Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

What is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?

The name tells you what you're walking into. Dense undergrowth tangles with mature tropical trees across rugged terrain. Local legend traces the name back to a family who crossed a swamp only after sacrificing a daughter to its spirit. The swamp, Mubwindi bwa Nnyinamukari, still exists inside the park today.

Bwindi became a game sanctuary in 1961 to protect its mountain gorillas and was upgraded to full national park status in 1991.

Why do people come here specifically for gorillas?

Bwindi holds more than half of the world's 1,008 remaining mountain gorillas. That single fact puts this park ahead of every other gorilla trekking destination on the planet.

Nine other endangered species share this forest with the gorillas, including the common chimpanzee, L'Hoest's monkey, and the African elephant. But the gorillas are why your permit costs what it costs and why you book months in advance.

Which gorilla families can you track, and where?

Bwindi splits into four trekking regions, each with its own set of habituated families.

Buhoma region. Mubare: 8 members, 1 silverback, the first family ever habituated, tracked since 1993. Habinyanja: 18 members, 2 silverbacks, named after the pool of water where the group was first sighted. Rushegura: 19 members, 1 silverback, split from Habinyanja in 2002 and sometimes wanders into the grounds of Gorilla Forest Camp.

Ruhija region. Bitukura: 14 members, 4 silverbacks, first tracked in 2007 and quicker to habituate than most groups. Oruzogo: 23 members, 1 silverback, known for a high number of playful juveniles. Kyaguriro: 15 members, 2 silverbacks, used for research for years before opening to tourists.

Nkuringo region. Nkuringo: 19 members, 2 silverbacks, tracked since 2000 and considered the most physically demanding trek in the park.

Rushaga region. Nshongi: 18 members, 4 silverbacks, one of the oldest habituated groups. Mishaya: 7 members, 1 silverback. Kahungye: 13 members, 3 silverbacks. Bweza: 7 members, 1 silverback, split from Mishaya in 2012. Busingye: 9 members, 1 silverback, whose name means "peace", though this group has a reputation for conflict with neighboring families.

Buhoma connects easily to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which drives demand for those permits higher. Book that sector early.

What does a day of gorilla trekking actually look like?

Your day starts at 8am with a briefing at park headquarters. From there, you hike anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on where your assigned family is feeding that day. Once you find them, you get exactly one hour with the gorillas. Only 8 people are permitted per family per day.

A permit costs $600 per person. Trekking runs year-round, but the dry season gives you easier terrain and better visibility.

When should you go?

The dry seasons, June through August and December through February, give you the best wildlife viewing conditions. Rain is part of the deal in a rainforest year-round, so pack for it regardless of when you travel.

What about the visa?

Uganda offers e-visas online, but many travelers skip that process and pay $100 for a visa on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. If Rwanda or Kenya are also on your route, look into the East Africa Tourist Visa before you fly.