Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas.
▶ ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS PARK- • Gorilla trekking
- • Birdwatching
- • Forest walks
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas, offering one of Africa's most profound wildlife encounters.
SIZE
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 321 square kilometers (km²) in size.
Valid passport, appropriate Uganda entry documentation, valid gorilla trekking permit where applicable, suitable hiking footwear, long trousers, long-sleeved clothing, waterproof jacket, insect repellent, drinking water, packed lunch or trekking provisions
- Minimum age for mountain gorilla trekking is strictly 15 years old.
- A maximum of 8 visitors are allowed per habituated gorilla group per day (only 4 visitors for Gorilla Habituation Experience).
- Maintain a strict distance of at least 7 meters (21 feet) from the gorillas at all times.
- Flash photography is strictly prohibited; turn off all camera flash settings before reaching the gorillas.
- If you carry a contagious disease or cold/flu, you must volunteer to step back to protect gorilla health.
- Time with a fully habituated gorilla family is capped at exactly 1 hour.
- Do not touch, make sudden movements, or point directly at wild gorillas; keep voices low during tracking.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke within 200 meters of mountain gorillas.
- All trash and plastic waste must be packed out; littering inside the rainforest is strictly prohibited.
- Drones are strictly banned across all park sectors unless authorized in writing by UWA and the Civil Aviation Authority.
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air: Fly from Entebbe or Kampala to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips, depending on the gorilla trekking sector and accommodation.
By Road from Kampala: Bwindi is approximately 460–500 km from Kampala, with the journey taking several hours depending on the route and trekking sector.
From Kigali: Bwindi can be conveniently combined with Rwanda, with some routes taking approximately 4 - 6 hours from Kigali depending on the border crossing and sector.
By 4×4 Safari Vehicle: A 4×4 vehicle with an experienced driver-guide is recommended, particularly because roads approaching the different sectors can be steep, winding and challenging during rainy conditions.
Access Sectors: The main tourism sectors include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo, and travellers should select their arrival point based on their gorilla permit and accommodation.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: June - August, December - February
WILDLIFE & LANDSCAPE
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK GALLERY
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK ROAD SAFARIS / EXCURSIONS
1, 2 & 3 DAYS BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK DRIVE-IN SAFARI TOURS
3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek
Come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda's ancient Bwindi forest.
5-Day Uganda Primate Safari
A deeper Ugandan adventure combining gorilla trekking with golden monkey tracking and fore...
LODGES & CAMPS - ACCOMMODATION OVERVIEW
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, is an exclusive luxury forest retreat in...
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Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Buhoma Community Rest Camp is a budget-friendly, community-owned safari camp bes...
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Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge is an award-winning eco-luxury lodge overlooking Bwindi I...
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Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge is an intimate luxury forest lodge inside Bwindi Impenetrable Natio...
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Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Gorilla Leisure Lodge is a stylish eco-lodge in Bwindi's Rushaga sector, offerin...
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Gorilla Heights Lodge
Gorilla Heights Lodge is a luxury eco-lodge overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Fore...
VIEW LODGE ›POINTS OF INTEREST
FAQS
It is located in southwestern Uganda along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under standard rates, foreign non-residents pay USD $800, foreign residents pay USD $700, and East African citizens pay UGX 300,000 (discounted rates of $600 apply during April, May, and November).
You should book 3 to 6 months in advance due to strict daily visitor limits per gorilla family across the 4 sectors.
Trekking difficulty ranges from moderate to grueling, depending on gorilla movements, involving steep slopes, thick vegetation, muddy trails, and elevations from 1,160 to 2,600 meters.
Standard trekking allows 1 hour with a habituated gorilla family; the Gorilla Habituation Experience permits 4 hours accompanying researchers with a semi-habituated family in the Rushaga sector.
Yes, many travelers fly into Kigali Airport (Rwanda) and drive 4–5 hours across the border into Bwindi to save driving time compared to the long journey from Entebbe.
Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, thick gaiters/socks, gardening gloves for vines, and bring a rain jacket and waterproof backpack cover.
The park is divided into four main operational sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo in the southwest.
Yes, Bwindi protects both habituated gorilla families reserved for tourism/research and strictly unhabituated wild gorilla groups in deep forest zones.
Bwindi has four main tourism sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The best sector depends on the gorilla family assigned to you, your accommodation and the rest of your Uganda itinerary. Rushaga is particularly notable for the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience allows visitors to spend substantially more time with a gorilla group undergoing habituation than a standard gorilla trek. It provides a deeper opportunity to observe gorilla behaviour while supporting conservation and research.
Yes, taking anti-malarial medication, using mosquito repellent, and wearing long-sleeved clothing during evenings are strongly advised for all visitors to southwestern Uganda.
Bwindi can be suitable for families, but gorilla trekking has age and fitness requirements. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is generally 15 years. Families travelling with younger children can enjoy alternative experiences such as guided forest walks, birdwatching and cultural activities.
Bwindi can be reached by road from Kampala or Entebbe through southwestern Uganda, commonly via Kabale or Kisoro. Travellers can also fly from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and continue by road to their accommodation and trekking sector.
Absolutely. Bwindi provides one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife encounters: meeting mountain gorillas in their natural rainforest habitat. It can be combined with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and other Ugandan destinations to create a diverse primate and wildlife safari
TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS
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