How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park? This is a question that might fascinate you if you do not know much about the country Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of the most visited gorilla destinations in south western Uganda. In Africa, mountain gorillas are only found in four destinations namely Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo, Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi national park in Uganda. Bwindi national park is situated in south-western Uganda in Kanungu district and is the only destination with half of the world’s mountain gorillas with the highest number of habituated gorilla families which are equivalent to 18 groups and are available for trekking on a daily basis to a maximum of 8 people per each gorilla family for one hour maximum. Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park are found in the four sectors namely Buhoma sector in the northern part of the park, Ruhija sector in the eastern part of the park, Nkuringo sector in the southern part of Bwindi and Rushaga sector in the southern section of the Bwindi national park and is the only destination in Bwindi forest where gorilla habituation process is carried out.
Bwindi national park is a famous and most popular destination for gorilla trekking activity and other activities which visitors on a safari can participate in to make their tour memorable such as bird watching where you will be able to view different bird species, nature walks in the forest where you will view various animal species like Antelopes, Forest Elephants, Forest Duiker, Primate species such as L-Hoest Monkeys, Black, and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys , visit the Batwa community where you will see the pygmy who once lived and depended on Bwindi forest many years ago before they were resettled out of the park and many other activities .
Bwindi national park can be reached through different directions for example by use of either Road or Air transport.
Air transport: Bwindi national park has three Airfields where visitors who want to use Air transport can fly to any airfield depending on the sectors where they want to trek gorillas from. From Entebbe international airport or Kajansi Airfield, you can book scheduled or chartered flights through the tour operator to Kisoro Airfield and then connect by road to the Nkuringo sector in case you want to trek gorillas in Nkuringo or Ruhija sector because the Airstrip is near Nkuringo and Ruhija sector.
You can also fly from Entebbe airport or Kajansi to Kayonza airfield and connect by road to the Buhoma sector for gorilla trekking.
You can also fly from Entebbe airport to Kihihi Airstrip and then connect by road to the Ruhija sector for gorilla trekking.
Road transport, this is the common means of transport to Bwindi national park with different routes such as,
Route from Kampala via Kabale, Kanungu, Buhoma, this is the route where you drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kanungu where you will connect to Kanyatorogo and then to Buhoma sector in the northern part of Bwindi national park. From Kanungu to Buhoma you drive on a marram and bumpy road and therefore require a 4WD car. This is the longest route to Bwindi taking about 9 to 10 hours but is rewarding in terms of scenic views while on the journey, for example, the Equator which has many craft shops, landscapes, hills, local people among others.
Queen Elizabeth national park to Buhoma, Bwindi national park can also be accessed through Queen Elizabeth National Park hence connecting game drive, boat cruise to the gorilla trekking activity. When using this route, you will drive from Queen Elizabeth national park via the Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the climbing lions and then connect to Buhoma sector in the northern part of the park which is 160km and takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Kampala via Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kihihi to Buhoma, this is one of the quickest and easiest route to route to Bwindi national park where you drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara reaches Ntungamo and branch off the highway to the marram road which continues to Rukungiri, Kihihi then to Buhoma sector.
Kampala via Kabale to Nkuringo, when you are using this route you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale to Kisoro then Nkuringo sector southern part of Bwindi national park. From Kabale to Nkuringo, you will drive on a marram and bumpy road hence giving you African massage and beautiful views of the local people, hills among others.
Kampala via Kabale to Ruhija, this route starts from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale to Ruhija sector is the eastern part of Bwindi national park. From Kabale to Rihuja, you will drive on a bumpy and marrum road and during the rainy season, the road is slippery which therefore requires a 4WD vehicle. When you use this route you will be able to enjoy the Kigezi hills, landscapes, local people among others and it takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Kabale to Ruhija sector.
In case you want to use public means of transport to Bwindi national park, there are daily buses that travel early mornings from Kampala City via Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo and then to Kabale which take about 7 to 8 hours. When you reach in Kabale you will hire a private vehicle to any sector where you want to trek mountain gorillas which take 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Bwindi national park can also be accessed through Kigali City-Rwanda where visitors can fly to Kigali international Airport and then connect to Rushaga sector south of Bwindi national park by road through Cyanika border or connect to Kabale town by road through Katuna border and then to Buhoma park headquarters in the northern part of the park hence doing gorilla trekking in both Volcanoes national park and Bwindi national park.
Accommodation in Bwindi national park
While in Bwindi national park for gorilla trekking which is the major tourist attraction in Uganda, there are a wide range of luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodation facilities where you can stay during your safari such as Ichumbi Gorilla lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari lodge, Nshongi Camp, Gorilla closed up lodge, Bwindi Community Guest House, Gift of Nature Lodge, Trackers Safari lodge, Buhoma Haven lodge, Chameleon Lodge, Gorilla Forest lodge, Engagi lodge, Clouds lodge among others. Lodges in Bwindi national park offer great scenic views of Bwindi forest, landscapes, some primate species, birds prepare both local and international dishes, spacious rooms and comfortable beds, other facilities like free WI-FI, swimming pool, sauna among others to visitors on a safari in Bwindi national park and the visitors are encouraged to sleep in the lodges near the sectors where gorilla trekking is going to be carried out for easy accessibly.
Bwindi national park is a popular destination that offers great and unforgettable experiences during your safari such as Gorilla trekking, Nature walk, Bird watching, Batwa trail experience hence making your tour in Uganda memorable.
