gorillas live together in family groups. When you meet these amazing mountain gorillas, you will take part in activities that help them become familiar with humans. The Gorilla Habituation Experience allows you to spend about four hours with mountain gorillas in their natural environment. The gorilla habituation experience is a special game that allows you to learn a lot about mountain gorillas. A group of four tourists is following a semi-habituated gorilla family.
Bird watching.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is well-known for its rare mountain gorillas, but it’s also a great place for birdwatching. The park has more than 350 types of birds, including many that are unique to the Albertine Rift and other rare and bright ones. While birdwatching in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you might see species like the African green broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Other birds include Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, Re-Throated Alethe, Paradise Flycatcher, Giant Forest Hornbill, purple-breasted Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Collared Apalis, white-headed wood hoopoe, and blue-headed sunbird, among others.
Lake Mutanda.
Lake Mutanda is a beautiful place located in southwestern Uganda, close to the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s well-known for its beautiful scenery, with hills, green plants, and amazing views of the Virunga mountains, including Mount Muhabura and Mount Gahinga. When you visit Lake Mutanda, you can enjoy many fun activities, like taking a relaxing boat tour. This lets you see beautiful views of the area and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Lake Mutanda and the nearby forest have many kinds of birds, making it a great place for birdwatchers. During your visit, you will see many beautiful and colorful birds, including the African fish eagle, the malachite kingfisher, and many types of sunbirds. Sunsets at Lake Mutanda are amazing.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is a popular activity at the Buhoma community rest camp. It offers an amazing cycling experience organized by the “Ride for a Woman” program, which supports women’s growth in the community. They provide excellent guided cycling trips. Mountain biking in Bwindi follows specific rules set by the park offices in Buhoma. The rides usually begin in the morning from the Buhoma area. While biking, you might see amazing animals like bushbucks, black and white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, among others.
The Batwa people came to visit.
The Batwa culture experience will have travellers reliving the lives and practices of the Batwa, the people that lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before they got evicted and became squatters in the communities near the park. In the cultural experience, you will have a chance to show and explain how people lived, fished, cooked, used simple materials like sticks to start fires, collected wild honey, and shared their knowledge about plants used for food and medicine. These interesting groups of native people relied heavily on the forest and lived alongside the animals and plants for a long time. You will also enjoy sad songs and unique moves during the experience.
Take community walks in Buhoma
Buhoma community walks let tourists to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park discover the local community nearby and learn about its culture, traditions, and daily activities. Buhoma is one of the entry points to Bwindi and is found in the northern area of the park. On the community walks, you will see how people create local crafts like beautifully designed baskets, beer made from bananas, and a brewery that produces Waragi Gin from bananas. You will meet a traditional healer and learn about what is found in the old forest and how it is used to treat health problems. You can observe how local food is grown and picked, cook food over charcoal or an open fire, visit a school, and watch the Batwa Pygmy people perform a dance, among other activities.
