Attractions in bwindi impenetrable national park.
Attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Located in the southwest of Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to its numerous alluring tourist attractions, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s tourist attractions include
Mountain gorillas
The most popular attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National area is the mountain gorilla. There are an estimated 400 mountain gorillas living in the area, which are spread across several locations. You may discover a variety of fascinating gorilla families in these areas, which are spread around the park and are home to mountain gorillas.
The Buhoma Sector
The most popular and frequented area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the Buhoma Sector, which is situated in the northern section of the park. It was the first area to be opened for trekking with the Mubare Gorilla Family. In 1992, the Mubare gorilla family became the first to be habituated in both the Buhoma Sector and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
There are three gorilla families in the Buhoma sector:
Mubare family of gorillas
The Mubare Gorilla Family, named after the Mubare Hills where the group was first observed, is the first gorilla family to be available for gorilla trekking. They were habituated in 1992 and now number five members. Kanyonyi, a dominant silverback, leads the Mubare gorilla family, which also includes one adult female, two subadult females, and one baby.
The Habinyanja family of gorillas
The Habinyanja gorilla family, which gets its name from the Rukinga term Nyaja, which means “a place with water,” was initially seen near marsh ponds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1997 and was first walked in 1999. Makara, Rwansigazi, Maraya, Kisho, Nabukye, Binyonko, Rugyendi, Nyamuhango, Elsa, Hamusini, Hakato, Gacyaro, and Bangenyi are the 13 notable members of the Habinyanja gorilla family. Makara, a powerful silverback, is in charge of this family.
Family of Rushegura Gorillas
The Rushegura gorilla family separated from the Habinyanja gorilla family in 2000 after being acclimated and became accessible for trekking that same year. You may see Mwirima, the dominating silverback and group leader, Kabukojo, the blackback, and other members of this family of 19 gorillas when you hike with them. Two sub-adult females, Kalembezi and Ruterana, five adult females, Kyirinvi, Kibande, Buzinza, Nyamunwa, and Karungyi, five juveniles, Nyampazi, Kafuruka, Kibande, Karungyi, and Kanywanyi, and five baby gorillas, Kyirinvi, Buzinza, Nyamunmwa, Kibade, and Katabazi
Due to its proximity to Ishisa Sector, the southern portion of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Buhoma Sector is easily accessible by road from Kabala, via Kihihi Airstrip, and from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The NKURINGO Sector
Only three gorilla families can be found in the Nkuringo Gorilla Sector, which is located in the southern Kisoro District of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The family of Nkuringo gorillas
The first gorilla family to be habituated in the southwest of Bwindi is the Nkuringo family, which was established in 1997. Twelve gorillas make up the Nkuringo gorilla family: one silverback, two adult females, two subadults, three youngsters, and two babies. Being the first family in Bwindi Impenetrable National area to record the birth of twins, the Nkuringo Gorilla Family is a historical family. Originally consisting of 17 family members, just 12 members remained after several departed the area.
The Bikingi gorilla family
The Bikingi gorilla family, which was habituated as early as 2012, is an excellent gorilla family that is only available for gorilla habituation experiences. There are now 15 members of this family, including 1 silverback, 5 female adults, 2 adolescents, 2 subadults, and 5 newborns. Since the Bikigi gorilla family is still going through the habituation process, it does not yet have a leader.
Family of Bushaho Gorillas
The eight members of the Bushaho gorilla family include one silverback, one blackback, three adult females, one sub-adult, one adolescent, and one baby. The dominating silverback Bahati is the head of the Bushaho gorilla family, which was founded by several individuals who broke away from the Nkuringo gorilla family.
Rushaga sector
The Rushaga sector, which is located in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is the most popular destination for visitors arriving from Kigali via the Cyanika border in Kisoro district. The largest concentration of mountain gorilla families in the park is found in the Rushaga region, and they include
The Gorilla Family of Nshongi
The seven-member Nshongi Gorilla Family, led by the formidable silverback Bweza, is an interesting family of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Three adult females, one adolescent, one newborn, one subadult, and one silverback are present.
The family of Kahungye gorillas
The 17-member Kahungye Gorilla Family gets its name from Kahungye Hill, where the gorillas were first seen in the area. Rumaz, a dominant silverback, leads the family, which also includes three adult females, three silverbacks, two newborns, three juveniles, and three subadults.
The family of Busingye gorillas
Under the leadership of the dominant silverback Busingye, the nine-member Busingye gorilla family split out from the Kahungye gorilla family. The name of this group comes from a term that means peace in the area.
The Mishaya family of gorillas
Twelve individuals make up the Mishaya gorilla family, which is led by the dominant silverback Mishaya. Mishaya split from the Nshongi gorilla group in 2010 to create the Mishaya gorilla group.
The family of Bweza gorillas
Two silverbacks, four blackbacks, one subadult, three adult females, and two newborns make up the Bweza Gorilla Family, a group of 23 mountain gorillas led by a silverback named Kakono.
Sector of Ruhija
The Ruhija sector, which is home to three gorilla families and is where mountain gorilla trekking is conducted, is located in the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Among these families are
The Bitukura family of gorillas
Four silverbacks, four adult families, two juveniles, three babies, and one baby make up the Bitukura Gorilla Family, which consists of fourteen family members. This family was formed in 2007 and had 24 members at first. More lately, the group has been dealing with ongoing disputes, which has led to several members leaving the organization.
The Oruzogo family of gorillas
Bakwate, also known as the “old silverback,” Kaganga, a silverback, Kasumali, a silverback, six adult females with the names Nyangaro, Katoto, Ruchura, Mutesi, Nyakina, and Mukwano, one black back, Bwengye, three subadult males, Nyakashunja, Musenene, Nyabirano, and Muhumuza, two infant males, Mufuruki and Paska, and one baby female, Musana, are among the 17 members of the Oruzogo gorilla family, which was made accessible to tourists in 2007.
The Kyaguliro family of gorillas
The 20-member Kyaguliro gorilla family is quite large; they were set aside for study purposes, which is why they are not often seen. The organization was divided into two sections, Kyaguliro A and Kyaguliro B, after the death of its former head, who was struck dead by lightning.
Ten members of the Kyaguliro A family—two blackbacks, three adult females, two adolescents, and two infants—are led by Rukara, a dominating silverback.
Under the leadership of Mukiza, a dominant silverback, Kyaguliro B-consists of 10 family members, including 1 silverback, 4 adult females, 1 adult, and 4 newborns.
Primates and other mammals
Even though Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is well-known for housing mountain gorillas, it also has incredible mammals that live in its deep forests. These mammals include African civets, giant forest hogs, antelopes, side-striped jackals, and forest elephants, among many others.
Chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervets, L’hoests, De Brazza monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, nocturnal potto, and galago species are among the other primates that call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home.
An old rainforest
Because it is the meeting point of lowland and montane vegetation zones, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a magnificent biological system with a wide variety of plants. In fact, it is one of the few places in Africa with tropical forest.
Numerous tiny rivers, including the Ivi, Munyaga, Ihihizo, Ishasha, and Ntengyrere, flow through the impenetrable national park of Bwindi and empty into Lake Edward, making it a well-known water catchment region.
Red stinkwood, Newtonia, Symphonia globulifera, East African yellow wood, and Strombosia scheffleri are among the plant species that make up the park’s canopy. Xymalos, Neoboutonia Macrocalyx, Monospora, Myrianthus holstii, Teclea nobilis, and Allophylus abyssinicus are among the species found under the main forest.
Afromontane woods, a unique plant type on the African continent with 220 tree species and 100 fern species identified, cover the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Trails for hiking
One of the main draws of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is its hiking routes, which lead to many different areas and points of interest. By following these paths, you may discover many of the park’s secrets. These routes are utilized for hikes and nature walks in the park, and they include
The River Ivi Trail is the finest place to see birds when trekking along the Nkuringo escarpment. It takes seven hours to complete the 14-kilometer trek.
The waterfall route is a four-hour trek that leads to the park’s waterfall.
After walking with the Habinyanja gorilla family, most visitors continue the Habinyanja path, which takes four to six hours and passes by the Munyanga River.
The Kashasha River Trail connects the Nkuringo and Buhoma sections of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and takes five to seven hours to hike.
The 6-hour Bamboo Trail is a popular hiking route that leads to Rwamunyonyi Peak. The greatest track for seeing birds is the bamboo trail.
The 6-kilometer Muzabajiro route is a remarkable walk that offers breathtaking views of the Virunga and the western rift valley. Along the way, you’ll come across a variety of bird species, stunning ferns, and the summits of Virunga volcanoes.
Birds
Africa’s best place to see montane-forest birds is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is home to a wide diversity of bird species, particularly water and forest species. More than 350 bird species may be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National area; 14 of these species are native to the area, while 23 of them are unique to the Albertine Rift.
The dense woods of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are home to many bird species, such as Chapin’s fly catcher, Handsome francolin, Rwenzori Batis, Tit Hylia, Dusky Twin Spot, Regal Sunbird, African Wood Owl, Bar-tailed Trogon, Western Green Tinker Bird, Strange Weaver, and Montane Oriole Bee-eater in black, Kivu ground-thrush, Dwarf honeyguide, Grey gecko-shrike, Shelly’s greenbul, Yellow-sreaked greenbul, Red-throated alethe, collared apalis, attractive francolin, and odd weaver
The bamboo zone, buhoma waterfall route, and mubwindi swamp trail are the best places to go bird viewing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Pygmy people of Batwa
When Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was designated as a protected area, the Batwa Pygmy people, who had long lived in the forest, were forcibly relocated to the park’s periphery. The Batwa people, who are considered to be the guardians of the forest, are hunter-gatherers who mostly rely on capturing wild animals and harvesting fruits.
The Best Time to See Wildlife
Depending on your interests, you may visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at any time of day, but the ideal times to travel are during the dry months of June through August and December through January. Because there is less rainfall at these times, the trails are less slick and muddy.
