Bwindi Impenetrable spans for 332 sq. km (32,092 hectares) at the edge of the Albertine rift valley across the districts of Kanungu, Kabale, and Kisoro in southwestern Uganda. The word Bwindi comes from the local Rukiga language, meaning “impenetrable” or “dark place” in English which refers to the dense Afromontane lowland forest that has remained untouched for the last twenty five thousand years. The area faced significant threats from deforestation and land encroachment due to high population density in the adjacent communities. The first efforts to protect the forest began in 1931 when two blocks of forests: Kayonza and Kasatora were gazetted with an area of 207 sq. km. The two reserves were later combined and expanded to 298 sq. km in 1942. From then, the management and conservation of the forests were overseen by government, having recognized the potential of gorilla tourism, Bwindi was declared an animal sanctuary in 1964 and gazetted as a national park in 1991 with strong conservation policy to protect mountain gorillas.
The park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 due to its significant ecological and historical value. Bwindi is rich in biodiversity including 459 gorillas, which is almost half of the world’s 1,063 mountain gorilla population; 160 tree species; over 100 species of ferns; 120 mammal species including forest elephants; 10 primate species which include chimpanzees; 220 butterfly species, and over 348 bird species of which 24 are Albertine rift endemics.
Geology
Bwindi forest is underlined by granite and metamorphic rocks and very well-drained fertile soils that support dense vegetation cover. The nature of terrain is also shaped by rift system that has shaped the nature of terrain marked by steep highlands and valleys with an altitudunal range of 1,160-2,706 meters above sea level (3,806-8,553ft). Rwamunyonyi peak in Ruhija sector being the highest. Bwindi is 56 km aaway from the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is part of the Virunga Mountains, and as such, the volcanic activity from past eruptions have also shaped the terrain and biodiversity of Bwindi. Both areas areas are ecologically interconnected and Bwindi was merged with Mgahinga to create the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area in 1994. Buhoma sector the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also contiguous with the Sarambwe Nature Reserve in DR Congo. Some of the hiking trails like Rushura trail offers an opportunity reach the border area and enjoy views across the rift valley. The Bwindi-Sarambwe habitat corridor allows migration of wildlife for food, mating, and avoiding competition for resources.
Vegetation
The dense canopy of Bwindi is supported by a variety of tree species including brown mahogany intertwined with lianas and vines, giant tree ferns, chalk wood, podocarpus milanjianus. Bamboo is also a dominant feature at higher elevations and provide crucial habitat for species, including the mountain gorillas which feed on young bamboo shoots. Beneath the canopy lies a dense understory of flowering plants which include among others ground ferns, orchids, impatiens, and heliconias. Another important component of Bwindi ecosystem are the montane swamps including the Mubwindi swamp in Ruhija sector. The swamp contains papyrus, sedges, among other aquatic plant species like water relies.
Fauna
In addition to the two Great Apes, which include mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, Bwindi is home to 10 other primate species, such as L’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, velvet monkeys, spectacled galago, Demidoff’s galago, and the potto.
Mammals
Bwindi contains one of the largest populations of East African forest mammal species with over 120 mammal species including forest elephants, leopards, black fronted duikers, giant forest hogs, yellow backed duiker, side striped jackals, bush pigs, civets, clawless otter.
Birds
Bwindi is also known for its 348 bird species, 23 of which are Albertine Rift endemics, including 4 globally vulnerable species which include the Grauer’s rush warbler, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, Chapin’s flycatcher, and African Green broadbill. Among the Albertine rift endemics there are 3 relict species the short-tailed warbler, African green broadbill, and Grauer’s warbler remain to give a clue to researchers of a remnant of a formerly widespread species that have persisted in an isolated area. Among other AREs of Bwindi include strange weaver, stripe-breasted tit, Archer’s robin chat, handsome francolin, mountain masked apalis, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, dwarf honey guide, and the red-throated alethe.
Apart from the endemic species of the Albertine Rift, Bwindi is also home to five rare species of West and Central Africa origin that are not commonly seen in other East African forests which include the Oberlander’s ground thrush, Fraser’s eagle owl, Lagden’s bushrike, western bronze-naped pigeon, and white-bellied robin chit.
Butterflies
There are 220 species of butterflies, of which 8 are endemic to the Albertine Rift, including 3 that are unique to Bwindi including charaxes fournierae, the cream-banded swallowtail, and graphium gudenusi. The African gigantic swallowtail is also common, making for one of the best places for butterfly watching.
Among other flora found in Bwindi impenetrable forest include 14 species of lizards; 27 amphibian species; 14 snake species of which 9 are Bwindi endemics and 6 species of chameleon including the Rwenzori three-horned chameleon.
Activities
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla safaris to Bwindi impenetrable forest are conducted at 4 different centers which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The sector you go to is determined from availability of gorilla permits in the Uganda Wildlife Authority booking system. A total of 176 permits are available every day for booking through a tour operator at least 3-6 months in advance especially for those intending to track in the high season. Accommodation should correspond with the area from where you will be trekking. Planning a gorilla trek to Bwindi also requires getting proper clothing, gear, and footwear that will keep you safe and comfortable on a hike. Hiking can be challenging due to the nature of terrain and so visitors are encouraged to hire porters to at an extra cost of $20. If you limited mobility, a porter may not help much, so you will be helped and carried on a stretcher (sedan chair) to and from the gorillas. Gorilla trekking offers 1 hour to spend with fully habituated gorilla family and the permit cost is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residens and 300,000UGX for East African citezens inclusive of park entry fees.
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation experience offers an opportunity to participate in the research process of habituating wild gorillas to get accustomed to human presence. Habituation permit cost is $1,500 per person and allows A smaller group size of 4 visitors are accompanied by habituators, conservationists, and trackers to spend 4 hours with semi-habituated gorilla group. The experience allows for a more in-depth observation of their behaviors and social interactions. Habituation starts when a wild gorilla group is identified, the habituators will closely begin to follow and approach it in a non-threatening manner. They will attempt to imitate the gorillas by chewing on vegetation, walking on knuckles, and also make grunts that gorillas use to communicate. Among other gorilla research and conservation activities are done until the silverback perceives humans as a no threat.
Birding
Bird watching can be done anywhere in Bwindi impenetrable forest, however. Those intending to spot the Albertine rift endemics, the best places to go to include Buhoma and Ruhija. Sightings of the African green broadbill, the Chapin’s fly catcher, Kivu ground thrush, and the Archer’s robin talk are well-known along the Ivi River trail in Buhoma. The Mubwindi Swamp Trail and the Rwamunyonyi Peak in Ruhija are ideal locations to search for the strange weaver. Forest elephants might also be encountered in this part of Bwindi.
Community tourism
Bwindi is surrounded by local communities of Bakiga, Bafumbira, and Bata pygmies (formerly hunter gatherers) in Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro districts. The villager’s main livelihood is agriculture where they grow crops like potatoes, millet, tea, coffee, pumpkins, and vegetables. The forest was originally a source for food such as bush meat, wild honey, edible and medicinal plants, timber, firewood, raw materials for weaving and construction. However, access to some of these resources was restricted including eviction of Batwa when Bwindi was gazetted. The deprivation of the right to use resources created resentment among locals against conservation, putting the survival of gorillas at risk.
Buhoma village walk
Gorilla trekking was first opened in Buhoma sector in 1993. At the time the gorilla permit cost was $500 for foreign non-residents and $475 for foreign residents. The government designed a revenue sharing scheme and assisted locals to start the Buhoma village walk as a project to improve the living conditions through promotion of cultural heritage and traditional values. Among other alternative sources of income were envisaged so that they wouldn’t depend on nature including handicraft center, where women demonstrate their craft making skills such as weaving; tea and coffee growing which offers an opportunity for visitors to learn how the crops are harvested and locally processed; Batwa homestead, where the pygmies demonstrate their ancient prehistoric fire making style; visiting a traditional healer for his stunning metaphysics, and a banana beer brewing site, and volunteer opportunities at the Buhoma community hospital. Buhoma sector offers a wide range of community based tourism initiatives and it became a model for the other sectors as gorilla tourism expanded to Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija sectors.