The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that forms part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the richest ecosystems in Africa. This park is perhaps one of Uganda’s most remarkable destinations for visitors. Although small—just 321 square kilometres—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is crucial as it is home to the world's largest population of critically endangered mountain gorillas. The park contains about one-third of around 1,000 gorillas alive today, with the remainder in the Virunga conservation area shared by Rwanda and Congo.
Preserved on the edge of the Rift Valley in southwest Uganda, Bwindi was established in 1991 as part of the conservation effort to save the mountain gorillas. Three years later, this island of remnant forest—one of Africa's richest and oldest (dating back about 25,000 years)—was recognized by UNESCO as a natural World Heritage Site.
The word “Bwindi” means “darkness” and taking a hike in this magnificent forest will certainly unveil to you the reason why the forest was named so. You will also be in a position to fast tell why the forest is regarded as Impenetrable. One is required to be realistically physically fit to take part in this mountain gorilla tracking & trekking adventure because it may involve climbing steep terrain.
Beyond the gorillas, Bwindi is full of other life. It is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, with 120 species of mammals, 350 species of birds (earning it the title of the Best Birding Destination in Africa by Travel Africa magazine), 200 tree species, 310 butterfly species, 88 moth species, 51 reptile species and 27 frogs, geckos and chameleons.
Flora and Fauna at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 459 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.
This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
- Mountain gorillas
- Dense Forest
