Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

An ancient rainforest home to half the world’s mountain gorillas, where hours of trekking reward you with an hour among a gorilla family—one of Africa’s most moving wildlife experiences.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Covering about 331 km², it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1994. This montane rainforest, at 1,160–2,600 m, survived the Ice Ages and is extraordinarily rich in species: it is home to about half the world’s mountain gorillas (around 460), as well as chimpanzees, many kinds of monkeys and hundreds of bird species.

The park has four sectors: Buhoma in the north is the most established; Rushaga in the south has the most gorilla families and offers a four-hour Gorilla Habituation Experience; Nkuringo in the southwest has views of the Virunga volcanoes; and high-altitude Ruhija in the east is best for birding. Sectors are 2–4 hours’ drive apart, so book lodging in the sector on your permit. Nearby, you can add Batwa cultural experiences, waterfalls and cross-forest trails; to the south are Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (golden monkeys, volcanoes), and to the north, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its tree-climbing lions.

Jun–Aug and Dec–Feb are the dry seasons, with better roads and trails; permits are sometimes discounted in the rainy season. Getting there: it’s about 9–10 hours overland from Kampala, or fly by light aircraft to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips. Gorilla permits must be booked months in advance, and trekkers must be at least 15; bring long sleeves, gloves and waterproof hiking boots, and anyone with a cold cannot take part. Allow at least 3 nights.

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