Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, is a remarkable natural gem that captures the hearts and minds of visitors from around the world. In the district of Kanungu, you find this UNESCO world Heritage Site which is home to a great and extraordinary array of flora and fauna. This enchanting rainforest, covering an area of approximately 331 square kilometers, is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. In this essay, we will explore the unique features that make Bwindi Impenetrable National Park an invaluable treasure of Uganda and the entire planet. Furthermore, the park is located on the edge of Albertine Rift valley and its part stretches further to the East African Rift valley with altitude ranges of 1160m to 2607 meters above sea level.
Also, the park is a source of major Rivers, for instance;
• Ivi
• Ishasha
• Munyaga
• Ntengyere
• Ihihizo which flow into lake Edward and some flow into Lake Mutanda.
To begin with, Bwindi impenetrable National park is a mist-cover rain forest. More to that, it was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and was listed by UNESCO as world Heritage Site in 1994 following it’s unique bio-diversity. Additionally, the park seats on 321 Square kilometers from which over 19 gorilla families live. The first gorilla family/ group to be tracked by tourists was Mubare gorilla family. Moreover, it was a great landmark for mother Uganda. Over the years we have witnessed enormous increase in gorilla groups or families.
First of all, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has over 400 species of plant, 120 mammal species not forgetting several primates like the chimpanzees, Baboons, monkeys as well as lots of antelopes. Secondly, the park is a home to over 350 bird species including the famous 23 Endemics where 90% are Albertine Rift endemics, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog’s species, chameleon, geckos etc. Additionally, the park has about 400 mountain gorillas and about 19 families are habituated for tracking in the four sectors namely; Buhoma Sector, Ruhija Sector, Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector. Each sector is a habitat for gorilla families.
To begin with, anyone going to track gorilla must ensure that he or she has the right sector which corresponds with the right location of accommodation. More to that, this is because different sectors are hours drive away and one has to book accommodation depending on the gorilla permit location to avoid long morning swift travels in steep slopes.
Buhoma sector has got Mubare gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family and Katwe gorilla family. Nkuringo sector has got : Nkuringo gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, Christmas gorilla family. Ruhija Sector has got; Bitukura gorilla family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Kyaguriro gorilla family, Mukiza gorilla family. Rushaga sector has got; Nsongi gorilla family, Mishaya gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, Bikyingi gorilla family, Rwigi gorilla family, Mucunguzi gorilla family.
In 1994, UNESCO listed Bwindi Impenetrable national park as world’s heritage site. This is due to its bio diversity that has kept the mist-cover forest a travelers’ paradise for gorilla tracking. Furthermore, the attitude of 1160 to 2607 meters enables Bwindi National park to receive abundance of rainfall of about 1500mm annually. Buhoma sector is located on the lowest altitude and Rushaga and Nkuringo are on the high altitude
First of all, the park can be accessed through several ways depending on your location in Uganda. You can take a fixed or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip for about 1hours.10minutes. Alternatively, you can also opt to drive from Entebbe International airport Via Masaka-Mbarara Rd, Mbarara-Kabale Rd. The journey is about 9 to 10 hours’ drive. Another Route you can take is in Queen Elizabeth national park. You take Ishasha-Kihihi Rd to Butogota. Some Tourists have opted to travel to Kigali in Rwanda and drive to Bwindi National Park for about 4 to 5 hours.