Top 5 activities to do in Bwindi national park in 2024 : Bwindi National Park has a wide range of activities for tourists to enjoy in 2024 and they include the following;
- Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities to do during tours in Bwindi National Park and it takes place in the different sectors of the park which include Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sector.
Half of the world’s mountain gorilla population is found in Uganda and can be seen during gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi national park and also when visiting Mgahinga national park which are located in south western Uganda.
During gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi national park, tourists can observe the gorillas in their natural habitat and spend time with the gorillas. Tourists are required to have gorilla permits before engaging in the gorilla trek and the permits cost 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for citizens from the rest of Africa and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
The gorilla permits for Bwindi national park should be booked in advance through licensed tour operators to avoid missing out on gorilla trekking experiences since only a limited number of permits are issued daily.
Tourists get to spend 1 hour with the gorilla during the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi national park. This activity is done by individuals above the age of 15 years and a group of 8 tourists are allowed to visit 1 gorilla family daily in the national park.
- Gorilla habituation
Gorilla habituation is another activity to do when visiting Bwindi national park. This activity is carried out in the Rushaga sector located in the southern part of Bwindi national park.
The process of gorilla habituation is an experience during which the mountain gorillas of Bwindi national park are introduce to the presence of humans in their natural habitat. Gorilla habituation is done with trackers and researchers as well as ranger guides and tourists engaging in this activity get to observe the gorillas and spend about 4 hours with them.
A gorilla permit is also required for the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park and it costs 1500 USD for foreign nonresidents, 1000 USD for foreign residents and citizens from the rest of Africa and East African citizens will be charged 750,000 Uganda shillings for the activity.
The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national park is done for a specific group of gorillas which are observed over a pried of time and after completing the habituation process, they can be visited for gorilla trekking tours.
- Batwa cultural experience
The Batwa cultural experiences are also part of the activities to do during visits to Bwindi national park. This activity involves interacting with the Batwa pygmies who were forest dwellers who lived and survived on the forest.
During the Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi national park, tourists interact with the locals and get to know their way of life and culture and also engage in activities like traditional dance performances, leaning how to hunt with the men, honey collection, how to make fire among other experiences. The Batwa also act as guides during guided nature walks in the Bwindi forest during tours around the park.
Apart from the Batwa people, tourists visiting Bwindi national park can also experience the culture of the Bakiga tribe which also lives in the neighboring community around the national park. The Bakiga also practice farming and tourists can visit the local farms during this experience and also get to harvest and plant the crops.
When visiting the Bakiga community, tourists can also enjoy traditional dance performances, try out local food and learn how to make baskets with the locals, learn how to grind millet among other experiences including preparing local banana gin.
- Top 5 activities to do in Bwindi national park in 2024 : Bird watching
Bird watching is another activity which tourists can take part in when visiting Bwindi national park which is among the best places for birding in Uganda.
Bwindi national park is home to over 350 bird species including 23 out of 24 Albertine rift endemic bird species. Some of the birding spots around the national park include around the Mubwindi swamp, Kashasha river trail, around Ruhija, the Buhoma waterfall trail among other areas.
Bird species which can be seen during bird watching tours around Bwindi national park include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Wood Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Evergreen Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Honeyguide Greenbul, Rwenzori Batis, Buff-throated Apalis, Green-headed Sunbird, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cardinal Woodpecker, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Honeybird, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Collared Sunbird, Common Bulbul, Compact Weaver, Green-throated Sunbird, Coppery Sunbird, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Crowned Hornbill, Green Crombec, Dark-backed Weaver , Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Tit, Stripe-breasted Tit, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-headed Malimbe, Fork-tailed Drongo, , Greater Blue-eared Starling, , White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, White-browed Crombec, Green Hylia, , Tiny Sunbird, Grey Apalis, Grey-backed/Green-backed Camaroptera, , White-breasted Negrofinch, Grey-headed Sparrow, Grey-throated Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Klass’ Cuckoo, Great Blue Turaco, and many more forest species.
- Top 5 activities to do in Bwindi national park in 2024 : Nature walks and hiking
Nature walks and hiking are also part of the activities to do when visiting Bwindi national park. this activity brings tourists closer to their natural surroundings and the activity is done with ranger guides.
Different trails are followed during the guided nature walks and hiking experiences around Bwindi national park. The hikes in Bwindi national park are best done during the dry season in the months of June to September and also around December to February when the trails followed during hiking experiences are easy to trek through.
The steep nature of the Bwindi forest makes it an ideal destination not only for encounters with mountain gorillas but also exciting hiking adventures during which tourists can explore the beauty of the national park and also enjoy views of the forest and see different bird and primate species.
Nature walk trails found around Bwindi national park include the Ivy river trail, Munyaga river trail among others.
