How To Travel The Bwindi National Park
Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
The Bwindi Impenetrable NP is located in southwestern Uganda and shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.
Why Travel to the Bwindi National Park
There’s only one reason people come to Bwindi and that’s to track mountain gorillas. At the time of writing there were only around 600 gorillas left on earth and over half of them live in Bwindi. A few mountain gorillas were taken to try and breed the species in order to raise the population but amazingly not one infant gorilla has ever survived in captivity. Seeing these beautiful animals in their own environment is one of the most magical things you could ever do in your life. It isn't in a zoo or on a safari; it's on the mountains of a rainforest, sitting quietly, watching a family of a different species interact with each other using human characteristics. You will never feel closer and more apart of nature in your whole entire life.
How to Get to the Bwindi National Park
To get to Uganda you’ll first have to go through Kenya. Fly into Nairobi, which is the gateway to East Africa, and from there you’ll have a choice. You can fly from Nairobi to Kampala, Uganda or you can take a bus. The bus will save you money but it takes twelve to fourteen hours and in African hours it's likely to take two days. If you have a package tour booked and are on a tight schedule, consider paying the extra for the flight to ensure you get to your tour on time. When you get into Kampala take a taxi from the airport or bus station to your hotel. Make sure that the taxi driver is a licensed driver; he knows where your hotel is and if he doesn’t have a meter, agree on a price before getting in the vehicle. Most tour companies will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala.
What to Do at the Bwindi National Park
Tracking gorillas is a highlight for anyone that has been to Bwindi. On a three day tour, the first day will be taken up driving to the park and the last day driving back to Kampala so when picking out a tour, try and pick a tour that offers more than just the gorilla tracking. Some tours stop at waterfalls or at an equator landmark to break up the ten hour drive from the capital to the park. Once your in the park you can see chimpanzees and various bird species but the real reward is the gorillas. When you have finally tracked down one of the families of gorillas that live in this forest you will only be allowed to spend one hour with them, and each family only gets one group of six people visiting them a day. There are many other rules you must follow while with the gorillas and these rules are not only for your safety but for the health of the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are in great danger of becoming extinct.
Who Should Travel to the Bwindi National Park
People who aren’t reasonably fit could have trouble with this trip. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park isn’t called the impenetrable forest for nothing. It’s a hard, steep hike through the foliage of the mountains to find the gorillas. It’s also a real rainforest and weather can take a turn for the worse at anytime, so come prepared. The road from Kampala to the park is terrible and not for those who are expecting a smooth ride.
When Should You Travel to the Bwindi National Park
Even though the park is open all year round visiting during the rainy season is a challenge. The best times to visit are from May-August or in January and February when the rain fall is at a minimum.
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