What makes Bwindi the Best Gorilla Destination in Africa : You may have heard of mountain Gorillas so often and would probably wish to encounter them. Mountain gorillas can only be found in 3 countries in the whole world include; Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga national park, Rwanda in Volcanoes national park and Uganda in Bwindi impenetrable national park. However, Bwindi impenetrable national park has the best gorilla experience like no other! Below are some of the things that make Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park the best of all gorilla destinations across the world world.
Highest number of habituated Gorilla families
Uganda shelters the more than half of the world’s Gorilla population with over 500 individuals in its protected areas. Bwindi forest is home to over 19 of the 20 Gorilla families that have been fully habituated and are available for tracking. The chance of meeting these gorillas becomes so high with this high number of the Gorillas.
Gorilla habituation experience
Bwindi is the only place where Gorilla habituation experience is done. The habituation experience involves training the mountain Gorillas to get them used to the presence of human beings in the most possible way. UWA researcher here take the visitors through the general process and sometimes allowing them to participate in the naming of these giants of the forest. The habituation experience also involves learning the behavior of individual Gorillas to understand their stake in the group.
The Batwa trail
Bwindi forest has something more to offer to Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation, the Batwa people, who are the immediate neighbors of the forest. They are for former bushmen who depended on the forest until they were evicted to turn Bwindi into a national park. They will share their ways of life on how they used to set traps, and use herbs as medicine. Their entire way of life is something you can not miss every time you’re on a trip. The Batwa cultural experience is the best way to end your gorilla trekking experience as you learn about how they are copying up with life of the normal people outside the bush.
Lake Bunyonyi
Bwindi forest is located close to the deepest lake in Uganda and second in Africa. Lake Bunyonyi is the place for you to relax after trekking. Bunyonyi is located just an hour’s drive from Bwindi and you could choose to sleep at Bunyonyi as you do your gorilla trekking at Bwindi. Swimming in these crocodile-free waters is the best way to relax after a long exercise of searching for the Gorillas in their natural forest. This lake also has 29 islands which can be explored on boat and the visitors will meet the local people as they go about their activities.
Birding
Bwindi forest is one of the top birding destinations in Africa. Visiting this park does not only offer gorilla trekking but also a chance to see endemic bird species. The diverse habitats in Uganda’s most ancient forest imply the perfect territory for a variety of bird species. Bwindi boasts in about 350 recorded different species, with 23 endemics including; African green pigeon, Common, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater. Common. Crowned hornbill, Giant kingfisher, Common, Common and the African harrier hawk among others.
Cost of gorilla permits
Unlike other gorilla trekking destinations, Bwindi impenetrable national park has the lowest fees for gorilla trekking. Gorilla tracking is absolutely the most captivating safari activity on the African continent attracting travelers from all over the world just to see these forest giants in Bwindi National Park. Gorilla permits are acquired at 700 USD for foreign non-residents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) through a trusted travel agency. You will enjoy watching the Mountain Gorillas feeding, playing and the mothers taking care of the young ones for one full hour and taking memorable pictures, What makes Bwindi the Best Gorilla Destination in Africa.
Mountain Bike rides
This is yet another experience that you can do when you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This great adventure is managed by a group of women (Ride 4 a Woman) through Bwindi forest in the Buhoma sector. You can choose to do village tour on bike or a birding trip on bike with a well-trained guide depending on your interest. You can also choose to simply ride through the forest through the available trails for this activity. The bike ride takes about three hours and there after proceed with other tour activities.
