What to see and do in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali
There is a lot to see and do in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is located in southern Uganda. It is one of the two national only national parks in Uganda where you can trek and see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Forest national park is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas with a large number of habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking. Semi habituated gorillas open for Gorilla habituation in Uganda. These gorilla families are found in five sectors all found in Bwindi forest national park that is Rushaga, Nkuringo found in the southern part of the park, Ruhija in the North-East part of the park and Buhoma in the Northern region. Over the past two decades, many tourists have visited Bwindi for gorilla trekking as a major activity, but there is much more to see and do on your visit to Bwindi Forest national park from Kigali.
What to see and do in Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali
Visiting Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali.
Bwindi Forest National park can be visited by road from Kigali is which is only 4-5 hours drive from Kigali city, the journey from Kigali to Bwindi Forest National can start early in the morning or afternoon depending on the time you arrive at Kigali International Airport. On this drive to Bwindi Forest national park, you will cross the border of Uganda and Rwanda, meaning you will need to adhere to visa requirements as set by two countries. Border points to get to Bwindi forest national park include Cyanika and Katuna.
Top Things to See and Do in Bwindi Forest national park from Kigali.
There are so many things to see and do in Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali. The major and prime activity for tourists in Bwindi Forest National Park is Gorilla Trekking, but there is much more to see and do on your visit to Bwindi National Park.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi NP
Bwindi Forest National park is a home to half of world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world meaning your visit here you have 98% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National park are found in four different sections of the park that is Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south and Ruhija and Buhoma in the North East and East part of Bwindi National park respectively. For any tourist interested in trekking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali you will need a gorilla permit which has to be purchased in advance to secure a place for your trek for any date depending on your travel dates and availability of the permits that day. Gorilla tracking is done in a group of eight people per gorilla family meaning eight permits only are available for each gorilla family, for you to secure a place for a day’s gorilla trek you will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance months or days prior visiting Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali. When you book an all-inclusive Gorilla Safari with Encounter Africa Safaris, All you need to do is to send us your actual dates when you prefer trekking gorillas. We will check the availability of permits online. If we find space, we will reserve your permit tentatively and invoice you. After payment, we will go ahead and pay your permit, and after that, send you scanned copies of receipts from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Please note that Encounter Africa safaris can only book for you Bwindi Forest National Park gorilla permit if you book an all-inclusive gorilla or Uganda safari with us. We have a couple of Uganda safari packages that visit Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali, kindly have a look at them and get back to us for a quote. We can also tailor-make your safari to fit your budget, time and interest.
Gorilla Habituation Experience safaris from Rwanda
Gorilla Habituation experience is only done in Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda. This experience allows you to spend four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation. Only four people are allowed to do gorilla habituation activity in Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, with this you are required to book your gorilla habituation permit in advance to secure your place. The experience starts and takes up to half or a full day, depending on the time you take to find them.
Bird watching Tours in Bwindi Forest
Bwindi Forest National Park is home to various unique bird species including the Albertine Rift Endemic birds, your visit to Bwindi Forest National park you can go for birding after your gorilla trekking or spare some more extra days to go for full birding day or half-day in Bwindi Forest National park. Key bird species to spot on your birding tour in Bwindi National Park include Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing. We have a couple of birding tour packages that visit Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali, kindly have a look at them and get back to us for a quote. We can also tailor-make your birding tour to Bwindi Forest National park fit your budget, time and interest.
Batwa experience and trail in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali
Bwindi Forest National Park used to be inhabited by the Batwa people commonly referred to as the pygmies for many years until of recent when they were removed from the Bwindi Forest to the surrounding communities of Bwindi Forest National Park to ease mountain gorilla conservation and tourism. A visit to Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali will take you on a trail to show you how these pygmies used to spend their time in the forest, where they used to stay, how they used to harvest wild honey as well as hunting. They will show off their dances and explain how they have managed to settle and enjoy normal life outside the forest. This activity can as well be done a day you arrive from Kigali or after gorilla trekking. You can book this activity in advance or on the ground with the lodge you will be staying at.
Volunteering in Bwindi Forest National Park from Rwanda.
Different communities surround Bwindi Forest National Park with the former inhabitants of the forest the Batwa people making a large number of the people in the communities. Like other communities in Africa, these communities around Bwindi Forest National park have different challenges with some of the children being orphans and others being infected by various diseases many have lost hope. With volunteer work, you can help orphans with psychological boosting, offering some items like scholastic items, food, teaching English, among others. Those interested in visiting Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali for volunteering we can tailor your trip to include this activity on top of gorilla trekking send us an inquiry we will package for you accordingly.
Bicycle Adventure Tours in Bwindi.
Bwindi Forest National Park is located in areas with a high altitude making biking one of an adventure not to miss on your visit to Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali. Bicycle safaris will take you through local communities in Bwindi as well giving you a chance to exercise your body as you encounter the local community and environs of Bwindi Forest National park. You can as well get to the start point of gorilla trekking with a bicycle if you are staying in a lodge close to this point. Those interested in visiting Bwindi Forest National park from Kigali and want to include bicycle let us know, and we will tailor your trip to include this activity on top of gorilla trekking send us an inquiry we will package for you accordingly.
Nature walking Safaris in Bwindi from Rwanda
Bwindi Forest National Park is made up of a tropical forest which is one of the oldest forests in the world existing for more of the past 250,000 years back; it has ancient tree species and some of them endemic to this forest. It is as well know to be impenetrable due to its thick canopy making nature walks enjoyable, on your nature walking safari in Bwindi Forest you will have a chance to learn about different tree species, spot different bird species as well have an opportunity to sight different animals including rare forest elephants if lucky, monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees, these nature walks also given you a chance to blend yourself with nature including a visit to the beautiful waterfalls and rivers in the Bwindi Forest National Park.
Encounter Africa safaris operates all the above mentioned day trips to Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali as well as other national parks and exciting tourists sites all over Uganda and Rwanda. It’s a matter of sending us an email, and we will plan for you accordingly. Encounter Africa Safaris is highly reviewed on trip advisor and Safari bookings. You too can be part of our happy family by booking a safari with us.
